Graduate Student Awards Ceremony


The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is currently seeking nominations for awards to honor graduate students, faculty, and staff who have closely supported graduate students during the past academic year. The Annual GSS Awards Ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 27th, 2024, at the Davis Center in the Mansfield at noon.

 We encourage current graduate and professional students to nominate up to one (1) candidate for each award category listed below. Please submit your nominations by Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 4:00 pm. Nominations must be made by a current UVM graduate or professional student to be considered. Additionally, nominations should include a justification of up to 150 words, explaining why the nominee is an outstanding choice for the award.

Ida Russin Support Person of the Year Award:

The Ida Russin Support Person of the Year Award is given to a support person who works closely with graduate students, going above and beyond the role of their position.

Patrick M. Brown Central Staff Award:

The Patrick M. Brown Central Staff Award is given to a central staff member (i.e. Graduate College, Student Financial Services, Office of International Education, etc.) who isn't associated with a particular graduate program/department to acknowledge and appreciate their work and dedication 'behind-the-scenes'.

Nominations for the Excellence in Teaching Award:

The Excellence in Teaching Award is given to a faculty member who teaches graduate students, making an impact through teaching in their subject area.

Nominations for the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award:

The Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award is given to an advisor who lends support, knowledge and guides a graduate student through their career at UVM.

Most Innovative Research Award:

The Most Innovative Research Award is given to a graduate student whose research is unique, progressive, and exemplary of the cutting edge research being conducted at the University of Vermont.

Nomination for the Senator of the Year Award:

The Senator of the Year Award is given to a graduate student who has served as a senator for their program on the Graduate Student Senate and gone above and beyond their specified duties.

The Thomas Sullivan Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year Award:

The Thomas Sullivan GTA of the Year Award is given to a graduate student who shows their passion for teaching through their teaching assistantship and enables undergraduate students to pursue their passions and learn more about various topics that relate to their overall career path.

The Meeting Basic Needs Award

This award is given to a student who contributes to meeting the basic needs of graduate students


Please submit your nominations via this link. You must be logged into your UVM Account (netID and password) to access the form, and you will only be able to complete the form once. For any questions or concerns, please email the Vice President of the Graduate Student Senate (GSS), Cara Simone, at Cara.simone@med.uvm.edu.

 

Past GSS Awards Recipients

 

Maeve Forbes was awarded the Meeting Basic Needs Award for her significant contributions to supporting graduate students. Maeve initially became involved with Rally Cat’s Cupboard as an SGA senator in 2020 and played a pivotal role in its continuity despite facing numerous challenges. Rally Cat’s Cupboard was established in response to a 2017 study conducted by the UVM Food Insecurity Working Group that found one in five students experienced food insecurity. "Part of what is so inspiring about the Cupboard is that it’s students coordinating to support other students," said Martha Caswell, co-director of the UVM Agroecology and Livelihoods Collaborative and the club's advisor. "While structural changes are necessary to prevent food insecurity more broadly, this is a shining example of students responding to immediate needs." We see her incredible work and thank her for helping graduate students meet their basic needs.