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2012-13 Graduate School Student Awards
The Graduate School presents the following awards each year in collaboration with Alumni Relations, William Preston Society and Division of Student Affairs in recognition of the contributions of the university’s most outstanding graduate students.
Outstanding Dissertation Award
Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award
Graduate Student Service Excellence Award
Outstanding Graduate Student Award- Master's and Doctoral by College
Outstanding Graduate Student Award Interdisciplinary Doctoral Student
Graduate Man and Woman of the Year Awards
William Preston Society Master's Thesis Award (closed until 2014)
Outstanding Dissertation Awards (Nominations close 5pm February 1, 2013)
Category 1: Science, Technology and Engineering and Mathematics
Category 2: Social Sciences, Business, Education and Humanities
Award Criteria
- Originality of idea; clarity, effectiveness of presentation; quality of writing;
- Contribution to the field and future scholarly productivity
- Dissertations must have been submitted in Spring, Summer, or Fall 2012
- Only one nomination per department or interdisciplinary degree program
Nomination Requirements
- Nomination form with signature of department head or designee confirming student's nomination PDF; Word
- Three to five-page executive summary written by the nominee so that reviewers outside the field can gain insight into contribution
- Nomination letter from major professor addressing all of the selection criteria and including nominee's current position, if applicable
- Support letter from member of dissertation committee addressing all selection criteria
- 2-page curriculum vitae from the nominee
Award: Certificate and $1000 for each category
Presented at the Graduate Student Awards Banquet, March 28, 2013 during Graduate Education Week
Deadline: Send as PDF file to grads@vt.edu no later than February 1, 2013 by 5PM
Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award (Nominations close 5pm February 1, 2013)
Award Criteria
- Teaching must have been done at Virginia Tech by full-time or part-time GTA for at least a full semester or summer term in academic year 2011-2012 (P14 or wage appointments are not eligible)
- Nominee must be enrolled at the time of the nomination
- Excellent teaching as evidenced by:
- Thorough knowledge of the subject matter
- Effective communication skills
- Enthusiasm for the subject
- Ability to motivate students to learn
- Effective organizational skills
- Learner-centered pedagogy
- Demonstrated evidence of participation in teaching-effectiveness seminars, classes or FDI programs
- Demonstration of innovation
- Only one nomination per department
Nomination Requirements
- Completed nomination form with signature of department head or designee confirming student's nomination: PDF; Word
- Two recommendations addressing criteria of good teaching
- One from a supervising faculty member
- One from faculty or staff member, or graduate student who has observed the nominee's teaching skills
- Student evaluations (summaries - maximum 4 pages)
- Statement of personal teaching philosophy from the nominee that includes summary of nominee's primary teaching accomplishments - maximum two pages
- Evidence that the nominee has had sufficient teaching duties to demonstrate meeting criteria of good teaching
- 2-page student curriculum vitae from the nominee highlighting information relevant to teaching excellence
- Please send as PDF file (Complete nomination packet not to exceed 15 pages)
Award: Plaque and $1000, sponsored by Alumni Relations
Presented at the Graduate Student Awards Banquet, March 28, 2013 during Graduate Education Week
Deadline: Send as PDF file to grads@vt.edu no later than February 1, 2013 by 5PM
Graduate Student Service Excellence Award (Nominations close 5pm February 1, 2013)
Award Criteria
- Should be for "promoting the public good," preferably in service external to the university, or in extraordinary service to the department or university
- Should demonstrate innovation, creativity or a new kind of engagement
- No paid services or those that result in financial gain may be considered
- Nominee must be enrolled at the time of the nomination
- If student is also an employee of VT, service must have been performed in primary role as a student and beyond the regular duties as an employee
- Service effort must have occurred in 2012
Nomination Requirements
- Completed nomination form: PDF; Word
- Two letters of recommendation that address significance of the impact of service(s) performed:
- One from a supervisor of the services performed
- One from anyone in the community who has had an opportunity to observe the performance of the service
- One letter from the nominee describing the service, including the time and/or level of commitment required to complete nomination project(s) - maximum two pages.
Award: Plaque and $1000, sponsored by Alumni Relations
Presented at the Graduate Student Awards Banquet, March 28, 2013 during Graduate Education Week
Deadline: Send as PDF file to grads@vt.edu no later than February 1, 2013 by 5PM
Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Master's and Doctoral, by College
The name of the recipient of the Outstanding Master's and Doctoral Student for each college must be submitted to the Graduate School by February 15, 2013. Each college must set submission guidelines and a timeline for departmental nominations that will allow sufficient time for each college to make its final selection and send the names of the recipients to the Graduate School by Feb. 15.
Notification Requirements
- Completed nomination form with signature of college dean or designee confirming selection of one master's student and one doctoral student.
- Graduate student must be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program during the 2012-13 academic year
- Description of the specific criteria defined by the college to select top master’s student and top doctoral student
- A brief summary describing each student’s achievements (no more than 1-to-2 pages – feel free to use front and back of nomination form)
PDF: Master's & Doctoral . Word : Master's & Doctoral
Award: Certificate and $500 for each college master's and doctoral student, sponsored by the Graduate School
Presented at the Graduate Student Awards Banquet, March 28, 2013 during Graduate Education Week
Deadline: Send as PDF files to grads@vt.edu no later than February 15, 2013 by 5PM
Outstanding Interdisciplinary Program Doctoral Student (Nominations close 5pm February 15, 2013)
Note: Students eligible for the Interdisciplinary award are not also eligible for College Outstanding Graduate Student Awards.
