Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week

Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week was started in 1993 by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students as a way to support and appreciate graduate and professional students. The week seeks to emphasize the contributions, impact and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States.

Message from the Dean
Events
Daily Prize Draw
Awards and Recognition
Student Shout-Outs

Message to Students from CCAS Dean Wahlbeck

Events

CCAS Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) and Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (OGPA) will be hosting a number of events for students during GPSAW. More details about this year's GPSAW events are posted on both the OGS GPSAW page and the OGPA GPSAW page. We hope you have a chance to take a break and celebrate GPSAW with us!

CCAS Swag Giveaway & Finals Week Survival Bags | Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM | Smith 118
*Students who visit our office this week to grab CCAS swag and/ or finals week survival bags will also be entered in a raffle to win limited-edition CCAS swag - new winner announced daily!

Monday, April 20th

Kick-Off Reception, 6:00 - 10:00 PM, City View Room at the Elliott School of International Affairs (Hosted by OGPA)

This is an opportunity to network with and meet students from GW’s graduate and professional student programs.

Be sure to RSVP as soon as possible as there are limited spots!

Wine, beverages and hor d'eourves will be served.

Wednesday, April 22nd

Wellness Wednesday, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, Continental Ballroom, USC (Hosted by OGPA)

Take a well-deserved break with Wellness Wednesday! Unwind with zen coloring and tap into your creativity, or craft your own essential oil room spray for a touch of relaxation at home. This is the perfect opportunity to de-stress and recharge in a calming environment!

Thursday, April 23rd

Music in the Yard, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, Kogan Plaza (Hosted by OGPA)

Take a break and enjoy an afternoon of fun at Music in the Yard! Relax in the sun, listen to great music, and hang out with friends while enjoying free pizza (vegan and gluten-free options available). Challenge your friends to lawn games or just soak up the atmosphere—it's the perfect midweek refresh!

Friday, April 24th

Happy Hour @ Hive Hotel Rooftop, 4:00 - 7:00 PM, 2224 F Street, NW (Hosted by OGPA)

Wrap up the week with Happy Hour at Hive! Enjoy a fun and relaxing evening with friends and fellow students.

A special raffle
A free Speed Friendship activity — think speed dating, but for making new friends
Free drink tickets for the first 150 students to arrive
A casual, social environment to mingle and kick off the weekend

Daily Prize Draw

Each day during Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, we will randomly draw a CCAS graduate student's name to win a swag bag! Make sure to check you email in case you've won!

Awards and Recognition

2026 3MT Competition

Congratulations to the 2025 3MT Competition winners!

First Place and People's Choice Winner: Ashley Bastin, Biological Sciences
Second Place Winner: Elton VanNoy, Pharmacology & Physiology

Congratulations to all CCAS competitors! We are so proud to have had this group representing CCAS at the 3MT competition!

Abigail Haffey, Cancer Biology
Qingyu Liu, Economics
Hasara Rathnasekara, Economics
Matthew Rohn, History,
Leenu Sugathan, English
Sydney Woods, Neuroscience
Donghao Wu, Economics

2026 Bouchet Honor Society Inductees

Congratulations to our 2026 Bouchet Honor Society Inductees!

Vicky Ho - Clinical Psychology
Alana Rule - Clinical Psychology
Frank (Yingjie) Huo - Physics

2026 Philip Amsterdam Graduate Student Teaching Awards

Congratulations to our excellent CCAS graduate teaching assistants!

Kai Blevins, Anthropology, CCAS
Kathryn Nicholson, Economics, CCAS
Pedro Rodriguez-Martinez, Economics, CCAS
Taylor-Jo Russo, Psychological and Brain Sciences, CCAS

Student Shout-Outs

Throughout the week, graduate students will receive shout-outs highlighting their achievements! (For privacy purposes, we are not posting full names of givers and recipients.)

Submit Your Shout-Outs Here!

Sims S.

Sims! Thank you for being a leader in CASHP. Your kindness and contributions mean so much for our community.

CASHP Colleague

Maddie H.T

Maddie! You’re an incredible leader. Your dedication, kindness, and intelligence truly inspire me to do better. Thank you for all you do to make GW better for grad workers.

Your Fellow Grad Worker

Jupiter K.

Jupiter - congratulations on winning this year's Michael Thacher and Rhonda Rundle Prize for Excellence in Data Science!!

Megan (Graduate Student Services Coordinator)

Dhanush M.

Dhanush - congratulations on being selected to receive the Phi Delta Gamma Scholarship!!

