Spring awards

Application submissions

Applications for the 2024 GSA Spring Awards will open early spring semester of 2024.

Completed application packets, including all supporting documentation, should be submitted online by the due date. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered - this includes letters of recommendation. All awards are self-nominated except the Vada Trimble Outstanding Mentor Award and the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. Beginning in 2024, monetary awards will be taxed therefore this will be taken from the award amount, Accounts payable will determine the tax amount for each recipient.

Read the general eligibility requirements from the Office of Financial Aid below. 

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GSA Spring Awards Ceremony

Please check back for information regarding the 2024 Spring Awards Ceremony. 

GSA award eligibility requirements:

1. Students must be in good academic standing at the time of application as well as at the time of accepting the award.
2. Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress for Scholarships.
3. Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, MFA Low Residency Program and online programs.
4. Students who received a scholarship/award in the spring of 2022 GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others. 

GSA scholarship eligibility requirements:

1. Students must meet additional satisfactory academic progress standards to be eligible for scholarships. Scholarship recipients should refer to the Scholarships - Satisfactory Academic Progress information on the University financial aid website for details on eligibility, minimum credit requirements, and other requirements.
2. To be eligible for any GSA scholarship, students must have completed the 2022-2023 Scholarship Application in MyNevada.
3. Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 

Program overview

In honor of Dr. Glick's passion for first-generation students, the Graduate Student Association offers this scholarship to master's and doctoral students who are the first in their families to pursue graduate education. The award is based on grade point average, personal statement, and letter of recommendation from a University faculty member. The Milton Glick Memorial Scholarship is for $1000, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming fall and spring semesters.

• Category A: STEM (Sciences/Mathematics/Engineering/Health Sciences)
  • A1: Master’s
  • A2: Ph.D.
• Category B: Non-STEM (Liberal Arts/Education/Business/Journalism)
  • B1: Master’s
  • B2: Ph.D.

Eligibility

• Applicants for this award must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with an assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of the application.
• Applicants must be the first member of their immediate family to pursue graduate education.
  Members of the GSA Executive Council and Awards Committee, and persons involved with the judging process of any GSA awards, are ineligible to apply.
• The winner of the Milton Glick Memorial Scholarship may not also be selected for the Outstanding Graduate Scholarship or the Outstanding International Graduate Scholarship.
• Applicants must be enrolled for the upcoming fall semester in order to receive the scholarship.
• Students who won the Milt Glick Scholarship in the 2023 Award year are ineligible to receive the award. 
• Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 

Application instructions

Please submit your online application packet by 11:59 p.m. PST on the due date (Please check the GSA events calendar and scholarship website for dates). Your application packet must include the following:

• Completed application
• Unofficial University of Nevada, Reno transcript
• Letter of recommendation from a University faculty member detailing the excellence of the applicant's personal goals, scholarly work, and involvement in the department, university, and community.

Milton Glick Memorial Scholarship online application Faculty recommendation submission

Please note: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. Applications are judged by University faculty members and administrators. The decisions of the judges are final. Applicants will be notified whether they have won an award early to mid-April. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony in April. Winners are expected to attend.

Program Overview

The Graduate Student Association offers the Outstanding Graduate Artist Award & Scholarship to recognize achievement in Fine Art. One $500 award is made to the Outstanding Graduating Graduate Artist and one scholarship is given to the Outstanding (continuing student) Graduate Student Artist. The scholarship is for $500, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming fall and spring semesters.

Eligibility

• Applicants for this award must be registered, full-time graduate students (minimum 9 credits) in good academic standing at the time of application.
• Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 
• Members of the GSA Executive Council and Awards Committee, and persons involved with the judging process of any GSA awards, are ineligible to apply.
• Students who received a scholarship/award in the 2023 GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received by may apply for others.

Judging criteria

A guest juror will evaluate the candidates and decide the winner, and the juror's decision is final. Candidates will be evaluated based on artistic merit, demonstration of skill, ability to verbally communicate the conceptual and formal motivation of the artwork, and future promise to succeed as a professional artist.

