Drum Major Awards

In a 1968 sermon in Atlanta titled “The Drum Major Instinct”, Dr. King stated “Yes, if you want to say I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness”. We want to recognize individuals who embody Dr. King’s words and work.

We will uplift members of the WashU Medicine community, from every corner, who (perhaps without fanfare) may be leading community-wide service projects, who may be serving as mentors and/or who embody what it is to be an upstander, by standing up for others in the face of injustices or inequitable treatment. The Drum Major Awards will recognize individuals at WashU Medicine who embody what it means to be an upstander.

Awardees should be those who speak up or act in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being bullied or attacked. Upstanders are people who speak and act against injustices, and represent the best of humanity today across WashU Medicine. They harness their character strengths to meet their moment and pursue justice, both great and small, inspiring others to do the same.

If awarded, your nomination will be sent directly to the person you nominated as well as to their supervisor. Similarly, awardees will be honored during the MLK Jr Commemoration Week events on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026.

Nominations have closed for 2026! Please email MedDEI@wustl.edu with questions or concerns. 

Congratulations to our 2026 awardees!

Congratulations to our 2024 awardees!