Graduate Awards

Excellence-in-Teaching Citation

Description

Each year, MSU recognizes six graduate teaching assistants with Excellence-in-Teaching Citations. The award is presented to teaching assistants who have distinguished themselves by the care they have given and the skill they have shown in meeting their classroom responsibilities. The essential purpose of the citation is to bring University-wide recognition to the best of the graduate teaching assistants and by so doing to underline the qualitative contribution which they are making to the undergraduate program.

Nomination Procedures

The Department of Kinesiology is permitted to nominate one or two candidates for the Excellence-in-Teaching Citation each year. Nominations are submitted by faculty or students to the Faculty Advisory Committee. Credentials for the most qualified nominee(s) are forwarded to the College of Education and subsequently to the University. Nomination forms and further information about the award is available on the Provost’s web site at http://www.msu.edu/unit/provost/awards.html.

Recipients

Excellence in Diversity Award

Description

The award is presented to individuals or units who have demonstrated outstanding emerging, sustained, or lifetime commitment to the value of diversity or multiculturalism within the University or outside the University community. Specific examples can include initiatives/programs that explore a range of themes such as diversity of cultures, religions, and abilities and are programs that have become a part of the University’s infrastructure and are sustainable.

Nomination Procedures

Nomination forms and further information about the award are available on the web site of the Office for Affirmative Action, Compliance and Monitoring athttp://www.inclusion.msu.edu/eida.

Recipients

Other MSU Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards

The Graduate School

The Graduate School website includes a comprehensive listing of funding opportunities.

The Summer Research Opportunities (SROP) program is also hosted by the MSU Graduate School.

MSU Scholarships

Learn more about scholarships offered through MSU.

College of Education Awards

Excellence in Teaching Award

Description

The Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the College of Education is presented annually to four faculty members and four graduate students who have demonstrated that their teaching and advising practices are thoughtful and effective. The Award serves as a public reminder of the commitment by the College of Education to high quality teaching. In addition, the dissemination of innovative teaching practices and materials contributes to the quality of instruction by all faculty and teaching assistants. This award was established in 2005.

Nomination Procedures

Nomination procedures are posted on the College of Education web site at: https://education.msu.edu/about/awards/excellence-in-teaching-awards/

Recipients

Scholarships and Fellowships

A variety of scholarships and fellowships for graduate students are offered through the College of Education.

Department of Kinesiology Awards

Outstanding Master’s Degree Student Award

Description

Each year the Department of Kinesiology seeks nominations of master’s degree students who have an exemplary record of scholarship, public service, and/or teaching for the Outstanding Master’s Degree Student Award. This award was initiated during the 2003-2004 academic year.

Nomination Procedures

This award recognizes scholarship and contributions to the scholarly climate in the department. The KIN Graduate Studies Committee solicits nominations from faculty and graduate students during the spring semester.

Application Due Date: February 15th. Applicants must submit the following materials to the KIN Graduate Coordinator as email attachments (electronic copies facilitate the faculty vote).

• Cover letter (one page maximum) describing the student’s intent to apply for the KIN Outstanding Master’s Degree Student Award and highlighting the student’s most significant achievements. This letter must be co-signed by the student’s faculty advisor.
• Resume that addresses all criteria for the award and that includes complete reference citations for presentations, publications, and grants.
• Letter of support from a KIN faculty member.

The KIN Graduate Studies Committee then constructs a ballot that lists all nominees. KIN faculty members vote to determine the award winner, with voting status granted to faculty members who (a) advise KIN graduate students and (b) have earned the terminal degree or who have been approved by the MSU Graduate School to serve as the lead advisor for graduate students. Each faculty member will rank order the candidates, and the winner will be determined by a sum of ranks. Number of first place votes will serve as the tie-breaker. If ties still exist after this procedure, multiple awards will be presented.

Recipients

Outstanding Doctoral Degree Student Award

Description

Each year the Department of Kinesiology seeks nominations of doctoral degree students who have an exemplary record of scholarship, public service, and/or teaching for the Outstanding Doctoral Degree Student Award. This award was initiated in 1995.

Nomination Procedures

This award recognizes scholarship and contributions to the scholarly climate in the department. The KIN Graduate Studies Committee solicits nominations from faculty and graduate students during the spring semester.

Application Due Date: February 15th. Applicants must submit the following materials to the KIN Graduate Coordinator as email attachments (electronic copies facilitate the faculty vote).

• Cover letter (one page maximum) describing the student’s intent to apply for the KIN Outstanding Doctoral Degree Student Award and highlighting the student’s most significant achievements. This letter must be co-signed by the student’s faculty advisor.
• Resume that addresses all criteria for the award and that includes complete reference citations for presentations, publications, and grants.
• Letter of support from a KIN faculty member.

The KIN Graduate Studies Committee then constructs a ballot that lists all nominees. KIN faculty members vote to determine the award winner, with voting status granted to faculty members who (a) advise KIN graduate students and (b) have earned the terminal degree or who have been approved by the MSU Graduate School to serve as the lead advisor for graduate students. Each faculty member will rank order the candidates, and the winner will be determined by a sum of ranks. Number of first place votes will serve as the tie-breaker. If ties still exist after this procedure, multiple awards will be presented.

Recipients

KIN Research Fellowship

Description

The KIN Research Fellowship recognizes outstanding research conducted and disseminated by a KIN undergraduate or graduate student. One or more awards of $750 are presented each year during the spring semester, with the number of award depending upon available funding. The fellowship is made available through an anonymous donation and supplementary funding from the Department of Kinesiology. The KIN Research Fellowship formerly was called the KIN Student Presentation Award. Changes in the title and criteria were adopted in Fall 2006.

Nomination Procedures

Application procedures and forms (pdf) are available for download. The application deadline is March 15 annually.

Graduate Student Recipients

Outstanding Kinesiology Graduate Student Organization (KGSO) Award

Description

This award will recognize one KGSO member (master’s or Ph.D. student) who went above and beyond expectations as a KGSO member and made significant contributions to the department through their KGSO activity. This award was initiated in 2023. The recipient for this award will receive up to $1,000 from the KIN department, depending on KIN finances during the year of the award.

Nomination Procedures

The KGSO Executive Board and the KIN graduate program director solicit applications from KIN graduate students during the spring semester.

Applications are due February 15 of each calendar year.

Applicants must submit the following materials to the KIN graduate academic program coordinator.

• A written statement describing the student’s intent to apply for the Outstanding KGSO Award highlighting the student’s contributions to KGSO. This includes a discussion of how the student implemented the three core values (communication, collaboration, connection) of KGSO into their own graduate student development. Students will also outline the events they contributed to (committee chairs and member’s contributions to the events that they held), as well as events in which they participated (including but not limited to volunteering for panels/service events/doctoral visitation/orientation, events attended, and engagement in KGSO events) (Limit 500 words). 

Applications will be reviewed by the review committee: the KGSO Executive Board and the KIN graduate program director. Each review committee member will rank the candidates and a winner will be determined by a sum of ranks. Higher numbers will serve as the tiebreaker. If a tie still exists, multiple awards will be given. If a student has previously won this award, they are not eligible to apply again.