Since 1960 the UCSB Alumni Association has presented awards of achievement and recognition to outstanding alumni and friends of UCSB.

Approximately one year prior to the ceremony the selection process for nominees begins. Awards are presented at a ceremony in the spring. Letters requesting nominations for the Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award, Honorary Alumni, and Graver Alumni Service Award are sent to members of the current Alumni Association BOD, Valhalla, past award recipients, members of The UCSB Foundation, UCSB Deans and Department Heads and UCSB administrators. The opportunity for all alumni to nominate candidates is printed in Coastlines and also by clicking on the link to the nomination form.

The number of recipients of the various awards varies from year to year depending on the pool of candidates and other circumstances.