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WAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Master's Thesis Award

Prize Amount: $250 and entrance in the WAGS-ProQuest competition as an official University of Utah nominee 

For: all graduate students and graduates of the University of Utah who have successfully defended an eligible master’s thesis

Due: September 22, 2023

Each year, The Graduate School selects two master’s theses to represent the University of Utah in the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award competition. Winners of the Utah competition are awarded a cash prize and work with the Graduate School to prepare a competitive nomination packet for the WAGS awards.

Winners of the University of Utah nomination process will receive $250 from The Graduate School and will be entered in the WAGS competition as an official University of Utah nominee.

Eligibility

  • All graduate students and graduates of the University of Utah who have successfully defended and submitted the final copy of their thesis toward their master's degree.
  • Nominees must have successfully defended their thesis between the dates of July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.
  • Categories 
    • STEM: Biological Sciences, Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Engineering
    • Non-STEM: Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, and Business disciplines

Applications

Nomination packets must contain:

  1. Completed nomination form (link is below).
  2. A non-technical summary prepared by the nominee (1000-1500 words) describing the research and its significance. This summary is intended for a general academic audience of non-specialists.
  3. An abstract of the nominee’s research (not to exceed 10 double-spaced pages). Appendices containing nontextual material, such as charts or tables, may be included as additional pages. All pages should be numbered, and each should bear the name of the nominee.
  4. Two nomination letters (not to exceed 1 page per letter) One letter of recommendation from the department head or major professor and one letter from an additional faculty member. The letter should include information regarding the significance of the study, the contribution of the study to the program of the degree granting unit, and the broader impact(s) of the innovation on the knowledge base of the discipline.
  5. CV or resume of the nominee (not to exceed 5 pages).

Students who win the Utah nomination process will need to provide additional materials for the WAGS competition.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: TBD September 22, 2023

Submit applications to the Graduate School Office

Master's Thesis Award Nomination Form

Packets may also be mailed directly to:

The Graduate School (attention Holly Lumbert)
201 S President’s Circle #302
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Last Updated: 9/5/23