A group of people celebrating Graduate College awards.

Celebrating our wins

Each year, Missouri State honors the exceptional accomplishments of graduate students, assistants and faculty members through a series of awards.

Graduate College Awards

Graduate Education Awards Reception

Join us on Thursday, May 6, 2027 to recognize the outstanding work of graduate students, staff, and faculty.

2025 - 2026 Graduate Award Winners

Graduate student awards

Fall submission deadline
Distinguished Teaching Assistant (TA) Award
Recognizing exemplary teaching assistant performance at the master's level.
Fall submission deadline
Distinguished Thesis Award
Recognizing distinguished scholarship and research at the master's level.
Fall nomination and Spring submission deadline
Outstanding Graduate Assistant

Recognizing excellent administrative, teaching, and research graduate assistants. Selected by Graduate Student Senate.

Fall submission deadline and event
3 Minute Thesis University Competition
Recognizing students' ability to present research in under three minutes to an educated layperson audience. Students must nominated by their department to participate.
Spring submission deadline and event
Einhellig Interdisciplinary Forum
Recognizing outstanding visual and oral presentations of research.

Graduate faculty awards

Fall nomination and spring submission deadline
Outstanding Graduate Mentor
Recognizing faculty members who have taken an active role in students’ graduate pursuits. Selected by Graduate Student Senate.
Fall nomination and submission deadline
Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising
Recognizing outstanding advising at the graduate level.
Candidates chosen by the Graduate College
Outstanding Thesis Advisor Award

Recognizing thesis advisors who have demonstrated a high level of interest in and expectation for their students. These faculty members have shown continued dedication to both thesis productivity and thesis quality.

Note: Candidates for this award are not nominated by students; candidates are identified by the Graduate College. Students who wish to nominate their thesis advisor for an award should submit a nomination form for the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award.