2023 GSS Awards

Open to all graduate students

Award: $1,000

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. To be eligible for this $1000 award, the applicant must be a graduate student in good standing with the Graduate College and in a recognized BGSU academic graduate degree program that is in good standing with the Graduate Student Senate at the time of application. The application must be submitted by Friday, February 24, 2023 by 11:59 pm using the application found on the GSS Canvas. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

Electronic Application Package

Please fill out the informational information on the application. The application will ask you for the names and emails of your letter writers. The three letters of support must include the following and reach by Friday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm to gss@bgsu.edu. More information below.

• Letter written by a BGSU student (either a graduate or undergraduate student)
• One by the graduate coordinator of the student’s department, the chair of the department, or adviser here at BGSU
• One by a second faculty member (does not have to be in the student’s department) but still from BGSU

You will be asked to upload a Word document answering the following:

• Describe your involvement with the University and/or the Bowling Green community and how it reflects your individual values and skills. (500-1000 words)
• Choose two core values and describe how you have demonstrated them at BGSU.

Bowling Green State University’s five core values are:

Respect for one another

Cooperation

Intellectual and Personal Growth

Creativity and Innovation

Pursuit of Excellence

• Is there anything else that you would like the committee to know in considering you for this award? (Optional)

Letters of Support

Please provide the following instructions for your letters of reference: 

Electronic letters should be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment to gss@bgsu.edu on or before Friday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm. Important: The body of letter should not contain the student’s name.

The email subject line should contain the name of the student and the name of the award:

“Graduate Student of the Year Award: Mary Jones”

The body of letter should not contain the student’s name.

No paper submissions will be accepted.

Open to all international graduate students

Award: $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.

To be eligible for this $500 award, the applicant must be an international  graduate student in good standing with the Graduate College and in a recognized BGSU academic graduate degree program that is in good standing with the Graduate Student Senate at the time of application. The application must be submitted by Friday, February 24, 2023 by 11:59 pm using the application found on the GSS Canvas. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. The three letters of support must include the following and reach by Friday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm to gss@bgsu.edu. More information below.

Electronic Application Package

Please fill out the informational information on the application. The application will ask you for the names and emails of your letter writers. The three letters of support must include:

• Letter written by a BGSU student (either a graduate or undergraduate student)
• One by the graduate coordinator of the student’s department, the chair of the department, or adviser here at BGSU
• One by a second faculty member (does not have to be in the student’s department) but still from BGSU

You will be asked to upload a Word document answering the following:

• Describe your involvement with the University and/or the Bowling Green community and how it reflects your individual values and skills. (500-1000 words)
• Choose two core values and describe how you have demonstrated them at BGSU.

Bowling Green State University’s five core values are:

Respect for one another

Cooperation

Intellectual and Personal Growth

Creativity and Innovation

Pursuit of Excellence

• Is there anything else that you would like the committee to know in considering you for this award? (Optional)

Letters of Support

Please provide the following instructions for your letters of reference: 

Electronic letters should be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment to gss@bgsu.edu on or before Friday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm. Important: The body of letter should not contain the student’s name.

The email subject line should contain the name of the student and the name of the award:

“Graduate Student of the Year Award: Mary Jones”

The body of letter should not contain the student’s name.

No paper submissions will be accepted.

Open to all graduate students; usually lab assistants

Award: $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.

To be eligible for this $500 award, the applicant must be a graduate student in good standing with the Graduate College and in a recognized BGSU academic graduate degree program that is in good standing with the Graduate Student Senate at the time of application. The application must be submitted by Friday, Febraury 24, 2023 by 11:59 pm using the application found on the GSS Canvas. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. The letters of support must reach by Friday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm to gss@bgsu.edu

The Graduate Student Senate Research Assistant Award recognizes the outstanding performance of a graduate student who is classified as an RA1.  The award should be based on the following 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.

Electronic Application:

Please fill out the informational information on the application. The application will ask you for the names and emails of the two letters of support. One must be from the nominee's direct supervisor. Only one submission per nominee is needed. If you are nominating a student and need access to the canvas shell, please contact gss@bgsu.edu prior to the deadline to gain access. The letters of support should be from BGSU members.

You will be asked to upload a Word document answering the following:

• Describe your involvement with the University and/or the Bowling Green community and how it reflects your individual values and skills. (500-1000 words)
• Choose two core values and describe how you have demonstrated them at BGSU.

Bowling Green State University’s five core values are:

Respect for one another

Cooperation

Intellectual and Personal Growth

Creativity and Innovation

Pursuit of Excellence

Is there anything else that you would like the committee to know in considering you for this award? (Optional)

Letters of Support

Nominators, please provide the following instructions for your letter of support: 

Electronic letters should be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment to gss@bgsu.edu on or before by Friday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm. Important: The body of letter should not contain the student’s name.

Letter of support should describe how long and in what capacity the writer has known the nominee and what qualities (described in the criteria above) the nominee possesses.

The email subject line should contain the name of the student and the name of the award:

“Outstanding RA1 Award: Mary Jones”

The body of letter should not contain the student’s name.

No paper submissions will be accepted.

Open to all graduate students; usually admin/department assistants

Award: $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.

To be eligible for this $500 award, the applicant must be a graduate student in good standing with the Graduate College and in a recognized BGSU academic graduate degree program that is in good standing with the Graduate Student Senate at the time of application. The application must be submitted by Friday, February 24, 2023 by 11:59 pm using the application found on the GSS Canvas. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. The letters of support must reach by Friday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm to gss@bgsu.edu

The Graduate Student Senate Research Assistant Award recognizes the outstanding performance of a graduate student who is classified as an RA2.  The award should be based on the following 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.

Electronic Application:

Please fill out the informational information on the application. The application will ask you for the names and emails of the two letters of support. One must be from the nominee's direct supervisor. Only one submission per nominee is needed. If you are nominating a student and need access to the canvas shell, please contact gss@bgsu.edu prior to the deadline to gain access. The letters of support should be from BGSU members.

You will be asked to upload a Word document answering the following:

• Describe your involvement with the University and/or the Bowling Green community and how it reflects your individual values and skills. (500-1000 words)
• Choose two core values and describe how you have demonstrated them at BGSU.

Bowling Green State University’s five core values are:

Respect for one another

Cooperation

Intellectual and Personal Growth

Creativity and Innovation

Pursuit of Excellence

• Is there anything else that you would like the committee to know in considering you for this award? (Optional)

Letters of Support

Nominators, please provide the following instructions for your letter of support: 

Electronic letters should be sent as a Microsoft Word attachment to gss@bgsu.edu on or before by Friday, March 3, 2023 by 11:59 pm. Important: The body of letter should not contain the student’s name.

Letter of support should describe how long and in what capacity the writer has known the nominee and what qualities (described in the criteria above) the nominee possesses.

The email subject line should contain the name of the student and the name of the award:

“Outstanding RA2 Award: Mary Jones”

The body of letter should 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. John Boman (2022), Dr. Sandra Faulkner (2021), Dr. Craig Zirbel (2020), Dr. Monica Longmore (2019), and. Dr. Paul A. Moore (2018).

Nominations for the Outstanding Contributor to Graduate Education Awards will be accepted until Friday, February 24, 2023 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. 

Open to current graduate student senators

Award: $100

The recipients that are eligible for this $100 prize are the current graduate student senators. This award permits self-nomination or nomination by the GSS. Nominees must upload a letter of about 500 words describing their role and contribution as a senator. The application must be submitted by Friday, February 24, 2023 by 11:59 pm using the application found on the GSS Canvas. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.