The Graduate School is celebrating our students during our fifth annual Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) April 7-11! This week of food, fun activities, and more is one of our favorite traditions to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the young scientists who help make the Graduate School a world-class institution. The schedule for the week can be found on our GSAW page. 

Started in 1993 by student activists within the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students, Graduate Student Appreciation Week is celebrated at universities across the country during the first week of April as a concrete way to show support for the many contributions made by graduate students. GSAW at the Graduate School has grown from our inaugural event in 2021, to this year’s event featuring swag for students, a professional portrait session, a Jeopardy!-style game featuring inspirational scientists hosted by the Association of Minority Biomedical Researchers (AMBR), a session on funding opportunities for international students hosted by the International Student Association (ISA), and more!  

A newly named food truck event organized by our program coordinators, Spitz’s Food Truck Frenzy, will premiere in honor of Cheryl ‘Spitz’ Spitzenberger, who retired in January 2025 after 46 years of service to the Graduate School. Also new this year, the Student Voices contest was created for students to share short stories about their graduate journeys and enter for the chance to win a prize bag. The Career and Alumni Engagement team looks forward to sharing student stories during and beyond GSAW to celebrate our amazing students. 

“Graduate Student Appreciation Week is one of my favorite times of the year because it gives us the chance to pause and truly celebrate the students who make the Graduate School such a vibrant community,” says Raquel Salinas, PhD, assistant dean for career and alumni engagement. “It’s a time to show our gratitude and recognize their hard work, creativity, and resilience – and the impact they’re making, not just in science, but in shaping the future of the Graduate School community.” 

Follow activities during GSAW on our social media!