Graduate Annual Awards

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Each spring semester the Graduate School hosts the Annual Awards Ceremony to showcase the important contributions and achievements made during the academic year by our graduate students and faculty in support of graduate education and the teaching, research, and service missions of our institution. Additionally, the Graduate School sponsors, in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association, the Butler Center's Graduate Award for Excellence, which recognizes a student who has excelled in the areas of leadership, service, and academics. This award is presented at the Butler Center's annual Celebration of Involvement.

Applications for nominations are now closed.

Deadline was March 15, 2024

 

Graduate School Awards

Student Awards

Both online and on-campus graduate students are eligible for nomination (excludes M.D. and J.D. students). Graduate students may be nominated by current faculty members or administrators. 

  • Outstanding Graduate Research or Scholarship Award

This award recognizes a graduate student distinguished in scholarly or research pursuits in a University of Miami graduate program. The award winner would have made a distinctive and discernible contribution to the field of study to which the student belongs during the academic year. Currently enrolled graduate students at the University of Miami during this academic year are eligible for this award.

  • Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

This award recognizes a graduate student for enhancing education at the University of Miami. The award winner would have demonstrated superior effectiveness or innovation in teaching while serving as an instructor or teaching assistant in a classroom, laboratory, studio or other setting, as well as demonstrated interest in professional development as a teacher. Currently enrolled graduate students with a teaching assistantship at the University of Miami during this academic year are eligible for this award.

  • Graduate Student Exemplar Award

This award recognizes a graduating student who excelled academically and has either overcome tremendous odds to be successful or has consistently made contributions that benefit others. This student’s service, leadership or other distinctive efforts may have been to the campus, local, national or international community. Graduate students graduating during this academic year are eligible for this award.

  • Graduate Student Diversity Advocate Award

This award recognizes a graduate student who has demonstrated a strong commitment and made outstanding contributions to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Miami. Currently enrolled graduate students at the University of Miami are eligible for this award.

 

Faculty Awards

Faculty may be nominated by faculty members, administrators, or graduate students. 

  • Outstanding Graduate Program Director Award

This award recognizes a Graduate Program Director who has made a significant impact on graduate education, and/or in support of graduate students in their program during the academic year. The outstanding Graduate Program Director may have made innovations and/or contributions to enhance curriculum, programming, recruitment, retention or placement.  All Graduate Program Directors for this academic year are eligible for the Outstanding Graduate Program Director award.

  • Faculty Mentor of the Year Award

This award recognizes a graduate faculty member who has shown tremendous commitment to mentoring, advising, and supporting graduate student advisees during the academic year. A faculty member who has made distinctive efforts in mentoring and advising graduate students to 1) become professionals in their field, 2) shape the graduate work of a graduate student, or 3) provide exceptional personal support and development to a graduate student. All graduate faculty are eligible to be nominated for the Faculty Mentor of the Year Award.

 

Butler Center Celebration of Involvement

The Butler Center's 2024 Celebration of Involvement will take place on April 18, 2024. Click here for more information on this year's ceremony. The nomination deadline is March 15, 2024.

Graduate Award for Excellence

This award, created in 1996, recognizes a student who has excelled in the areas of leadership, service, and academics. In order to be considered eligible for this award, nominees must meet all of the following conditions and participate in an interview, if selected as a finalist: 

  • Nominees must be currently enrolled at the University of Miami and be graduating in the Spring
    2024, Summer 2024, or Fall 2024 semesters.
  • Nominees must be graduate students (excludes M.D. and J.D. students).
  • Nominees must have a minimum overall cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.0.
  • Nominees must demonstrate extensive student involvement, leadership and achievement in organizations and/or programs and activities at the University of Miami. The Graduate Award for Excellence is designed to recognize superior service above and beyond that required for degree completion in the area of involvement.
  • Nominees must demonstrate personal integrity and exemplary character through specific leadership actions.
  • Nominees must have a commitment to helping other students by encouraging, supporting and nurturing their involvement in leadership opportunities.
  • Nominees must have demonstrated future leadership potential.

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  • 2023 Awards

    2023 Graduate School Annual Awards Ceremony Winners

    grad annual awards

    The Graduate School is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022-2023 Graduate Annual Awards! 

