METHODOLOGY
How we select the class.
The process is transparent. Contribution, not reputation, connections, or popularity, determines selection. Here is exactly how we select the class.
100
FIVE EVALUATION CRITERIA
What every nomination is measured against.
Every nomination is independently scored across five dimensions. Reviewers recuse themselves from nominees they know personally.
Impact
What changed because this person was here? The committee looks for contribution with observable consequence — things built that people used, communities that grew, problems that got solved. Impact is what stayed after the work was done.
Initiative
Who started it? The committee pays close attention to students who built things that did not exist before they arrived. Maintaining something valuable matters too, but building from scratch carries different weight.
Evidence
Can it be verified? Every claim in a nomination is expected to arrive with documentation. The stronger the evidence, the stronger the nomination.
Consistency
How long did it last? A single impressive moment matters less than a sustained pattern of contribution. The committee looks for students who showed up repeatedly, over time.
Potential
Where are they going? The Founding Class of 2026 will be professionals, founders, researchers, and leaders for decades. The committee considers trajectory alongside what has already been achieved.
THE PROCESS
From nomination to recognition.
Nominations Open
May 26 to June 20, 2026
Nominations opened May 26, 2026 and are open campus-wide for four weeks. Students, staff, and faculty may all submit. Each nomination requires evidence and a specific description of the nominee’s contribution.
Screening
1 week
All submissions are reviewed for completeness and eligibility. Incomplete nominations may be returned for resubmission before the deadline.
Committee Review
3 weeks
A five-member committee scores each nomination against the five criteria. Review is blind where possible.
Verification
2 weeks
Shortlisted nominations are independently verified. Claims that cannot be substantiated are flagged and re-reviewed by the full committee before a final decision.
Final Class
1 week
The final 100 are curated, profiled, and published. The class is presented as a selected cohort, not a ranked list.
Our commitments to fairness.
•Self-nominations are reviewed on the same basis as peer nominations.
•Committee members recuse from nominees they know personally.
•Results are held until announcement day.
•No rankings. All 100 are equal.