Spring awards
At our annual GSA Awards Ceremony, the Graduate Student Association proudly provides $40,000 in scholarships, awards, and grants, as well as recognition, to our most outstanding graduate students.
Applications are open! The hard deadline to submit applications is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Scholarships, grants and awards
Application submissions
Applications for the GSA Spring Awards are open! Deadline to apply is March 1, 2026 11:59 p.m.
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, Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award and the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship. Scholarships/awards may be subject to taxation; any applicable taxes will be deducted from the total amount as determined by Accounts Payable for each recipient.
Read the general eligibility requirements from the Office of Financial Aid below.
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GSA Spring Awards Ceremony
Mark your calendars! GSA Spring Awards Ceremony will take place May 4 from 6–8 p.m.
GSA scholarship, award and grant eligibility requirements:
- Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress for Scholarships, awards and grants.
- Applicants for a scholarship/award must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with a graduate assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application. Applicants must also be enrolled for the upcoming Fall semester in order to receive a scholarship.
- To be eligible for any GSA scholarship, students must have completed the 2024-2025 Scholarship Application in MyNevada.
- Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are not eligible for GSA awards, scholarships and grants: Medical School, Justice Management and Judicial Studies, MFA Low Residency Program and online programs.
- Students who received a scholarship/award in the spring of 2025 GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per funding cycle.
General notes
- This is a highly competitive process.
- Applications are judged by a qualified judge/juror and decisions are final.
- Applicants will be notified if they have won the scholarship by early to mid-April.
- All scholarship/award recipients are expected to attend the GSA Spring Awards Banquet, to be held later in the spring semester.
- Scholarships/awards may be subject to taxation; any applicable taxes will be deducted from the total amount as determined by Accounts Payable for each recipient.
- No applications or materials will be accepted after the deadline date.
Program Overview
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) offers the Outstanding Graduate Artist Scholarship to recognize achievement in Fine Arts. Two $750 scholarships will be awarded to Outstanding Graduate Artists, with each scholarship disbursed in two equal payments during the upcoming fall and spring semesters. Applicants for this scholarship and award are exclusively for visual artist and can participate in a studio visit.
Eligibility
- Applicants for this scholarship and award are exclusively for visual artist and can participate in a studio visit.
- Applicants for this scholarship must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with a graduate 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 graduate programs.
- Applicants must be enrolled for the upcoming Fall semester in order to receive the scholarship. However, if an applicant is graduating the current spring semester they are eligible to receive the scholarship as an award, but please note these are subject to tax.
- Students who received a scholarship/award in the previous year’s cycle of the GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per funding cycle.
Judging criteria
- There will be a studio visit with the guest juror.
- Students must sign-up for a scheduled studio visit with the guest juror. (Date and time to be determined and announced)
- The guest juror will evaluate the candidates and decide the winners
- 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).
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 a scholarship 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 Creative Writer scholarship to one exceptional graduate student. The scholarship is for $750, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming Fall and Spring semesters.
Eligibility
- Applicants for this scholarship must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits without a graduate assistantship or 6 credits with a graduate assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
- Graduate students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Scholarships: Medical School, Justice Management, Judicial Studies and online graduate programs.
- Applicants must be enrolled in the upcoming Fall semester to receive the scholarship. However, if an applicant is graduating the current spring semester they are eligible to receive the scholarship as an award, but please note these are subject to tax.
- Students who received a scholarship/award in the previous year’s cycle of the GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per award cycle.
Judging criteria
A panel of faculty judges will evaluate the submissions and choose a winner based on the rubric provided below.
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.
Forms & rubrics:
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 a scholarship 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 (GSA) offers a scholarship program for outstanding graduate student researchers. This scholarship 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 a scholarship in the amount of $750, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming Fall and Spring semesters.
The category you are entered into is determined by your most recently enrolled graduate program.
- 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 scholarship must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with a graduate assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
- Graduate students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Scholarships: Medical School, Justice Management, Judicial Studies, and online graduate programs.
- Applicants must be enrolled in the upcoming Fall semester to receive the scholarship. However, if an applicant is graduating the current spring semester they are eligible to receive the scholarship as an award, but please note these are subject to tax.
- Students who received a scholarship/award in the previous year’s cycle of the GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per award cycle.
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.
Forms & rubrics:
- Outstanding Graduate Researcher Scholarship online application
- Faculty recommendation submission
- Award and scholarship rubrics
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 a scholarship 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 (GSA) offers the Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship to outstanding graduate students. This award is given to the graduate students who demonstrate distinguished achievement in multiple areas of graduate student duties, including scholarly work, teaching and academic outreach and extracurricular involvement. A student cannot win both the Outstanding Graduate Student and the Outstanding Graduating Graduate Student awards in the same cycle.
The scholarship is judged based on a faculty recommendation letter, your personal statement, scholarly work, and extracurricular activities completed during enrollment in your current graduate degree program at the University of Nevada, Reno. The Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship is for $750, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming fall and spring semesters.
The category you are entered into is determined by your most recently enrolled graduate program:
- 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 a graduate 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 graduate programs.
- Applicants must be enrolled for the upcoming Fall semester in order to receive the scholarship. However, if an applicant is graduating the current spring semester they are eligible to receive the scholarship as an award, but please note these are subject to tax.
- Students who received a scholarship/award in the previous year’s cycle of the GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per award cycle.
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.
