2025 GSS Awards

Award

• This award is for $1000
• This is a self-nominated award. If you know someone who should be nominated, please direct them to this page and encourage them to submit themselves for the award and then submit a letter of support according to the directions below.
• Students can only win either the Jill Carr Outstanding Graduate Student Award OR the Outstanding International Graduate Student Award

Eligibility

• The applicant must be in a BGSU graduate degree program
• The applicant must be a graduate student in good standing with the Graduate College
• The applicant must be in a program that is in good standing with the Graduate Student Senate

Submission Requirments

• The application must be submitted by Friday, March 1, 2024 by 11:59 pm (Extended until March 8, 2024)
• The application must be submitted using the application found on the GSS Canvas

Application Requirements

• One statement written by the applicant
• One letter written by a BGSU student (graduate)
• One letter written by BGSU faculty who is the graduate coordinator, department chair, or advisor of the student
• One letter written by a different BGSU faculty member

Applicant Statement

• Statement between 500-1000 words
• Description of your involvement with the University and/or the Bowling Green community and how it reflects your individual values and skills
• Description of how you have demonstrated two of BGSU's core values (Respect for one another, Cooperation, Intellectual and Personal Growth, Creativity and Innovation, Pursuit of Excellence)
• Optional: anything else that you would like the committee to know in considering you for this award

Letters of Support

Please provide the following instructions for your letters of reference:

• Letters of support must be submitted by Sunday, March 3, 2024 by 11:59 pm
• Letters of support need to be submitted via email to gss@bgsu.edu
• Letters of support need to be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment
• The email subject line should contain the name of the student and the name of the award (i.e.“Jill Carr Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Mary Jones”)
• The body of letter must not contain the student’s name
• No paper submissions will be accepted

Award

• This award is for $1000
• This is a self-nominated award. If you know someone who should be nominated, please direct them to this page and encourage them to submit themselves for the award and then submit a letter of support according to the directions below.
• Students can only win either the Jill Carr Outstanding Graduate Student Award OR the Outstanding International Graduate Student Award

Eligibility

• The applicant must be an international graduate student
• The applicant must be in a BGSU graduate degree program
• The applicant must be a graduate student in good standing with the Graduate College
• The applicant must be in a program that is in good standing with the Graduate Student Senate

Submission Requirments

• The application must be submitted by Friday, March 1, 2024 by 11:59 pm (Extended until March 8, 2024)
• The application must be submitted using the application found on the GSS Canvas

Application Requirements

• One statement written by the applicant
• One letter written by a BGSU student (a graduate)
• One letter written by BGSU faculty who is the graduate coordinator, department chair, or advisor of the student
• One letter written by a different BGSU faculty member

Applicant Statement

• Statement between 500-1000 words
• Description of your involvement with the University and/or the Bowling Green community and how it reflects your individual values and skills
• Description of how you have demonstrated two of BGSU's core values (Respect for one another, Cooperation, Intellectual and Personal Growth, Creativity and Innovation, Pursuit of Excellence)
• Optional: anything else that you would like the committee to know in considering you for this award

Letters of Support

Please provide the following instructions for your letters of reference:

• Letters of support must be submitted by Sunday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm
• Letters of support need to be submitted via email to gss@bgsu.edu
• Letters of support need to be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment
• The email subject line should contain the name of the student and the name of the award (i.e.“Outstanding International Graduate Student Award: Mary Jones”)
• The body of letter must not contain the student’s name
• No paper submissions will be accepted

Award

• This award is for $500
• This is a self-nominated award. If you know someone who should be nominated, please direct them to this page and encourage them to submit themselves for the award and then submit a letter of support according to the directions below.

Award Criteria

1. Innovation and Initiative – demonstration of resourcefulness in the assistantship site, including the formulation and implementation of creative new ideas.  The emphasis of these ideas should be to improve the work environment, to save time and/or money, to better serve students or faculty, and in general, to contribute to the better overall efficiency and effectiveness of the department/division/university.
2. Performance – “above and beyond” that required by the position, e.g., accepting special projects, additional responsibilities such as committee work, giving extra time to effectively complete an administrative or research assignment, service on university committees, or recognition brought to the department/division/university through their performance.
3. Relationship/Service to the University Community – The nominee must effectively interact with faculty, staff, or students in providing services that promote growth and harmony in their respective department or division, and in general campus relations.

