The Graduate School

Nominees must demonstrate academic excellence in all regards of graduate study (grade point average, outstanding performance in coursework, academic skills that exceed the average in terms of written assignments, projects, service, or leadership). Faculty should only nominate a student whom all agree is outstanding. 

Nominees must have successfully completed the defense of their dissertation.  Student work must be of publishable quality, or of research on a topic of exceptional significance to the profession or discipline. Final manuscripts are expected to demonstrate excellence in design, analysis, and discussion, and should stand above the work of all other students in the given semester.

Nominees must have successfully completed the defense of their thesis. Student work must be of publishable quality, or of research on a topic of exceptional significance to the profession or discipline. Final manuscripts are expected to demonstrate excellence in design, analysis, and discussion, and should stand above the work of all other students in the given semester.

Nominees must have completed a project that has demonstrated excellence in its conception, merit, significance, and in its presentation (written or otherwise).

Nominees work have been published or accepted for publication in a professional journal. The student shall serve as a primary author. The publication may be an article or other product appropriate to the profession or discipline (e.g. case study, protocol, literature review, technical report, etc.).

Nominees should have demonstrated outstanding service and leadership to the community and profession (beyond the GVSU campus). Any faculty or staff member who has observed this student's performance may lend their support to the nomination.  Letters should address the ways in which the student's service has benefited the community and/or the profession.

Nominees should have displayed active leadership and service at GVSU. Nominations may be supported by any faculty or staff member who has had the opportunity to observe and evaluate the student's leadership. Letters should address ways in which the student's leadership and service have impacted the university.

Nominees should have displayed active promotion of inclusion and diversity at Grand Valley State University, as well as embodied the spirit of inclusion within the campus community. Nominations may be supported by any faculty or staff member who has observed the student's promotion of inclusion and diversity at GVSU. Letters should address ways in which the student's actions have impacted the university in terms of inclusion and diversity.

Nominees should have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovative thinking in the community by implementing sustainable best practices. Any faculty or staff member who has observed this student's performance may lend their support to the nomination. Letters should address the ways in which the student has given life to a sustainability initiative in one or more aspects of the triple bottom line in sustainability (economic, social, or environmental).