Application instructions

Please submit your online application packet by 11:59 p.m. PST on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and Scholarship webpage for dates). 

• In addition to the application, there will be a studio visit with the guest juror. 
• In order to be considered, students must sign-up for a scheduled studio visit with the guest juror. (Date and time to be determined and announced).
• During the studio visit, the graduate candidate must show their current body of work and discuss their motivations with the juror.

Outstanding Artist Award & Scholarship Online application

Important information: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. The decision of the juror is final. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony. Winners are expected to attend. 

Program overview

The Graduate Student Association offers the Outstanding Creative Writer scholarship to one exceptional graduate student. The scholarship is for $500, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming Fall and Spring semesters.

Eligibility

• Applicants for this award must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with an assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
• Members of the GSA Executive Council and Awards Committee, and persons involved with the judging process of any GSA awards, are ineligible to apply.
• Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 
• Applicants must be enrolled for the upcoming Fall semester in order to receive the scholarship.
• Students who received a scholarship/award in the 2023 GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received by may apply for others.

Judging criteria

A panel of faculty judges will evaluate the submissions and choose a winner based on originality, form, movement, voice, style, mechanics, and overall effect, and their decision is final.

Application instructions

Please submit your online application by 11:59 p.m. PT on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and Scholarship webpage for dates). Your application packet must include the following:

• Completed Cover Page (the online application)
• No more than 25 pages of prose, or no more than ten pages of poetry with no more than one poem per page attached/uploaded to the application. 
• Please note that the writing does not have to be from a course, coursework, or have been published. Any writing sample(s) may be submitted. 

Outstanding Creative Writer Scholarship online application

Important Information: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. Applications are judged by University faculty members and administrators. The decisions of the judges are final. Applicants will be notified whether they have won an award by early to mid-April. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony in April. Winners are expected to attend.

Program overview

The Graduate Student Association offers an award program for outstanding graduate student researchers. This award is given annually to University of Nevada graduate students with a distinguished record in research or creative activities. One applicant in each of the four categories will be selected and receive an award in the amount of $850. The category will be determined by graduate program enrollment in the most recently enrolled semester.

• Category A: STEM (Sciences/Mathematics/Engineering/Health Sciences)
  • A1: Master’s
  • A2: Ph.D.
• Category B: NON-STEM (Liberal Arts/Education/Business/Journalism)
  • B1: Master’s
  • B2: Ph.D.

The highest-ranked applicant will also be recognized as the Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher at the University's Honor the Best Ceremony.

Eligibility

• Applicants for this award must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with an assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
• Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 
• Members of the GSA Executive Council and Awards Committee, and persons involved with the judging process of any GSA awards, are ineligible.

• Students who received a scholarship/award in the 2023 GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received by may apply for others.

Application instructions

Please submit your online application packet by 11:59 p.m. PT on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and scholarship page for dates). Your nomination packet must include the following:

• Completed application form
• Letter of recommendation demonstrating clear evidence that the applicant's research contributes to developing new knowledge within their discipline. The evidence should reflect recognized evaluations in the form of critically reviewed papers, presentations, and other forms of scholarly activity or recognition. In areas where research grants and contracts are an important part of the research effort, there must be clear evidence that the candidate has been competitive for such grants. The recommendation letter should indicate the significance, volume, and quality of the candidate's research so that it can be easily understood by scholars from other disciplines.
• Supplemental Documentation (up to 5 pages). Applicants may submit the following additional information: a copy of your curriculum vitae, a list of all publications and highlighting work published in peer-reviewed journals; examples of significant published work that you feel are representative of your research; a list of grants and contracts received, indicating the project title, name of grant, amount of grant, beginning and termination dates, and the nature of the competition for that grant; up to 2 additional letters of recommendation from those familiar with your research.

Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award online application

Faculty recommendation submission

Important information: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. Applications are judged by University faculty members and administrators. The decisions of the judges are final. Applicants will be notified whether they have won an award by early to mid-April. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony in April. Winners are expected to attend.

Program overview

The Graduate Student Association offers the Outstanding Domestic Graduate Student Scholarship to outstanding, full-time graduate students. The scholarship is judged based on a faculty recommendation letter, your personal statement, scholarly work, and extracurricular activities completed during enrollment in your current degree program as a University of Nevada, Reno graduate student. The Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship is for $1,000, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming fall and spring semesters.

• Category A: STEM (Sciences/Mathematics/Engineering/Health Sciences)
  • A1: Master’s
  • A2: PhD
• Category B: NON-STEM (Liberal Arts/Education/Business/Journalism)
  • B1: Master’s
  • B2: PhD

Eligibility

• Applicants for this scholarship must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with an assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
• Members of the GSA Executive Council and Awards Committee, and persons involved with the judging process of any GSA awards, are ineligible to apply.
• Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 
• Applicants for the Outstanding International Graduate Student Scholarship may not apply for the Outstanding Domestic Graduate Student Scholarship.
• Applicants must be enrolled for the upcoming Fall semester in order to receive the scholarship.
• Students who received a scholarship/award in the 2023 GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.

Application instructions

Please submit your online application packet by 11:59 p.m. PT on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and scholarship page for dates). Your application packet must include the following:

• Completed online application
• Unofficial University of Nevada, Reno transcript
• Letter of recommendation from a University faculty member.

Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship online application

Faculty recommendation submission

Please note: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. Applications are judged by University faculty members and administrators. The decisions of the judges are final. Applicants will be notified whether they have won an award by early to mid-April. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony. Winners are expected to attend.

Program Overview

The Graduate Student Association offers an award program for outstanding graduate student Service. This award is given annually to University of Nevada graduate students with a distinguished record in service, completed during a collegiate career for the benefit of universities or communities, or both. Applicants will be selected and receive an award in the amount of $500.00.

• Category A: STEM (Sciences/Mathematics/Engineering/Health Sciences)
• Category B: Non-STEM (Liberal Arts/Education/Business/Journalism)

Examples of service/awards/experience that may apply (the list is not exhaustive):  

• Community Service/Volunteerism
• Honors, Awards, and Recognition
• Leadership Activities
• Philanthropy
• Activism
• Multicultural/Diversity Experiences
• Participation in Clubs, Organizations, Programs, or Activities
• Participation in Research
• Internships
• Service Abroad
• Service Learning
• Government Service

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants for this award must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with an assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
• Members of the GSA Executive Council and Awards Committee, and persons involved with the judging process of any GSA awards, are ineligible.
• Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 
• Students who received a scholarship/award in the GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received, but may apply for others. 

Application requirements 

Please submit your online application packet by 11:59 p.m. on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and scholarship page for dates). Your nomination packet must include the following:

• Completed application form;
• Provide a statement that describes: the significance, volume, and quality of the candidate's service; information about the candidate's service record/achievements; information about the candidate's extracurricular activities and leadership qualities; and any other information about why the candidate stands out among other graduate students; and
• Supplemental supporting materials, including letters of support/recommendations, copies of news articles, or anything else that may provide useful information to the judges. Supplemental materials may not exceed 6 pages.

Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award

Please note: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. Applications are judged by University faculty members and administrators. The decisions of the judges are final. Applicants will be notified whether they have won an award by early to mid-April. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony in April. Winners are expected to attend.

Program overview

The Graduate Student Association is pleased to offer the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. This award is designed to recognize graduate students who are teaching assistants or instructors who go above and beyond their assigned duties. If you know of such a graduate teaching assistant, please nominate them for the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. The recipient(s) of this award will receive $500, which can be used however the recipient(s) wishes.

Eligibility

• Nominees for this award must be a current graduate student who has been employed as a teaching assistant or instructor employed by the University of Nevada, Reno.
• Nominees must have taught in or before last semester, i.e. a brand new GTA for Spring 2018 may not be nominated this year.
• Nominators must be current academic or administrative faculty members.

