Awards and Honors

The Graduate School is proud of its students, and their accomplishments. Throughout the year, the Graduate School recognizes its students by nominating them for external awards and honors for their accomplishments within the university. Our Graduate Student Government also bestows honors on members of the University that have shown strong support for graduate students. Additionally, the Graduate School offers a number of internal fellowships in recognition of outstanding graduate students from across the university.

Past Award Recipients

Awards from the Graduate School

Dean's Award for Outstanding Scholarship—The Dean's Award goes to graduating graduate students nominated by their academic college or department for their academic achievements.

Doctoral Finishing Fellowships—The Graduate School awards Finishing Fellowships providing support to PhD candidates close to completing their degrees. These fellowships are available through the generosity of alumni and friends of the University. They are intended to recognize outstanding PhD candidates who are in need of financial support to finish their degrees.

Graduate Student Service Award—A member of the Graduate Student Government and is nominated and voted on by that body of students and approved by the Dean.  Nominated students have exhibited an outstanding contribution to graduate education at Michigan Tech.

Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award—Nominated by their academic college or department, students receiving this award have exhibited exceptional ability as a teacher and have received excellent evaluations from students.

External Awards

Copper Shores Community Health Foundation Graduate Assistantships—This program recognizes outstanding PhD talent in health-oriented research areas. Recipients are a catalyst for promoting and improving the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, and Ontonagon communities.

DeVlieg Foundation Fellowship—The DeVlieg Foundation has generously provided support for master's and PhD graduate students pursuing research in engineering, wildlife, and biology at Michigan Tech.

CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award—The Council of Graduate Schools and ProQuest Dissertations Publishing recognize dissertations that make a significant contribution to their fields. Michigan Tech may nominate one candidate in each eligible field each year. The eligible fields rotate each year.

GEM Fellowships—Designed to increase the number of minority students who pursue doctoral degrees in chemistry, physics, earth sciences, mathematics, biological sciences, computer science, and engineering. These fellowships are portable and may be used at any participating GEM Member University where the GEM Fellow is admitted. (see GEM at Michigan Tech

King-Chávez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship—The King-Chávez-Parks Future Faculty program was created by the Michigan State Legislature in 1986 as part of a larger initiative to stem the downward spiral of college graduation rates for students underrepresented in postsecondary faculty positions.  Applications are encouraged from minorities, women, people with disabilities, and individuals from cultural, linguistic, geographic, and socio-economic backgrounds who are not adequately represented in graduate student and faculty populations.

MAGS Distinguished Thesis Award—The Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) annually solicits nominations for the MAGS Distinguished Master’s Thesis Awards to recognize and reward distinguished scholarship and research at the master’s level. Michigan Tech as a member of MAGS may nominate one candidate for the award in each disciplinary category each year.

MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award—MAGS annually solicits for the Excellence in Teaching Award in recognition of graduate students who exemplify excellence in the teaching/learning mission of the member universities. Michigan Tech may nominate two students; one each at the master's and doctoral level.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship—The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. Michigan Tech is allowed to nominate one candidate each academic year.

Sintokogio FellowshipExceptional graduate students in the departments of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Materials Science and Engineering are invited to apply for the chance to go to Japan for two months at SINTOKOGIO, LTD’s headquarters in Nagoya during the summer semester as part of a fully-funded work experience program.

Awards from the Graduate Student Government

Exceptional Graduate Student Leader Award—Recipients have shown exemplary leadership on graduate student issues.

Exceptional Graduate Mentor Award—Nominated by a graduate student and voted on by the Executive Committee of the GSG, this faculty or staff person has shown exceptional devotion to mentoring graduate students.

Exceptional Staff Member Award—This University staff member has shown loyalty and dedication to the graduate experience at Michigan Tech.

Award and Fellowship Recipients