The Outstanding First-Year Biology Award was established to recognize first-year undergraduate students who have demonstrated outstanding potential for a successful career in the biological sciences. The award consists of a University Book Store gift certificate and a certificate of recognition. It is presented once a year at the beginning of the fall term during the Department of Biological Sciences kick-off meeting.
Previous winners of the Outstanding First-Year Biology Award:
| Year | Outstanding First-Year Awardees |
| 2024 |
Joseph Garzia Michael Levin Imaan Saeed Ciara White McShane |
| 2023 |
Daara Akinpelu Jack Brown Ariana Jou Krutarth Parmar |
| 2022 | Mckenna Bowes Richard Fang Michael Keller |
| 2021 | Emanuela Di Fiore Jenny Jin Luke Kantz Vennila Ramasubramanian Jake Shapira Jade Steber |
| 2020 | Abigail Galeano Mara Hartoyo Daniel Hochman Anthony Mauro Ishika Singh |
| 2019 | Trezalka Budinsky Oscar Chen Sydnie Davis Grant Ding Grace Eberwine |
| 2018 | John Hansen Xavier Holmes Christopher Liu Catherine Peel Paige Verona |
| 2017 | Corynn Appolonia Naina Balepur Benjamin Krouse Deborah Lee Ceara McAtee Jeffrey Onyeador |
| 2016 | Noah Gafen Amanda Gamwo Paul Karell Michael McDermott Chisom Obasih Arnab Ray Michaela Schreyer Anna Wildner |
| 2015 | Atteh Akoto Sinjon Bartel Justin Kosman Julian Rowe Johnathon Schiebel |
| 2014 | Erin Gramm Alyssa Brisbin Rina Matsuda Keith O'Conor Marcus Robinson Gordon Ridgeway |
| 2013 | Bradley Lukasak Katherine Boyd In Young Lee Joseph Mort Sophia Zhang Alexandra Emes Rebekah Sayre |
| 2012 | Megan Gramm Regina Sencak Nathaniel Hubel Owen Drinkwater |
| 2011 | Andrew Nauss Robert Macielak |
| 2010 | Sean Bell Brittany Charsar Bethany Corbin Emily Rodgers Zerina Hodzic Devin Livingston |
| 2009 | Robert Ferdman Adam Yuhas Ryan Demkowicz |
| 2008 | Brittany Pierce Kristen Jeffries Ashley Sterchele Ashley Lennox |
| 2007 | Natalie Allen Samantha Bell Nicolas DeStefino Vincent DeStefino Jill Zupetic |
| 2006 | Alexandra Ammons Kerry Hahn Ravi Pandit Devin Potts Nathaniel Mahoney |