How to write a letter to nominate an awesome Professor for an award? How to write a letter to nominate an awesome past Professor for an award for work he has done in our university?  This professor established a cyber security scholarship program at our engineering university for students to pursue this field, especially when it was emerging 15 years ago.


What pointers do I mention in the letter?
How long can the letter be?
What tone should I use (serious, humor, etc)


Please advise.

The award is given by the university based on these criteria:


  A record of outstanding teaching effectiveness both within and outside
  the classroom
  
  The ability to inspire, promote, and sustain the intellectual
  development of students
  
  A pedagogical approach that is innovative (new approaches using
  current or new models of teaching), intellectually rigorous, creative,
  and engaging
  
  Demonstrated scholarly/professional contributions and their
  integration into the classroom that foster critical thinking and
  challenge students to independent inquiry
  
  Advising/mentoring of undergraduate or graduate students or doctoral
  and clinical supervision-interactions outside of the classroom and the
  quality of such interactions
  
  Contribution to developing or enhancing curricula in the field
  
  Length of service
  
  Internal school awards/honors received
First, thank you for wanting to do this! Once the awardees have been announced, no matter the result do let your professor know you did this, and pass on the award packet you created (let any letter-of-support writers know you plan to do this, as a courtesy; they probably won't be fussed about it). Your respect will mean more to your professor than the award!

Now, to your actual questions.

Pointers to mention. Think of this like a cover letter for a job application. You want to address as many of the listed criteria as possible as specifically as possible. (Award-ceremony emcees often quote from nomination letters, so try for good soundbites!) You don't have to hit every single one (especially as that list is rather long), but try to touch on half to three-quarters of them.

Length. Often the award criteria will specify this. If not... honestly, I'd call or email somebody in the office sponsoring the award and ask what's typical. I've seen one page up through almost ten, and it's not good to err in either the too-short or the too-long direction.

Tone. Err on the serious side. If you have an anecdote displaying your prof's sense of humor, use it if it speaks to one of the award criteria ("quality interactions outside the classroom" or "classroom effectiveness" might fit), but be absolutely sure the humor is one hundred percent harmless first -- you don't want to land your prof in hot water, you want them to win the award!

Good luck to you and your prof!