Senior Nyah Hodges and her older sister, Kylynn, were raised by their single mother on a tight budget in Detroit. Even when life was difficult for the family, their mother, Devara, a CMU alumna, was a constant source of inspiration and motivation, Nyah said.

In Fall 2020, the Hodges family was the first ever to receive this award, they were chosen from a group of 13 participating families. The Hodges family and all future families who win this award will have a plaque in the Bovee University Center to remember them.

Assistant Director of the Office of Student Success Betty Wagner, organized the award program to help spread awareness of the best support systems a student can have.

"This award means a student is thanking their family for their educational and personal support," Wagner said. "We wanted to do something to show parents how important they are in supporting CMU students."

Students applied for the award by submitting a 3-5 minute video to the Office of Student Success where they talk about the ways their family has been supporting them. Nyah and other participants submitted their video applications in September.

"I just hopped on a camera and let the heart talk," Nyah said. "I wanted to acknowledge all the work they've done to shape the person I am today."

Nyah has always felt support from her family, even though they are all busy with life, the family makes sure they talk at least every other day. The two sisters even follow the same fitness routine from halfway across the state, and keep each other on schedule. Nyah credits her mother's support to leading her to becoming the salutatorian of her High School class and inspiring her to take a more active role at CMU.

"I'm really grateful for her parenting skills, especially as a single mom raising two kids, it was a big struggle for her," Nyah said. "Growing up we've always been close, they've shaped who I am today."

First, second and third place winners are chosen for the award, third place gets a $50 prize, second place gets $100 and first place received $500 in addition to a bag of CMU apparel for the student and their family, and a plaque with the family name on it in the University Center.

Nyah said she was very grateful for the chance to show her family how much their support has meant, and the $500 award will help out a lot with school finances.

"It's a win-win situation," Nyah said. "You get to brag about your family and how they support you and you get compensated too."

Students are encouraged to nominate not just their families but any support systems which help them cope with school. The Office of Student Success wants to give attention to great support systems that help students, in whatever form that takes.

"It doesn't have to be a traditional family," Wagner said."Students can nominate aunts and uncles, grandparents or close friends."

The winning families were announced during the 2020 virtual family day, and CMU pans on making this an annual portion of the Family Day event organized by the Office of Student Success.

Applications for the next Family of the Year award begins in September.