The Vulcan Award of Excellence was a medal that was awarded by the Vulcans to cadets of Starfleet Academy. There were only four known Humans who had achieved this medal with the first being James T. Kirk. In 2273, cadet Reese Diksen wrote a report on the practical applications of the Prime Directive when compared to its philosophical concepts by comparing it to the experiences of Admiral Kirk which made her the fourth recepient of this award. (TOS novel: Recovery)