The Office of Graduate Studies is pleased to call for nominations for its annual Graduate Recognition Awards, Folsom Awards, current Graduate Student Fellowships and Postdoc Awards.
Please submit your nomination by 11:59 PM CST, Monday, February 17, 2025.
Past Recipients:
See Past Awards for details.
Graduate Recognition Awards
Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Education: honors faculty members whose dedication to graduate students and commitment to excellence in graduate mentoring have made a significant contribution to graduate education at Nebraska. Faculty and staff may nominate a faculty member for this award. Nominators will be required to submit a nomination letter and the nominee’s CV.
Graduate Student Excellence in Mentoring Award: recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate and other graduate students in research and creative activities. Faculty and staff may nominate a graduate student for this award. Nominators will be required to submit a nomination letter and submit the nominee’s CV.
Outstanding Graduate Research and Creative Activities Award: recognizes excellence in graduate student research and creativity at Nebraska. Faculty and staff may nominate a student for this award. Nominators will be required to submit a nomination letter and submit the nominee’s CV and summary of research or creative activity (max. 1000 words).
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: recognizes graduate teaching assistants who have demonstrated special effectiveness in teaching undergraduates at Nebraska. Faculty and staff may nominate a student for this award. Nominators will be required to submit a nomination letter and submit the nominee’s CV and statement of teaching philosophy (max. 1000 words).
Postdoc Recognition Awards
Outstanding Postdoc Award: Honoring the achievements of exceptional postdoctoral scholars for their comprehensive efforts in research, teaching, mentoring, innovation, and University or community service. Faculty, PI’s, or mentors may nominate postdocs for this award. Nominator’s will be required to submit a nomination letter and nominee’s CV.
Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award: Honoring a UNL faculty member or PI who has demonstrated a sustained commitment and exceptional ability in mentoring postdoctoral scholars' professional and career development. Postdocs, faculty, or PI’s may nominate faculty members or PI’s who advise postdoc scholars. Nominator’s will be required to submit a nomination letter and the nominees CV and mentoring philosophy or mentoring statement.
Folsom Thesis & Dissertation Awards
Folsom Distinguished Master's Thesis Award: recognizes the outstanding research and creative accomplishments of the university's master's students and includes a $500 honorarium. Each department that confers the Master’s degree may submit one nomination for the award. Nominees must have graduated with their Master’s degree within the last year. Nominators will be required to submit a nomination letter and the nominee’s CV and thesis abstract (max. 1000 words).
Folsom Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award: recognizes the outstanding research and creative accomplishments of the university's doctoral students and includes a $1000 honorarium. Each department that confers the Doctoral degree may submit one nomination for the award. Nominees must have graduated with their doctoral degree within the last year. Nominators will be required to submit a nomination letter and the nominee’s CV and dissertation abstract (max. 1000 words)
These awards are made possible through a generous gift from the family of Lowe R. and Mavis M. Folsom to the University of Nebraska Foundation.
Graduate Fellowships
The Presidential Fellowship is awarded to advanced doctoral or MFA students. The fellowship is $24,000. This award also includes tuition, fees, and the University's portion of the student health insurance for one academic year. Eligible students must be scheduled to graduate no later than August 2025. See our Presidential Fellowship Guidelines for more information.
The Fling Fellowship is awarded to advanced masters or doctoral students. Masters students must be within one year of graduation and doctoral students must be within two years of graduation. The fellowship is $20,000. This award also includes tuition, fees, and the University's portion of the student health insurance for one academic year. See our Fling Fellowship Guidelines for more information.
The Dean's Fellowship will be awarded to advanced masters or doctoral students. The fellowship is $5,000. See our Dean's Fellowship Guidelines for more information.
For more information about these nominations, contact graduate@unl.edu.