Award Criteria
- Must be enrolled in an interdisciplinary program as described here, with program names shown below:
- Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical and Cultural Thought (ASPECT)
- Biomedical Engineering & Sciences
- Biomedical Technology Development & Management
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
- Geospatial & Environmental Analysis,
- Information Technology
- IGEP program: CTE, MTSP, RM, RS, SUN, TOR, TPS, WI
- Macromolecular Science and Engineering
- An approved entry level program
- Must demonstrate clarity, effectiveness and originality of interdisciplinary ideas through academic efforts that expand and promote the concept of interdisciplinary studies across a minimum of two academic colleges
Nomination Requirements
- Nomination form with signature of program head or designee confirming student's nomination PDF; Word
- Only Ph.D. students enrolled full-time at the time of application
- ONly one nomination per approved Interdisciplinary degree program (as listed above)
- One page Nomination letter from the major professor addressing all of the selection criteria
- Executive Summary not to exceed three pages on the
novel interdisciplinary activity (teaching, research or service)
clearly identifying the contribution
across a minimum of two academic colleges
Nomination packet may not exceed 6 pages including nomination form
Award: Certificate and $500, sponsored by the Graduate School
Presented at the Graduate Student Awards Banquet, March 28, 2013 during Graduate Education Week
Send as PDF files to grads@vt.edu no later than February 15, 2013 by 5PM
Graduate Man and Woman of the Year Awards (Nominations close 5pm February 1, 2013)
The Graduate Student of the Year Award recognizes one male and one female graduate student for their: (1) outstanding contributions, (2) academic achievements, and (3) commitment to diversity.
The Graduate Student of the Year Award is based on the following criteria:
- Involvement in professional organizations, campus activities, and the graduate community
- Contribution to knowledge through research, teaching, and scholarship
- Contribution to the graduate community at Virginia Tech (including all campuses and extension programs)
- Commitment to diversity
Minimum eligibility requirements must be met in order to apply or be nominated for this award. All candidates must be graduate students in good standing at Virginia Tech (full-time or part-time, including all campuses and extension programs) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
To be considered, graduate and professional students must either apply or be nominated for the award. A complete application/nomination packet consists of the following:
- Application form
- Brief resume (no more than 3 pages)
- Essay response (no more than 2 pages, double-spaced)
- Two letters of reference (in sealed envelopes)
- One by an academic faculty member at Virginia Tech
- One from an individual who has personal knowledge of the candidate’s character and involvements (e.g., administrator, supervisor, club advisor, etc.)
Award: Certificate and $500, presented by the Graduate School
Recipients will be recognized at the USLA Ceremony in the Spring. Award will be presented at the Graduate Student Awards Banquet, March 28, 2013 during Graduate Education Week.
Deadline:
Send completed application to Monika Gibson no later than February 1, 2013 by 5PM.
Graduate School
117 Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown
Mail Code (0325)
Attn: Monika Gibson, Graduate Award
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Fax: 540/231-3714
For questions contact Monika Gibson at gibsonm@vt.edu
2012 William Preston Society - Conference of Southern Graduate Schools Thesis Awards
The William Preston Society, comprised of former members of the Board of Visitors, and current and past presidents, established the William Preston Society Thesis Award to recognize graduate students whose thesis presents the best original research with potential to benefit all people.
Three awards are given each year, one from each of three rotating categories as defined by the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools. Categories for 2012 are:
- Math, Physical Sciences and Engineering - Physics, Chemistry (excluding Biochemistry), Astronomy, Atmospheric Sciences, Geology, Earth Sciences, Oceanography, Metallurgy, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Sciences, and Engineering
* Biomedical Engineering should be included in this category.
- Humanities and Fine Arts -History, Classics, Comparative Literature, Linguistics, Speech, American Studies, Archeology, Art, Music, Philosophy, Theology, Religion, Theater, Language, Literature, and Architecture
- Innovative Application of Technology in a Master’s Thesis: Evaluation will be based on the use of technology in the presentation of the ETD, scholarship, research methodology, and contributions to the field or discipline.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Secured theses are not eligible for consideration for the award;
- Nominees must have completed their thesis in the last academic year (2011-12), including Summer 2011, Fall 2011, and Spring 2012;
- Departments are not limited to one submission. Faculty may submit directly to the Graduate School.
Nomination Requirements (to be submitted by the student's department)
- Presentation quality PDF copy of a letter of endorsement from the major professor which must address contribution to the field or discipline, scholarship, research methodology and clarity of style and presentation;
- Presentation quality PDF copy of the 1-2 page maximum, double spaced abstract;
- ETD web link access information for the thesis;
- Presentation quality PDF copy of the nominee's 1-2 page abbreviated CV.
The winning theses are selected by a Review Committee convened by the Graduate School Associate Dean. Winners will be recognized with a plaque at the annual meeting of the William Preston Society held in September. In addition, the winning theses become the university’s nominees for thesis awards in the same categories by the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.
Deadline is 5 PM, Friday, August 10, 2012. Submit presentation quality nomination materials by PDF file to grads@vt.edu. All PDF files will be sent “as is” to the Review Committee. For questions please contact Associate Dean Janet Rankin.
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