GPSC awards acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice of graduate and professional students and those who make the journey possible. Awards are given out in the late spring of each academic year.
Alex Marino dedicated a significant portion of his time as a doctoral student in the University of Arkansas Department of History to serving within graduate student government while simultaneously leading the successful fight for GPSC’s independence and helping author our founding documents putting GPSC on a path of autonomy and success. In that spirit, this award is bestowed upon a graduate or professional student who has gone above and beyond merely performing institutional service and has made a lasting impact on the University of Arkansas and/or its broader community over the past academic year.
Nominations may be submitted by any graduate student, professional student, faculty member, or administrator at the University of Arkansas.
Open to any graduate or professional student with previous and/or current record of service in the armed forces, who by word or deed has proved themselves to be a crucial part of the graduate experience at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Nominations may be submitted by any graduate student, professional student, faculty member, or administrator at the University of Arkansas.
Open to one student pursuing a Juris Doctorate (JD) or Legum Magister (LLM) degree at the University of Arkansas who has demonstrated through word or deed exceptional leadership and service on behalf of law students and/or the broader community through the practice and study of law.
Nominations may be submitted by any current student pursuing a Juris Doctorate (JD) or Legum Magister (LLM) degree at the University of Arkansas or School of Law faculty member or administrator.
Open to one graduate or professional student at the University of Arkansas who has demonstrated through word or deed an unyielding commitment to diversity and inclusion on the University of Arkansas campus and/or in the broader Northwest Arkansas community in the spirit of Sandra Kurjiaka over the past academic year.
Nominations may be submitted by any graduate student, professional student, faculty member, or administrator at the University of Arkansas. Nominations will be reviewed and voted on by the GPSC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Open to any faculty member (including teaching assistants and graduate student instructors) at the University of Arkansas campus who has demonstrated unwavering support and mentorship to graduate and professional students in the current academic year. Nominations may be submitted by any graduate student or professional student at the University of Arkansas.
Nominations will be reviewed and determined by the GPSC Academic and Teaching Committee and distributed during Faculty Appreciation Week at a ceremony held in conjunction with the Associated Student Government and the Vice Provost’s Office for Faculty Affairs (this is a separate process from other awards described on this page). The Academic and Teaching Committee will have the discretion to give up to ten (10) awards each year.
Open to any Graduate-Professional Student Congress member (Executive, Judiciary, DSO Representatives, and At-Large Representatives). Awarded to one (1) or two (2) Graduate Student Congress members who have proven exceptional leadership through guidance, support, word, or deed in their work as a member of the Body.
The committee will have the discretion to award up to two awards each year.
Awarded to one community member or elected official from the broader Fayetteville community who has proven through guidance, support, word, or deed to be a steadfast ally to Graduate and Professional Students at the University of Arkansas.
Nominations may be submitted by any graduate student or professional student at the University of Arkansas.
Open to any University of Arkansas Staff Member including administration officials such as deans and chancellors. Awarded to one University of Arkansas staff member who has proven through guidance, support, word, or deed to be a steadfast ally to the Graduate-Professional Student Congress and Graduate and Professional Students in general at the University of Arkansas within the current academic year.
Nominations may be submitted by any graduate student or professional student at the University of Arkansas.
Awarded to one Graduate or Professional student engaged in outstanding academic research, regardless of department, that has caused honor to be bestowed upon said individual and graduate and professional programs at the University of Arkansas within the current academic year through significant contributions to sciences or humanities.
Nominations may be submitted by any graduate student, professional student, faculty member, or administrator at the University of Arkansas. Awards will be voted on by the Research Council.
Open to any graduate or professional student who has, through word or deed, demonstrated consistent and empathic support to an undergraduate student or a fellow graduate/professional student.
Nominations may be submitted by current graduate, professional, or undergraduate students by submitting a 150 – 250 word description about how the nominee has been helpful. No more than 5 awards per year will be given.
The Administrator Ally of the Year Award celebrates an administrator at the University of Arkansas who went above and beyond in their roles, actively championing the needs and interests of graduate and professional students, fostering inclusivity, providing invaluable guidance, and creating a supportive environment conducive to academic and personal growth. It acknowledges the remarkable contributions of an individual whose unwavering commitment enhances the graduate and professional student experience and fosters a culture of collaboration, respect, and empowerment.
This Award is open to any graduate student and professional student at the University of Arkansas who has demonstrated a deep commitment to serving their peers and advancing the mission and goals of the Graduate & Professional Student Congress (GPSC). Whether through advocacy, mentorship, community engagement, or organizational leadership, recipients of this award exemplify the spirit of service and selflessness that enriches our graduate and professional student experience.
The Campus Leadership Award is open to any graduate and professional Student at the University of Arkansas who has exhibited outstanding leadership skills, innovative thinking, and a profound dedication to serving others. This is a student leader who inspires their peers and goes above and beyond in their roles; the Campus Leadership Award seeks to highlight someone who has made a lasting impact on our campus through their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence.
The Academic Prowess Award is open to any graduate and professional student at the University of Arkansas who has demonstrated scholarly excellence and intellectual achievement among our student body. It recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and mastery in their academic pursuits, setting a standard of excellence for their peers.
This award is open to any graduate and professional student who has demonstrated exemplary efforts in community engagement and outreach, especially in serving the broader community beyond our campus walls, embodying the spirit of social responsibility, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Through dedicated outreach initiatives, the recipient of this award has forged strong partnerships, advocated for positive change, and worked tirelessly to address pressing societal challenges. Their unwavering dedication to service and their impact on communities near and far exemplify the values of compassion, collaboration, and civic responsibility.