Grad Student Award Opportunities

THREE MINUTE THESIS AWARDS PROGRAM, 2024-2025

View Three Minute Thesis Awards Details

Originally developed by the University of Queensland, the Three Minute Thesis is an awards competition that enhances skills of communication and presentation. Presenting an oral communication of master's or doctoral research in three minutes or less to a non-specialist audience can be challenging to students and professionals alike, but is an important skill to develop for conferences and the job market.

Learn how to effectively summarize your research and make a perfect pitch that is designed for all audiences. Students have just three minutes and the aid of one Powerpoint slide to communicate their research effectively to an intelligent, but non-specialist audience. 

The 3MT awards competition, hosted by the College of Graduate Studies, has registration open to present until December 2 with presentations delivered and judged at the competition on Thursday, February 27 at 12pm. Monetary prizes will be awarded, $500 (first place) and $250 (runner-up). The first place winner will represent CSU in at the 3MT competition sponsored by the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools in April in Indianapolis.

Learn more about CSU's competion by viewing the document on how to participate and judging criteria, as well as reviewing the 3MT webpage.

CSU 3MT Builds Skills! A priceless reward of the 3MT competition is that, in addition to the awards competition, participants will have training and development opportunities to maximize skills in building, improving, practicing, and presenting your pitch, all while gaining valuable feedback from experts and peers. 

Students from a wide variety of academic backgrounds participate in the 3MT and are encouraged to present. You can find successful 3MT presentations from across the globe at the 3MT website. 

TOP REASONS TO JOIN 3MT @ CSU Learn the necessary presentation skills that will serve you throughout your career and profession.  Build confidence and comfort for future presentations to peers, employers, investors, entrepreneurs. Enjoy the benefits of free training and feedback from past 3MT award winners, peers, and CSU staff/faculty.  Gain attention to and an understanding of complex research among a non-specialist audience of judges.  Post your 3MT to your CV or Resume, or other platforms. Achieve recognition and eligibility for prizes in the College of Graduate Studies 3MT Awards Program.

CSU STUDENT EARNS 2ND PLACE AT 2020 REGIONAL CONFERENCE 
 

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FALL AWARDS PROGRAM

Graduate Student 2024-2025 Fall Awards Program

Graduate Student Awards and Nomination Guidelines for 2024-2025

During Fall Semester, the College of Graduate Studies invites eligible graduate students to participate in the 2024-2025 Graduate Student Awards Program (Fall Semester) and the 3MT Competition (Spring Semester).  The awards programs recognize graduate student achievement across multiple categories with monetary awards ranging from $250 to $500.  Award categories include:  Creative Scholarship, Research, Teaching, Engagement and Social Advocacy. 

Participant Eligibility
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better 
Current CSU graduate students or no more than one year post-graduation
Request a nomination from a member of CSU Graduate Faculty
Participants must follow all Awards Guidelines linked above

NOTE:  All nomination materials should be submitted at this website. You will need to log in with your CSU credentials. Please make sure you have read and followed the guidelines prior to submitting. Make sure to complete the fillable nomination cover page as part of the nomination process.

COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AWARD WINNERS 2023/24    2022/23    2021/22    2020/21    2019/20     2018/19

MONTE AND USHA AHUJA MENTORSHIP AWARDS​​​​

Monte and Usha Ahuja International Student Faculty Mentorship Award
If a faculty member has provided you or other international students with outstanding help, guidance, mentorship, and support throughout the year(s), tell them how grateful you are by nominating them for the Ahuja International Student Faculty Mentorship Award. In addition, we specifically encourage CSU faculty and staff, committees, and departments to nominate faculty who have made an outstanding contribution to an international student(s), committees, activities, or the university as a whole.

Monte and Usha Ahuja International Student Achievement Award
The Monte and Usha Ahuja International Student Achievement Award was created to acknowledge the outstanding achievement and leadership of international students enrolled at Cleveland State University. This Award honors Monte and Usha Ahuja, who enable international students to study at Cleveland State University through the Ahuja Endowed Scholarship Fund and were international students on their academic journeys. The award will be given each year to a graduate student who has demonstrated excellence in academic achievement and shown a commitment to campus and/or community engagement in fostering the international learning experience. The Award is a recognition of the outstanding contributions of international students to the Cleveland State University community.

Download Ahuja Award Guidelines

Submit Nominations at https://csuohio.sharepoint.com/sites/009/gradawards/SiteAssets/Ahuja.aspx

Nomination for both awards are due by 12 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, January 9, 2025.