Megan (Graduate Student Services Coordinator)

Internship Bound PsyD Students

Congratulations to a remarkable hard working group of GWU PsyD students who applied and gained psychology internships, which were especially competitive this year.

Dr. Oksana Y.

Second year PsyD students

Congratulations to a remarkable hard-working group of PsyD students who are finishing their second year of studies and who also obtained clinical externships and completed a year of working in GW Community clinic serving greater DC community.

Dr. Oksana Y.

First Year PsyD Students

Congratulations to remarkable and hard working first year PsyD students who are completing their initial year of studies to become psychologists and beginning their work in the Center Clinic, serving greater DC community.

Dr. Oksana Y.

2025-2026 Internship Students

Congratulations to PsyD students who are working to complete their pre-doctoral internships and who are getting ready to graduate.

Dr. Oksana Y.

Leslie B.

Leslie is such a team player, eager to help out with anything we throw her way. But what really shines through is her immense kindness. Her ability to connect and empathize with others allows her to easily mentor our students. She is a joy to work with.

The Cisneros Institute

Leslie R.

Leslie has been an incredible addition to the Cisneros Institute team. In addition to being a talented designer, video editor, and strategist, she has also been a great example for Cisneros Scholars — no matter the challenge, she always has a positive attitude and strives for excellence.

The Cisneros Institute

Lausanne O.

Thank you, Lausanne, for being such an amazing mentor in Saw's lab!! I appreciate you and can't wait to see the things you will do!

Adeline M.

Sally F.

Congratulations to Sally on her recent NIH F31 Fellowship Award, "Investigating nerve fiber-associated macrophages in prostate development"! You are doing amazing work!

Maho

Claudia M.

You are almost there!!!! A few more months and you will be graduating. Let's make a final big splash!!

Alberto B.

Jonathan L.

What a year! Your work is moving so fast and I am so proud of your "hopefully' F31. It is a great achievement and we will need to celebrate when you get the NOA

Alberto B.

Dennis C.

Welcome to the team! I am sure you are going to do great research while in the lab. I can't wait to see what the next years bring.

Alberto B.

Ashley B.

Congratulations, you are a star!

Michael

Trace W.

Dear Trace, thank you for your hard work over the past year to advance two separate projects on chromatin and immune response to cancer. I'm looking forward to your thesis defense and am excited for your continued research on TEs in cancer as a postdoc!

Kate

Abby L.

Dear Abby, Thank you for your hard work over the past year to advance antigen-specific T cells for ovarian cancer in combination with epigenetic therapy and the way you have responded to feedback to improve your paper in progress. The patient samples will take this another step forward!

Kate

Kevin N.

Dear Kevin,
Thank you for your hard work on the RNA methylation and OC long-term survivors projects over the past year, especially when the data were confusing. You've made great progress and I look forward to getting these stories out in the near future.

Kate

Martha R.

Dear Martha,
It has been a pleasure to have you in our lab as you advance our understanding of how and when epigenetic therapy can improve T cell manufacturing against cancer. Looking forward to supporting you as you prepare for your qualifying exam, I know you will do well!

Kate

Elton V.

Thank you, Elton, for your leadership organizing peer mentors for new students and welcome dinner during interview days, and congratulations on placing second at the GW 3 Minute Thesis Competition!

GWIBS team

Sarah G.

Congratulations, Sarah, for placing third at the SMHS Research Showcase, and for thank you for your presentation at Interview Day Data Blitz!

GWIBS Team

Kevin N.

Kevin, congratulations on earning a NIH F31 fellowship award, and for receiving 1st place awards at the SMHS Research Showcase and MITM Retreat! Additional congratulations on earning the 2nd place Poster Award at GWCC Retreat. Thank you for serving as an interview day data blitz presenter!

GWIBS Team

Sarah B.

Sarah, thank you for serving as an Interview Day data blitz presenter, and for your leadership as GW SOBS Social Chair, organizing important community-building events. We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

Shoron M.

Thank you, Shoron, for your hard work as a welcome dinner host during interview days! We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

Gabe B.

Gabe, congratulations on earning SMHS Research Showcase Honorable Mention and SMHS Art of Science runner up award! Additionally, thank you for your hard work as GW SOBS Treasurer, and your leadership as a host of interview day welcome dinner and as a leader of Open House lab tour!

GWIBS Team

Annie M.

Thank you, Annie, for serving as a welcome dinner host during interview days! We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

Sabrina E.