    • Outstanding Graduate Research or Scholarship Award: Abdurrahman Yavuz, Ph.D. student in Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering
    • Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: David Vess, D.M.A. student in Composition, Frost School of Music
    • Graduate Student Exemplar Award: Hunter Howell, Ph.D. student in Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
    • Graduate Student Diversity Advocate Award: Ryne Siesky, D.M.A. student in Music Composition, Frost School of Music
    • Outstanding Graduate Program Director Award: Beth Babcock, Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
    • Faculty Mentor of the Year Award: Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
    • Butler Center's Graduate Award for Excellence: Khadija Moody, M.H.A. student in Health Management and Policy, Miami Herbert Business School 

    Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. Click here to view the event program.

  • 2022 Awards

    2022 Graduate School Annual Awards Ceremony Winners

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    The Graduate School is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021-2022 Graduate Annual Awards! 

    • Outstanding Graduate Research or Scholarship Award: Yaa Abu, Ph.D. student in Microbiology & Immunology/M.D., Miller School of Medicine
    • Outstanding Graduate Research or Scholarship Award: Tuana Yazici, M.A. student in International Administration, College of Arts & Sciences
    • Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: Liz Casline, Ph.D. student in Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
    • Graduate Student Exemplar: Kim Bauldree, M.F.A. student in Studio Art, College of Arts & Sciences
    • Graduate Student Diversity Advocate Award: Elliott Weinstein, Ph.D. student in Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
    • Outstanding Graduate Program Director Award: Michael Bernath, History Program, College of Arts & Sciences
    • Faculty Mentor of the Year Award: Liz Losin, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
    • Butler Center's Graduate Award for Excellence: Eric Randolph, Ph.D. in Marine Biology & Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

    Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. Click here to view the event program.

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  • 2021 Awards

    2021 Graduate School Annual Awards Ceremony Winners

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    The Graduate School is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020-2021 Graduate Annual Awards! 

    • Outstanding Teaching Assistant: Suchismita Dutta, English, College of Arts and Sciences
    • Outstanding Research Assistant: Keenan Mintz, Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
    • Graduate Student Exemplar: Marissa Kobayashi, Prevention Science and Community Health, Miller School of Medicine
    • Outstanding Graduate Program Director: Armando Montero, Construction Management, School of Architecture
    • Mentor of the Year award: Daniel Bradford, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
    • Butler Center's Graduate Award for Excellence: Melanie Plastini, Neuroscience, Miller School of Medicine

    Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.

    nominee names

  • 2020 Awards

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    2020 Graduate School Annual Awards Ceremony Winners

    The Graduate School is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019-2020 Graduate Annual Awards! 

    • Outstanding Teaching Assistant: Merranda McLaughlin, Ph.D. student in Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
    • Outstanding Research Assistant: Ashley Hemm, Ph.D. student in English, College of Arts and Sciences, and Keyvan Yousefi, Ph.D. student in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine
    • Graduate Student Exemplar- Master's: Antonio Sanchez Gonzalez, M.S.N. student, School of Nursing and Health Studies
    • Graduate Student Exemplar- Doctoral: Vanesa Mora Ringle, Ph.D. student in Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
    • Outstanding Graduate Program Director: Dr. Noel Ziebarth, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
    • Mentor of the Year award: Dr. Kenneth Feeley, Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

    Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. For more details and access a recording of the announcement, click here

     

  • 2019 Awards

    2019 Graduate School Annual Awards Ceremony Winners

    All nominees were invited to attend the ceremony on Wednesday, April 10, in the Tower Room of the Alumni Center where award winners were announced. Click here to view the event program and list of nominees. 

    Graduate Award for Excellence in Student Leadership: Fahd Qadir, Ph.D. in Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology

    Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant: Eric Ling, Ph.D. in Mathematics

    Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant: Stephanie Skenyon, Ph.D. in History

    Graduate Student Exemplar (Doctoral): Magno Formiga, Ph.D. in Physical Therapy

    Graduate Student Exemplar (Master's): Daniel Samano Martin del Campo, Master of Public Health

    Outstanding Graduate Program Director: Juan Manuel Gonzalez, Family Nurse Practitioner

    Faculty Mentor of the Year: Michelle Afkhami, Biology

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