Forms & rubrics:
- Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship online application
- Faculty recommendation submission
- Award and scholarship rubrics
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 a scholarship 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 (GSA) offers a scholarship recognizing graduate students with a distinguished record in voluntary service or advocacy completed during a collegiate career (within UNR) with a positive impact on the University, community or both. Service and advocacy activities should reflect meaningful engagement, leadership, as well as sustained impact over time.
Applicants will be selected to receive a monetary scholarship of $750, with the scholarship disbursed in two equal payments during the upcoming fall and spring semesters. They will also be recognized at the GSA Spring Awards Celebration.
Examples of service and advocacy may include, but are not limited to:
- Community service and volunteerism
- Leadership activities and governance
- Student advocacy at the departmental, unit, campus, local, state, or national level
- Student outreach, mentoring, and support
- Initiatives that improve student learning, satisfaction, persistence, or retention
- Development and dissemination of advocacy, educational, or informational materials
- Organizing students or stakeholders for collective action or engagement
- Philanthropy, activism, and civic engagement
- Multicultural, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts
- Participation in clubs, organizations, programs, or service-learning activities
- Research, internships, or service-related professional activities
- Government or policy-related service
Eligibility criteria
- Applicants for this scholarship must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with a graduate assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
- Graduate students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Scholarships: Medical School, Justice Management, Judicial Studies, and online graduate programs.
- Applicants must be enrolled in the upcoming Fall semester to receive the scholarship.
- Students who received a scholarship/award in the previous year’s cycle of the GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per award cycle.
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 and/or advocacy; 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.
Forms & rubrics:
- Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship online application
- Faculty recommendation submission
- Award and scholarship rubrics
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 a scholarship 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 (GSA) is pleased to offer the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship in the amount of $750, disbursed in two equal payments in the upcoming Fall and Spring semesters. This scholarship is designed to recognize graduate students who serve as teaching assistants or instructors at UNR and go above and beyond their assigned duties or demonstrate positive improvement in student outcomes. Eligible individuals are encouraged to be nominated for the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship.
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.
Eligibility
- Nominees for this scholarship must be a current graduate student who has been employed as teaching assistant or instructor at the University of Nevada, Reno.
- Nominees must have taught in or before the last semester, which means a brand new GTA for the semester in which they are applying may not apply.
- Applicants for this scholarship must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with a graduate assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
- Graduate students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Scholarships: Medical School, Justice Management, Judicial Studies, and online graduate programs.
- Applicants must be enrolled in the upcoming Fall semester to receive the scholarship. However, if an applicant is graduating the current spring semester they are eligible to receive the scholarship as an award, but please note these are subject to tax.
- Students who received a scholarship/award in the previous year’s cycle of the GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per award cycle.
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
Forms & rubrics
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 a scholarship by early to mid-April. All applicants are invited to attend the GSA Awards Ceremony in April. Winners are expected to attend.
Program overview
This award is given to graduating students who have a distinguished record within their program, have shown leadership qualities on campus and have worked for the improvement of the university. This category is intended for graduating students whose accomplishments and contributions during their studies at UNR have not previously been recognized through the GSA spring awards. The recipients of this award will each receive $750, which can be used however the recipient wishes. Awards will be subject to taxation; any applicable taxes will be deducted from the total amount as determined by Accounts Payable for each recipient.
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 at the University Honor the Best Ceremony.
Eligibility
- Applicants for this scholarship must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits or 6 credits with a graduate assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application. In addition, candidates for this award must have graduated, or plan to graduate, in the most recent December or upcoming May or August.
- Graduate students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Scholarships: Medical School, Justice Management, Judicial Studies, and online graduate programs.
- A student cannot win both the Outstanding Graduate Student and the Outstanding Graduating Graduate Student awards in the same cycle. A student can win this award only once during their career in the same department while at UNR. If they were awarded this scholarship when they graduated from their master’s program, they are not eligible to apply during their doctorate program if both programs were within the same department.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per award cycle.
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.
Forms & rubrics
- Outstanding Graduating Graduate Award online application
- Faculty recommendation submission
- Award and scholarship rubrics
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 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 plaque.
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 (GSA) offers this merit-based grant to allow graduate students the opportunity to compete for monetary support for their research and scholarly projects. Funding opportunities encompass a wide range of scholarly activities of graduate students from a breadth of disciplines. For the Spring Awards, the GSA has a pool of $10,000 for grant funding and will award five (5) in Category A and five (5) in Category B, up to $1,000 per student.
The category you are entered into is determined by your most recently enrolled graduate program:
- Category A: STEM (Sciences/Mathematics/Engineering/Health Sciences)
- Category B: Non-STEM (Liberal Arts/Education/Business/Journalism/Fine Arts)
Eligibility
- Applicants for this grant must be registered, full-time graduate students (9 credits without a graduate assistantship or 6 credits with a graduate assistantship) in good academic standing at the time of application.
- Graduate students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for GSA Scholarships: Medical School, Justice Management, Judicial Studies, and online graduate programs.
- Applicants must be enrolled in the upcoming Fall semester to receive the scholarship.
- Students who received a scholarship/award in the previous year’s cycle of the GSA Spring Awards Program are ineligible to apply again for the same scholarship/award received but may apply for others.
- Students are limited to winning two scholarships/awards per award cycle.
- Grants will be made for the upcoming academic year and will be available beginning August 1 and will have until May 31 of the following academic year to expend these funds.
- Students must be enrolled for upcoming Fall semester classes at the University to access funds.
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.)
Forms & rubrics
- Research, Travel, and Materials Grant Program online application
- Faculty recommendation submission
- Award and scholarship rubrics
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 $1,000 per student. Requests for more than $1,000 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.