For a better experience, click the Compatibility Mode icon above to turn off Compatibility Mode, which is only for viewing older websites.

Graduate Student Excellence Awards

A group of students with an adminstrator standing on stage to accept an award

Members of the Public Health Doctoral Student Advisory Group accepting an Office of Graduate Studies Recognition Award at the Graduate Student Excellence Awards Ceremony & Reception May 30, 2024.

The Office of Graduate Studies is pleased to recognize outstanding mentorship, civic engagement, scholarship, service, research, and teaching assistance through it's Graduate Student Excellence Awards. These awards recognize Drexel's high performing graduate students from across the University and their commitment to the University's mission. The Office of Graduate Studies appoints a diverse group of faculty and professional staff representing Drexel's Colleges and Schools to review nominations and select University-level awardees based on the evaluation criteria. See this year's review committee members listed below. Awards are usually distributed each year at the annual Graduate Student Excellence Awards Ceremony & Reception.

2024-2025 Awards Cycle

Submissions for the 2024-2025 awards cycle are now open! The deadline to submit nominations is 12 p.m. EDT Monday, March 24, 2025.

2024-2025 awardees will be notified and announced on or around April 22, 2025.

Please review the award information and required materials on the Office of Graduate Studies website PRIOR to starting a nomination form in Qualtrics as the form will not save a draft and you will be asked to upload required documents at the time of submission. It is recommended you prepare any answers offline, such as in a Word document, before copying and pasting them into the form to submit.

Submit a Nomination

Questions? Contact gradawards@drexel.edu

Outstanding Mentorship Awards

In partnership with the Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs in the Pennoni Honors College, the Outstanding Graduate Student Mentorship Awards are presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who have shown an outstanding commitment to mentoring, developing and supporting undergraduate and/or new or junior graduate students.


Drexel Common Good Award

In partnership with the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, the Drexel Common Good Award is presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who demonstrates academic excellence and who are committed to improving the world around them by making contributions to local, national or global communities through scholarship, civic engagement, or community building.


Social Change Award for Equity

In partnership with the Center for Black Culture, the Social Change Award for Equity is presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who have made positive contributions that promote social justice, equity, cultural diversity, inclusion, and understanding and/or awareness and who have demonstrated excellence in DEI programming or initiatives.


Research Excellence Awards

Research Excellence Awards are presented to graduate and professional students (master's and doctoral level) who have completed original, innovative research, scholarship and/or creativity during their career at Drexel.


Outstanding Dissertation Awards

The Outstanding Dissertation Awards are presented to doctoral-level students who have written original, innovative dissertations that reflect great research and have or are likely to be disseminated widely and have significant impact on the field and society.


Teck-Kah Lim Award

Teck-Kah Lim, PhD, is the former Associate Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics. The Teck-Kah Lim Graduate Student Excellence Award is presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who show promise of future meaningful contributions to local, national or global communities as can be gleaned from present academic excellence and achievements in research and/or teaching, as well as outstanding selfless service to peers, and the local community.


Teaching Assistant Excellence Awards

Teaching Assistant Excellence Awards are presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who serve as Teaching Assistants or Teaching Fellows (TAs/TFs) and who exhibit exemplary commitment to student learning through reflective teaching practices, creative and innovative teaching methods, academic support, leadership and a commitment to their own professional growth and development as an educator.


Graduate Student Excellence Awards Committee 2024-2025

  • Chair: Anne Converse Willkomm, Associate Dean, Office of Graduate Studies & College of Arts and Sciences
  • With support from David Kim, Office of Graduate Studies
  • TBD

Teaching Assistant Excellence Awards Subcommittee 2024-2025

  • Chair: Valerie Klein, School of Education
  • With support from David Kim, Office of Graduate Studies
  • TBD