Nomination instructions

Please submit your online application by 11:59 pm PST on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and Scholarship Page for dates). Your nomination packet must include the following:

• The completed nomination form, including a Letter of recommendation explaining the merits of your nominee-the nomination letter, may not exceed 2 pages; and
• Up to 3 pages of supporting documentation

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award online application

Important Information: The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award winner will be notified prior to the Awards Ceremony and formally recognized at the Ceremony.

Program overview

The Graduate Student Association offers this award program for outstanding graduating graduate students. This award is given annually to two University of Nevada, Reno graduate students who have a distinguished record within their program and have also shown leadership qualities on campus and have worked for the improvement of the university. The recipients of this award will each receive $1000, which can be used however the recipient wishes. The highest ranked applicant will also be recognized at the University Honor the Best Ceremony.

• Category A: Graduating Ph.D. Students
• Category B: Graduating Master’s Students

Eligibility

• Candidates for this award must have graduated, or plan to graduate, in the most recent December or upcoming May or August.
• Members of the GSA Executive Council or Awards Committee, and anyone involved with judging any GSA award, are ineligible to be nominated.

Application instructions

Please submit your online application packet by 11:59 p.m. PT on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and scholarship page for dates). Your application packet must include the following:

• Completed application form
• Letter of nomination from a University faculty member that describes: the significance, volume, and quality of the candidate's research; information about the candidate's academic record/achievements; information about the candidate's extracurricular activities and leadership qualities; and any other information about why this candidate stands out among other graduate students.
• Supplemental supporting materials, including other letters of support, copies of news articles, or anything else that may provide useful information to the judges. Supplemental materials may not exceed six pages.

Outstanding Graduating Graduate Award online application

Faculty recommendation submission

Important information: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. Applications are judged by University faculty members and administrators. The decisions of the judges are final. Applicants will be notified whether they have won an award by early to mid-April. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony in April. Winners are expected to attend.

Program Overview

The Graduate Student Association offers the Outstanding International Graduate Student Scholarship to outstanding, full-time international graduate students. The award is judged based on a faculty recommendation letter, your personal statement, scholarly work, and extracurricular activities completed during enrollment in your current degree program as a University of Nevada graduate student. The Outstanding International Graduate Student Scholarship is for $1000, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming fall and spring semesters.

• Category A: STEM (Sciences/Mathematics/Engineering/Health Sciences)
  • A1: Master’s
  • A2: PhD
• Category B: NON-STEM (Liberal Arts/Education/Business/Journalism)
  • B1: Master’s
  • B2: PhD

Eligibility

• Applicants for this award must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with an assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
• Applicants must be attending UNR on an F-1 or J-1 visa. Members of the GSA Executive Council and Awards Committee, and persons involved with the judging process of any GSA awards, are ineligible to apply.
• Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 
• Applicants for the Outstanding Domestic Graduate Student Scholarship may not apply for the Outstanding International Graduate Student Scholarship.
• Applicants must be enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in order to receive the scholarship.
• Students who received a scholarship/award in the 2023 GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received by may apply for others. 

Application instructions

Please submit your online application packet by 11:59 p.m.  PST on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and scholarship page for dates). Your application packet must include the following:

• Completed online application
• Unofficial University of Nevada, Reno transcript
• Letter of recommendation from a UNR faculty member

Outstanding International Graduate Student Scholarship online application

Faculty recommendation submission

Please note: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. Applications are judged by University faculty members and administrators. The decisions of the judges are final. Applicants will be notified whether they have won an award by early to mid-April. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony in April. Winners are expected to attend.

Program Overview

The Graduate Student Association offers the Outstanding Postdoc Award to honor an individual who has been a true friend and advocate for graduate students. Has someone in your department consistently been there for you in good times and in bad? Has this person consistently encouraged and supported you in your graduate studies? If so, you may nominate this person for the Outstanding Postdoc Award. The recipient of this award will receive a $450.00 monetary award. 

