AGHE Awards - Graduate Student Paper Award
Article Index
Graduate Student Paper Award
Purpose of Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize excellence in scholarly work by a student at an AGHE member institution or has selected AGHE as a primary or secondary section, and who presents his or her work at the GSA Annual Meeting. If the quality of submissions meets the following guidelines, one award will be granted annually.
Submission Period
Summer 2024
Eligibility Criteria
- At the time of submissions, eligible students must be affiliated with an AGHE institution or GSA member with AGHE designated as a primary or secondary section.
- Students must first submit an abstract for presentation at the GSA Annual Meeting and be accepted for presentation.
- The paper must meet the following qualifications:
- Significance: Does this paper address an important problem? What is the potential effect of this paper on problems that drive this field?
- Innovation: Does the paper employ novel concepts, approaches or methods? Is it original and innovative? Do findings or conclusions challenge existing paradigms or help develop new methodologies?
- Approach: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the purposes of the paper? Do the authors discuss the paper’s limitations?
- Implications for gerontology and/or geriatrics education: Are the implications for education adequately articulated? Do the findings or conclusions have broad applicability?
- Writing: Is the writing style concise? Are concepts, methods, and findings clearly explained? Does the submitted version of the manuscript suggest that the student carefully reviewed the manuscript (e.g., no grammatical, spelling, and typographical errors) and had feedback from others to improve the manuscript?
Self Nomination Process
Required Nomination Packet Materials
- An article submission-quality paper not to exceed 4000 words (not counting references and tables). Manuscripts must be double-spaced, employ 12-point font, and 1-inch margins. The review committee reserves the right to not consider a submission if it is determined that the author did not comply with the submission guidelines and criteria.
- A personal letter verifying that the work is his or her own.
- A letter from the student’s mentor or faculty advisor indicating the following:
- at the time of abstract submission, the student was enrolled in a graduate program either part- or full-time
- the mentor endorses the submitted manuscript as one that merits consideration for such an award
- the manuscript represents the student’s own work.
Nature of the Award
The awardee receives a personalized award certificate, a $250 cash award, and will be recognized at the AGHE Breakfast at the GSA Annual Meeting.
Past Recipients
2022 Renata Komalasari | University of North Texas
2021 Susan L. Brilliant | California State University Long Beach
2020 Yang Li | University of Massachusetts Boston
2019 Peiyi Lu | Iowa State University
2018 Jill J. Naar | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, "Exploring Intergenerational Educational Tourism Programs to Promote Age-Friendly Universities"
2017 Sara J. English | University of South Carolina, "Increasing the Knowledge and Agency of Certified Nursing Assistants: A Response to Serious Mental Illness in Long Term Care"
2016 Reath Melendez | California State University, Long Beach, "Eldercare Responsibilities Among CSULB Faculty and Staff: A Needs Assessment"
2015-14 Not Awarded
2013 Kristen E. Porter | University of Massachusetts Boston, "Do LGBT Aging Trainings Effectual Positive Change in Mainstream Elder Service Providers?"
2012 Melinda S. Heinz | Iowa State University, "Teaching Sensitive Topics in Gerontology: Differences Between Online and Face-to-Face Courses"
2011 Not Awarded
2010 Deborah Gray | University of Massachusetts Boston, "Weight and Wealth: The Relationship Between Obesity and Net Worth for Pre-Retirement Aged Men and Women"
2009 Christina E. Miyawaki | University of California, Berkeley, "Preferences of Japanese American Baby Boomers about Senior Social Services and Senior Center Programs"
2008 Jessica E. Haxton | University of Denver, "Social Work Graduates: Transformative Field Experiences with Older Adults"
