In 2000, the forum became institutionalized and is now a part of the Graduate School's annual budget. The 2000 forum included a luncheon honoring participants and their research advisers. What is research today may very well be standard practice tomorrow. Each student submits a poster regarding his or her research, along with an abstract. These materials are judged by panels of faculty who rate the materials on the quality of the research and the visual display in poster format.
Winners receive cash prizes and research medals.
This year's first-place winner in the poster contest was Teresa A. Cerny. Outstanding Graduate Researchers Honored The Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award is presented to two graduate students each year. These students are selected by the faculty for their superior contributions to University research. Faculty advisers nominate students, and the University's Graduate Fellowships and Awards Committee chooses the winners. Kevin R. Russell, a graduate student in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, was named one of the outstanding graduate researchers.