Graduate Student Appreciation Week - We Appreciate You!
March 22 - 28, 2026
In 1993, the established Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW) as a mechanism to support and appreciate graduate and professional students, emphasizing the contributions, impact and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States.
The Graduate School joins universities around the nation in this celebration by hosting the Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) at the 星空无限传媒. All graduate students, faculty, and staff are invited to join us for this year's events.
Competitions
Most Loved Grad Program
The 2026 Most Loved Grad Program Competition will go live on Valentine鈥檚 Day. Share what you love about your grad program and earn points toward our Most Loved Grad Program contest. You can upload a photo, put it in words, or both. The program with the most points will be awarded with a catered lunch for the faculty, staff, and students!
Participate by posting on social media using #星空无限传媒GradLove2026 and tagging @星空无限传媒 Lafayette Graduate, or by submitting your entry through our online form here:
Selected entries may be featured on the Graduate School鈥檚 social media鈥攕o spread the love!
Graduate Student Research Showcase: Paper & Poster
Deadline to Enter: TBA
Category 1: Foundational, Theoretical, and Humanistic Research
This category includes research that advances fundamental knowledge, develops new theories, or explores humanistic, social, or cultural perspectives. It also encompasses creative works in the arts, design, and literature, where originality, interpretation, or artistic expression is central to scholarly contribution.
Category 2: Applied and Translational Research
This category includes research that applies existing knowledge to solve specific problems, develop new technologies, inform policy and practice, or improve professional or industry processes. Projects in this category emphasize real-world impact, innovation, and the translation of research into applied solutions in fields such as engineering, healthcare, business, and public policy.
*Select the category that best fits your research paper or poster presentation entry. For more information, see the showcase guidelines. Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each category.
Say It in Six
Deadline to Enter: TBA
Based on the 鈥渟ix word memoirs鈥 concept, Say It In Six challenges you to use only six words and one visual aid to tell a story 鈥 about your 鈥淐reative Research,鈥 your 鈥淟ouisiana Research,鈥 or your 鈥淩adical Research.鈥 A first-place prize of $100 will be awarded in each category.
Schedule of Events
TBA
The Big Event with GSO
Graduate Students have joined the Big Event to do their part for 星空无限传媒 Lafayette鈥檚 largest day of service! We鈥檒l be teaming up with the Graduate Student Organization to lead an on-campus beautification project with Parish Proud.
TBA
Grad Games & Good Vibes
Join the Graduate School staff at the Alumni Center for an afternoon of good food and yard games following our weekly Wake Up & Write. Come and go as you please between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
TBA
GSAW Keynote Address, Professional Head Shots, and Doctoral Candidacy Recognition Ceremony
Join us at the LITE Center for a professional headshot (4:30 - 6:30 p.m.) and some inspiration! Our speaker will inspire us at 6 pm with the GSAW Keynote Address and doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy since April 2025 will be recognized along with their graduate faculty committee chairs. Doctoral candidates, make sure to RSVP for you and your chair in advance. Live streaming will be available for family and friends who want to attend virtually.
TBA
Grad School Demystified: Making Graduate School a Reality
Thinking about grad school but unsure if it鈥檚 the right fit鈥攐r how to afford it? This Grad Student Appreciation Week session is designed for undergraduate students exploring their next steps. A panel of current grad students and faculty will break down the benefits of a graduate degree, share personal experiences, and highlight financial and academic resources that make grad school accessible to all. Learn about funding, flexible pathways, and support systems to help you take the next step with confidence.
TBA
Money Matters Lunch and Learn: Career Planning
You are in grad school to leave - to move on to a fulfilling and exciting career. The transition from grad student to full-time professional has significant financial implications - including deciding which job offer to accept, negotiating your salary and choosing a retirement plan. This should be the most exciting transition of your academic life - and we'll help you get comfortable with the financial issues, so you are in control of your financial and professional futures. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and the discussion begins at noon in the Student Union Forum A.
This event is a partnership between the Graduate School and Brian Bolton, Professor of Finance and the Dwight W. Andrus, Jr./BORSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Finance.
TBA
Donut Day
Thank our grad students and those who support them while having a sweet treat. Donuts are a gift from SGA and they鈥檙e being delivered to departments by .
TBA
Research Showcase
The first-place prize is $500, and first, second, and third prizes will be awarded in two categories and in two formats (posters and papers). View the Research Showcase guidelines here. This is a great opportunity to share your work with the larger University community and be recognized for its excellence.
TBA
A2i Meeting - Job Search Strategies
Join us Downtown, Lafayette at the for hors d'oeuvres and a lively discussion with industry professionals. The focus will be on translating research and creative works and how to sell your ideas in spaces beyond the academic setting. The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
This event is a partnership between the Graduate School, Brian Bolton, Professor of Finance and the Dwight W. Andrus, Jr./BORSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Finance, and the Opportunity Machine.
TBA
Louisiana Impact Research Summit & GSAW Awards
Join us from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Moody Room 103 as graduate students and faculty deliver brief, impactful pitches about sustainability-related research. Research showcase awards, the Say It in Six winners, and the Most Loved Grad Program will be announced at the conclusion of the Summit.
This event is a partnership between the Graduate School, Brian Bolton, Professor of Finance and the Dwight W. Andrus, Jr./BORSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Finance, the Office of Sustainability, and the Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development.
Many thanks to our sponsors, hosts, and collaborators! GSAW would not be possible without you!
University faculty and staff who volunteer to facilitate a workshop or serve as a judge for the research showcase