Eligibility

• The applicant must classified as RA1
• The applicant must be in a BGSU graduate degree program
• The applicant must be a graduate student in good standing with the Graduate College
• The applicant must be in a program that is in good standing with the Graduate Student Senate

Submission Requirments

• The application must be submitted by Friday, March 1, 2024 by 11:59 pm
• The application must be submitted using the application found on the GSS Canvas

Application Requirements

• One statement written by the applicant
• Two letters of support (one letter must be written by the nominee's direct supervisor)

Applicant Statement

• Statement between 500-1000 words
• Description of your involvement with the University and/or the Bowling Green community and how it reflects your individual values and skills
• Description of how you have demonstrated two of BGSU's core values (Respect for one another, Cooperation, Intellectual and Personal Growth, Creativity and Innovation, Pursuit of Excellence)
• Optional: anything else that you would like the committee to know in considering you for this award

Letters of Support

Please provide the following instructions for your letters of reference:

• Letters of support should describe how long and in what capacity the writer has known the nominee
• Letters of support should describewhat qualities the nominee possesses (described in the "Award Criteria" section above)
• Letters of support must be submitted by Sunday, March 3, 2024 by 11:59 pm
• Letters of support need to be submitted via email to gss@bgsu.edu
• Letters of support need to be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment
• The email subject line should contain the name of the student and the name of the award (i.e.“Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant 1 Award : Mary Jones”)
• The body of letter must not contain the student’s name
• No paper submissions will be accepted

Award

• This award is for $500
• This is a self-nominated award. If you know someone who should be nominated, please direct them to this page and encourage them to submit themselves for the award and then submit a letter of support according to the directions below.

Award Criteria

1. Innovation and Initiative – demonstration of resourcefulness in the assistantship site, including the formulation and implementation of creative new ideas.  The emphasis of these ideas should be to improve the work environment, to save time and/or money, to better serve students or faculty, and in general, to contribute to the better overall efficiency and effectiveness of the department/division/university.
2. Performance – “above and beyond” that required by the position, e.g., accepting special projects, additional responsibilities such as committee work, giving extra time to effectively complete an administrative or research assignment, service on university committees, or recognition brought to the department/division/university through their performance.
3. Relationship/Service to the University Community – The nominee must effectively interact with faculty, staff, or students in providing services that promote growth and harmony in their respective department or division, and in general campus relations.

Eligibility

• The applicant must classified as RA2
• The applicant must be in a BGSU graduate degree program
• The applicant must be a graduate student in good standing with the Graduate College
• The applicant must be in a program that is in good standing with the Graduate Student Senate

Submission Requirments

• The application must be submitted by Friday, March 1, 2024 by 11:59 pm
• The application must be submitted using the application found on the GSS Canvas

Application Requirements

• One statement written by the applicant
• Two letters of support (one letter must be written by the nominee's direct supervisor)

Applicant Statement

• Statement between 500-1000 words
• Description of your involvement with the University and/or the Bowling Green community and how it reflects your individual values and skills
• Description of how you have demonstrated two of BGSU's core values (Respect for one another, Cooperation, Intellectual and Personal Growth, Creativity and Innovation, Pursuit of Excellence)
• Optional: anything else that you would like the committee to know in considering you for this award

Letters of Support

Please provide the following instructions for your letters of reference:

• Letters of support should describe how long and in what capacity the writer has known the nominee
• Letters of support should describewhat qualities the nominee possesses (described in the "Award Criteria" section above)
• Letters of support must be submitted by Sunday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm
• Letters of support need to be submitted via email to gss@bgsu.edu
• Letters of support need to be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment
• The email subject line should contain the name of the student and the name of the award (i.e.“Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant 2 Award : Mary Jones”)
• The body of letter must not contain the student’s name
• No paper submissions will be accepted

Nominate a faculty or staff member

Award: $250

This person cannot self-nominate and must be nominated by a current graduate student(s). The award contains $250 prize.  However, if nominated, the person may be asked to submit additional materials. More than one graduate student may submit a nomination for the same person.

