Awards & Recognition

Graduate Student and Recent Alumni Awards

BSU Foundation Distinguished Dissertation Award – Awarded each year to a recent alumnus, who has completed a dissertation based on the originality of research and the significance of the problem in terms of its contribution to knowledge. 

BSU Foundation Distinguished Thesis Award – Awarded each year to a recent alumnus, who has completed a thesis based on the originality of research and the significance of the problem in terms of its contribution to knowledge.  

BSU Foundation Outstanding Creative Project Award – Awarded each year to a recent alumnus, who has completed a creative project based on the originality of the project and the significance of contribution to the creative arts. 

BSU Foundation Excellence in Teaching Awards– Awarded each year to one doctoral student and one master’s student who exemplifies excellence in teaching and mentoring.  

Graduate Student Employee of the Year – Awarded each year to an outstanding graduate student employee in recognition of their contributions to the Ball State community.

Graduate Faculty Awards

Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award - Awarded each year to an outstanding graduate faculty mentor, who is devoted and available for their students' mentees and assists their mentees in defining and achieving their pathway to success.

Excellence in Graduate Recruiting Award – Awarded each year to a graduate program director or professional staff member whose innovative strategies in recruiting increased applications and enrollment.

Recognition Ceremony

2023 Nominees & Awardees    See past award winners

Three-Minute Thesis Competition

Challenge yourself with our annual Three Minute Thesis competition, where you're tasked to present your full research or thesis project in just a few minutes

Read more about 3MT winners on the Graduate School blog:

Graduate School Blog

3MT Winners & Finalists

2024 Winners and Finalists

Ball State's sixth annual 3MT finals competition was held in-person on February 22, 2024.

Winners

(Left to right): Dylan Seiler (second place), Grace Brenner (first place and people's choice), and Runlan Liu (third place)

Finalists

(Left to right): Garrett Stritzel, Dylan Seiler, Grace Brenner, Liz Marthaler, Amanda Nelson, Olivia Weinzapfel, Indy Potter, Runlan Liu, Georgiana Geimer-Messler, Alana Blubaugh

First Place Video

 

Grace Brenner

 

 

  View Presentation

 

2023 Winners and Finalists

Ball State's fifth annual 3MT finals competition was held in-person on February 23, 2023.

Winners

2023 pic

(Left to right): Matt Lowe(third place), Zainab Aamir (first place and people's choice), and Megan Massoels (second place)

Finalists

(Left to right): Kellie Cooper, Brooke Morenz, Kathryn Bradley, Julie Ridgway, Matt Lowe, Hannah Bowles, Matt Martella, Zainab Aamir, Megan Massoels, Meghan Haser

First Place Video


Zainab Aamir


  View Presentation

2022 Winners and Finalists 

Ball State's fourth annual 3MT finals competition premiered online March 3, 2022. Watch the competition and view the event program (PDF).

Finalists

  • Lakeisha Johnson
  • Mistie Potts
  • Riley Carroll
  • Julia Ballain
  • Sally Kelley
  • Catherine Kerton-Johnson
  • Trisha Martin
  • Kevin Hundt
  • Deidra Bibbs
  • Robert Graff

First Place

Sally Kelley

Watch Sally's Presentation

Second Place

Riley Carroll

riley carroll

Watch Riley's Presentation

Third Place

Mistie Potts

 

Watch Mistie's Presentation

2021 Winners and Finalists

As Ball State's overall 2021 winner, Ana Gabriela Calderón Cornejo represented Ball State at the 3MT regional competition held virtually at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools. Watch our 2021 Three-Minute Thesis finals competition.

Finalists

  • Jeffrey Miller
  • Gabriella Fluhler
  • Natalie Brooks
  • Joanna Daniyam
  • Lily Schwab
  • Briana Halloran
  • Sarah Espinoza Repp
  • Kurt Green
  • Ana Gabriela Calderón Cornejo
  • Anya Eicher 

First Place

Ana Gabriela Calderón Cornejo

Ana Gabriela Calderón Cornejo

Watch Ana's Presentation

Second Place

Briana Halloran

Briana Halloran

Watch Briana's Presentation

Third Place

Lily Schwab

Lily Schwab

Watch Lily's Presentation

2020 Winners and Finalists

As Ball State's overall 2020 winner, Amber Urban represented Ball State at the 3MT regional competition held virtually at the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools, where she placed in the top three out of 25 finalists! Watch Amber's 3MT video. 


Finalists

(left to right): Lindsay Schultz, Mary Henehan, Heather Richards, Abelline Fionah, Joshua Grzywana, Amber Urban, Elizabeth Young, Mylie Brennan, Lindsey Wiehl, Karly Poyner

Winners

(left to right):
Amber Urban (First Place), Karly Poyner (Second Place), Mylie Brennan (Third Place), Abelline Fionah (People's Choice)

First Place

Amber Urban

Amber Urban - First Place

Second Place

Karley Poyner

Karley Poyner - Second Place

Third Place

Mylie Brennen

Mylie Brennen - Third Place

People's Choice

Abelline Fionah

Peoples Choice Abbeline Fionah

2019 Winners and Finalists

As Ball State's overall 2019 winner, Kirsten Vacura represented Ball State at the 3MT regional competition held at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools in St. Louis, Missouri, where she placed in the top eight out of 45 finalists! Watch our 2019 3MT Competition. 

Finalists

2019 Finalists

(left to right)
Melinda Zurcher, Dayna Arnett, Byron Long, Melodie Griffin, Rebecca Rudolph, Jordan Patterson, Kirsten Vacura, Christopher Reinhart, Anna Farello, Nathan Edwards

Winners

2019 Winners

(left to right)
Byron Long (Second Place)
Kirsten Vacura (First Place)
Dayna Arnett (Third Place and People's Choice)

First Place

Kirsten Vacura

Kirsten Vacura First Place

Second Place

Byron Long

Byron Long - Second Place

Third Place & People's Choice

Dayna Arnett

Dayna Arnett - Third Place and Peoples Choice