Thank you, Sabrina, for serving as a welcome dinner host during interview days! You make us proud!

GWIBS Team

Lauren S.

Lauren, congratulations on your runner up award for SMHS Art of Science and thank you for your role as a host at interview day welcome dinner! Keep being amazing!

GWIBS Team

Abigail H.

Abigail, congratulations on earning SMHS Research Showcase Honorable Mention and GW 3 Minute Thesis Competition Finalist. Your hard work as GW SOBS Alumni Relations chair, and as a host at interview day welcome dinner, are appreciated!

GWIBS Team

Avarind M.

Thank you so much Aravind for serving as a welcome dinner host during interview days! Keep up the amazing work!

GWIBS Team

Manushri D.

Manushri, thank you for all of your work as GW SOBS Academic Chair, and for organizing an amazing presentation workshop for new students. Your contribution as a welcome dinner host during interview days is appreciated!

GWIBS Team

Lily P.

Thank you, Lily, for your contributions as an Open House lab tour leader and a welcome dinner host during interview days. Keep being amazing!

GWIBS Team

Alexa T.

Alexa, thank you for serving as a welcome dinner host during interview days! We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

Keita I.

Thank you, Keita, for serving as a welcome dinner host during interview days! Keep up the amazing work!

GWIBS Team

Sydney W.

Congratulations, Sydney, on placing as a Finalist at GW 3 Minute Thesis Competition! You make us proud.

GWIBS Team

Intisar D.

Intisar, thank you for all your work serving as GW SOBS First-Year Representative!

GWIBS Team

Jonathan L.

Congratulations, Jonathan, on your NIH T32 fellowship! We are so proud of you. Also, thank you for all of your work as GW SOBS President!

GWIBS Team

Erin J.

Erin, thank you for serving as GW SOBS Secretary! You are doing amazing!

GWIBS Team

Jane U.

Thank you, Jane, for serving as GW SOBS Recruitment Chair!

GWIBS Team

Martha R.

Martha, thank you so much for serving as GW SOBS Historian and Election Chair!

GWIBS Team

Trace W.

Trace, congratulations on earning GW's first ever NIH F99 fellowship award! Keep up the amazing work.

GWIBS Team

Natalie B.

Congratulations, Natalie, on earning a NIH F31 fellowship award! You make us proud.

GWIBS Team

Sally F.

Congratulations, Sally, on your NIH F31 fellowship award, and for earning GWCC Retreat 2nd Place Poster Award! We appreciate all of your hard work as a GW SPARC student mentor.

GWIBS Team

Amber D.

Amber, congratulations on your NIH T32 fellowship! We are proud of you and appreciate your hard work as an Open House lab tour leader!

GWIBS Team

Clarissa H.

Congratulations, Clarissa, on your NIH T32 fellowship! Thank you so much for your work as an Open House lab tour leader. Continue being amazing!

GWIBS Team

Monica W.

Congratulations, Monica, on earning a NIH T32 Fellowship. Your hard work inspires us!

GWIBS Team

Claudia M.

Congratulations, Claudia, on placing third at the MITM Retreat Poster Competition, and placing fourth at the SMHS Research Showcase. Keep up the inspiring work!

GWIBS Team

Joselyn P.

Joselyn, congratulations on placing fifth at the SMHS Research Showcase, and thank you for serving as a GW SPARC student mentor! We appreciate all that you do.

GWIBS Team

Gabe G.

Thank you, Gabe, for serving as an Open House lab tour leader! We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

Sarah K.

Congratulations, Sarah, on earning an Art of Science prize! We are so proud of you.

GWIBS Team

Woudasie A.

Woudasie, congratulations on earning an SMHS Art of Science runner up award! Keep being amazing!

GWIBS Team

Noah W.

Congratulations, Noah, on earning SMHS Art of Science Runner Up Award! Keep making us proud!

GWIBS Team

Abby L.

Congratulations, Abby, on earning first place Poster Award at GWCC Retreat! We are so proud of you.

GWIBS Team

Joselyn Padilla

Huge shout-out to our incredible Joselyn Padilla as she approach her thesis defense! Your dedication, curiosity, and resilience have truly stood out. Wishing you confidence, clarity, and success as you share your work. The finish line is in sight—celebrate how far you’ve come!

Jiyoung L.

Jane U.

Proud that Jane is presenting her work at the Weinstein Conference next month!
She has been doing an exceptional job studying the placental heart axis and is a pleasure to have in the lab.

Irene Z.