This award is presented annually to a graduate faculty member or staff member who has demonstrated a superlative level of commitment to graduate education at Bowling Green State University. If you are a graduate student at BGSU and feel that you have had the opportunity to work with a person who possesses these qualities, this is your chance to show your appreciation!

While difficult to formalize, a superlative level of commitment to graduate education includes, but is not limited to: a demonstrated commitment to the welfare and professional development of graduate students; leadership by example, rather than rule; and a genuine concern for the student by creating a relationship out of trust, guidance, and friendship. While your professor/staff member should provide a positive atmosphere conducive to degree attainment and professional development, he or she should also create an atmosphere of critical intellectual challenge and growth.

A professor/staff member may not receive the OCGE Award more than one time in 5 years. Winners of past five years have been: Dr. Julia Halo, Biological Sciences (2023), Dr. John Boman (2022), Dr. Sandra Faulkner (2021), Dr. Craig Zirbel (2020), and Dr. Monica Longmore (2019).

Nominations for the Outstanding Contributor to Graduate Education Awards will be accepted until Saturday, February 24, 2024 by 11:59 pm using the application found on the GSS Canvas.   If a group of graduate students wish to nominate an individual, each of the nominators must still fill out a nomination form and write an essay that details the qualities possessed by the professor/staff member, the individual nominator’s relationship with the professor/staff member, and why you think the professor/staff member deserves the OCGE Award. 

Select nominees will then be asked to submit a resume/curriculum vitae to the Honors and Awards Committee, and the Honors and Awards Committee reserves the option to conduct an interview with the nominees at the last stage of the selection process.

Step 1: Fill out the nomination form located on the GSS Canvas page under 'Modules.'

If nominating a faculty member, please include a single document that includes the following information:

1. List below the formal courses you have taken from the nominee.
2. List independent studies, thesis, and/or dissertation hours you have/have had supervised by the nominee.
3. List examples where you and the nominee collaborated professionally (e.g., joint authorship of published articles, presented together at a conference, team taught a class, guest lectured a class for each other or other assistance in professional development, etc.).
4. Write a short essay (under 500 words) that details the qualities possessed by the instructor (referring to the instructor only by “Dr. X” this essay will be reviewed independently of the information you have supplied), the individual nominator’s relationship with the instructor, and why you think the instructor deserves the OCGE Award. The nomination letter will be uploaded to the nomination form.

If nominating a staff member, please include a single document that includes the following information:

1. List below the committees, meetings, or other formal interactions you have had with the nominee.
2. List the offices/departments that you have/have had supervised by or worked with the nominee.
3. List examples where you and the nominee collaborated professionally (e.g., worked on a committee together, worked in an office together, presented together at a conference or meeting, other assistance in professional development, etc.):
4. Write a short essay (under 500 words) that details the qualities possessed by the graduate staff member (referring to the graduate staff member only by “Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr. X” this essay will be reviewed independently of the information you have supplied), the individual nominator’s relationship with the graduate staff member, and why you think the graduate staff member deserves the OCGE Award. 

Word documents should not include the nominee's name.

All uploaded documents must be in Word format, in Times New Roman in 12-point font. Email submissions will not be accepted. 

Award

• This award is for $100
• This award permits self-nomination or nomination by the GSS.

Elegibility

• The applicant must be a current Graduate Student Senate senator
• The applicant must be in a program that is not censored

Submission

• The application must be submitted by Friday, March 1, 2024 by 11:59 pm (Extended until March 8, 2024)
• The application must be submitted using the application found on the GSS Canvas

Application Requirements

• Nominees must upload a letter of about 500 words describing their role and contribution as a senator