Eligibility

• Nominees for this award must be employed by the University of Nevada, Reno as post-doctoral scholars for the current academic year.
• Nominators must be currently enrolled, graduate students.

Nomination instructions

Please submit your online application by 11:59 p.m. on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and Scholarship Page for dates). Your nomination packet must include the following:

• The completed nomination form, including a Letter of recommendation explaining the merits of your nominee-the nomination letter, may not exceed two pages; and
• Up to 3 pages of supporting documentation.

Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award online application

Important information: The Outstanding Postdoc Award winner will be notified prior to the Awards Ceremony and formally recognized at the Ceremony. The nominating graduate student will be expected to present the award to their mentor at the Ceremony.

Program overview

The Graduate Student Association offers this merit-based grant program allowing graduate students the opportunity to compete for monetary support for their research and scholarly projects. It is our goal to provide funding opportunities that encompass a wide range of scholarly activities of graduate students from a breadth of disciplines. For the Spring Awards, the Graduate Student Association has a pool of $25,000 for grant funding and will award as many grants as possible, up to $2,500 per student. A panel of judges from multiple academic departments will evaluate the grant proposals. 

Eligibility

• Applicants for this award must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with an assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
• Members of the GSA Executive Council and Awards Committee, and persons involved with the judging process of any GSA awards, are ineligible to apply.
• Awards will be made for the upcoming academic year and will be available beginning in August. Students must be enrolled for upcoming Fall semester classes at the University in order to access funds.
• Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Awards and Scholarships, Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, and online programs. 
• Students who received a scholarship/award in spring of 2023 GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received, but may apply for others. 

Funding priorities

The Graduate Student Association will place priority on proposals that are of high quality, viable, and meritorious-have demonstrable, measurable outcomes-are financially feasible and have demonstrated the ability to meet project goals, budget, and timeline.

Application instructions

Please submit your online application packet by 5 p.m. on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and Scholarship Page for dates). Your application packet must include the following:

• Completed online application
• Letter of recommendation from advisor addressing the merits of the proposed project
• Certificate of Protocol form, for research involving human subjects (NOTE: if your research has not yet been approved by the IRB, you may submit an unofficial copy of your Protocol Application; if you are granted an award, funds will not be released until you provide GSA with a final approved Certificate of Protocol.)

Research, Travel, and Materials Grant Program online application

Faculty recommendation submission

Important Information: The GSA Awards Program is a highly competitive process. Applications are judged by University faculty members and administrators. The decisions of the judges are final. The maximum grant amount will be $2,500 per student. Requests for more than $2,500 wiII not be considered. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony in April. Winners are expected to attend.

Program overview

The Graduate Student Association offers the Vada Trimble Outstanding Mentor Award to honor an individual who has been a true friend and advocate for graduate students. Has someone in your department consistently been there for you in good times and in bad? Has this person consistently encouraged and supported you in your graduate studies? If so, you may nominate this person for the Vada Trimble Outstanding Mentor Award. Your mentor does not necessarily have to be a full-time professor. The recipient of this award will receive a plaque. 

Eligibility

• Nominees for this award must be employed by the University of Nevada, Reno as academic or administrative faculty members for the current academic year.
• Nominators must be currently enrolled, graduate students.

Nomination instructions

Please submit your online application by 11:59 pm PT on the due date (Please check the GSA Events Calendar and Scholarship Page for dates). Your nomination packet must include the following:

• The completed nomination form, including a Letter of recommendation explaining the merits of your nominee-the nomination letter, may not exceed 2 pages; and
• Up to 3 pages of supporting documentation.

Vada Trimble Outstanding Mentor Award online application

Important information: The Vada Trimble Outstanding Mentor Award winner will be notified prior to the Awards Ceremony and formally recognized at the Ceremony. The nominating graduate student will be expected to present the award to their mentor at the Ceremony.