In Fall 2026, Boston University College of Communication will host its annual Graduate Student Awards Ceremony to recognize the academic excellence, leadership, and contributions made during the academic year by our graduate students in support of teaching, research, community service, and professional activities.
We encourage interested COM graduate students to nominate themselves. Faculty, staff, and students are also welcome to nominate a graduate student who has excelled in the areas of academics, leadership, service, and professional development.
Applications for nominations are now open.
- Nomination Period: August 1st – October 15th, 2026
COM Graduate Student Awards
Both master’s students and Ph.D. students at the College of Communication are eligible for nomination. Qualified students should be nominated by current faculty members, staff, or fellow current students. Self-nominations are also accepted.
This award recognizes one exemplary graduate student (including Ph.D. students) for their characteristics (such as, but not limited to, adaptability, creativity, generosity, humility, reliability, professionalism, and responsibility), leadership in a professional project and/or campus activities and/or student organizations, outstanding contributions to Boston University and/or their service and impact to “COMmunity”, excellent performance in an internship or on-campus work, and academic achievements.
Nominees must be COM graduate students in good academic standing (full- or part-time) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. They must complete at least one academic year of study in a COM graduate degree program. Each academic department can have one nominee submitted to the award review committee. The winner will be selected by the award review committee of faculty and staff members at the College of Communication.
The winner will receive a $1,000 award and be recognized at the COM Annual Graduate Student Awards Ceremony on December 4th, 2026.
This award recognizes up to two graduate students (including Ph.D. students) who demonstrate an excellent level of academic achievement during their study at the College of Communication. The award winner would have made a distinctive contribution to their field of study. Their academic excellence includes but is not limited to:
- distinguished performance in scholarly or research pursuit
- quality of papers or theses
- contribution to a research project
- projects conducted in an academic setting or conference
Graduate students who are qualified for this award should maintain excellent standing (full- or part-time) during their study in their academic program and have a minimum GPA of 3.5. Nominated candidates must at least complete one academic year of study in a COM graduate degree program. The winner will be selected by the award review committee of faculty and staff members at the College of Communication.
The winner will receive a $1,000 award and be recognized at the COM Annual Graduate Student Awards Ceremony on December 4th, 2026.
This award honors two master’s students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and dedication in their roles as graduate assistants within the past year. It provides academic departments with an annual opportunity to recognize master’s students who have made meaningful contributions to teaching, learning, mentoring, academic support, and student success at the College of Communication.
Eligible students may have served as teaching assistants, graduate assistants, or in other comparable assistantship roles that support instruction, grading, classroom activities, lab or studio work, student mentoring, academic programming, or related departmental needs. Nominated candidates must have completed at least one academic year of study in a COM master’s program and must have completed at least one semester of qualifying teaching assistant or graduate assistant experience in 2026. The winner will be selected by the award review committee of faculty and staff members at the College of Communication.
Each winner will receive a $1,000 award and be recognized at the COM Annual Graduate Student Awards Ceremony on December 4th, 2026.
This award acknowledges up to two graduate students (including Ph.D. students) in good academic standing who demonstrate outstanding contributions and well-documented progress in developing intercultural competence and global-mindedness based on off-campus internship and/or on-campus engagement with the Boston University community.
Nominees must be graduate students in good standing (full- or part-time) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. They must complete at least one semester of study in a COM graduate degree program. The winner will be selected by the award review committee of faculty and staff members at the College of Communication.
The winner will receive a $1,000 award and be recognized at the COM Annual Graduate Student Awards Ceremony on December 4th, 2026.
This award recognizes one master’s student who demonstrates excellence in service to the College of Communication. Their contribution includes but is not limited to:
- outstanding leadership in a student organization or activity
- efforts to build a strong graduate student community by planning and/or improving student activities
- service and attitude in support of graduate students’ academic, social, and/or professional activities
- community outreach and service that facilitate positive impact and connection for COM students
Nominees must be master’s students in good standing (full- or part-time) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. They must complete at least one academic year of study in a COM master’s program. The winner will be selected by the award review committee of faculty and staff members at the College of Communication.
The winner will receive a $1,000 award and be recognized at the COM Annual Graduate Student Awards Ceremony on December 4th, 2026.
Students who wish to be considered for the COM Graduate Student Awards may nominate themselves if they meet the following criteria:
- Nominees must graduate from Boston University College of Communication in May 2026, August 2026, January 2027, and May 2027.
- Complete the web-based application form (see below).
- Submit a most recent résumé and a personal statement outlining your qualifications, performance, experience, and/or achievements related to the awards.
- Ask a mentor (for example, a faculty advisor, course instructor, or internship supervisor) familiar with your academic performance, professional development, and personal characteristics to submit a letter of recommendation.
Please note that ONLY ONE letter of recommendation from a mentor is required.
Faculty, staff, and fellow current students who wish to nominate a student for the COM Graduate Student Awards may do so if they meet the following criteria:
- Nominees must graduate from Boston University College of Communication in May 2026, August 2026, January 2027, and May 2027.
- Complete the web-based application form (see below).
- Submit a written statement or letter of recommendation outlining why you are nominating the student for this award and how they have demonstrated outstanding performance.
- In addition to the letter of recommendation, please ask the nominated student to submit a résumé and a personal statement outlining their qualifications, performance, experience, and/or achievements related to the award to Lu He (helu@bu.edu) no later than the application deadline on October 15th, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Deadline: Thursday, October 15th, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
The nomination period begins on August 1st, 2026. All application materials, including the web-based application form, résumé, personal statement, and letter(s) of recommendation, must be submitted and received by Lu He at helu@bu.edu no later than 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, October 15th, 2026.
Our application deadline is firm; late or incomplete applications will not be considered for an award.
- If you are nominating a student, please leave plenty of time for the nominee to put together their résumé and their personal statement by the final deadline.
Award winners will receive a 1099 tax form in 2027 for the 2026 tax return. International students will have different tax forms.