The Graduate School GradTeach Live! 2026 celebrates standout graduate teaching at UK Graduate teaching assistants showcased their teaching philosophy in three minute finals presentations at The Cornerstone.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 25, 2026) — Graduate teaching assistants help shape the UK experience every day through the way they explain ideas, build confidence, and create classroom spaces where students feel ready to learn. GradTeach Live! 2026 celebrated that impact with a finals showcase that invited the campus community to see graduate teaching in action. Learn more about the event format and purpose on the GradTeach Live! page at https://gradschool.uky.edu/gradteach-live. (gradschool.uky.edu)
A finals showcase that puts graduate teaching in the spotlight
The UK GradTeach Live! In Person Finals Showcase and Final Event was held Feb. 26, 2026, at the Esports Theater in The Cornerstone. Event details are listed on The Graduate School website at https://gradschool.uky.edu/events/uks-gradteach-live-person-finals. (gradschool.uky.edu)
A clear format, built for real teaching
Modeled after the Three Minute Thesis style of short, high impact talks, GradTeach Live! asks graduate teaching assistants to present their teaching philosophy and instructional approach in three minutes with one slide, sharing a concrete example of what that philosophy looks like in an in person, virtual, or hybrid classroom or lab. The Graduate School describes the showcase as an opportunity for graduate instructors to practice talking about teaching in an engaging way for job interviews and teaching demonstrations. More about the format and goals is available at https://gradschool.uky.edu/gradteach-live. (gradschool.uky.edu)
GradTeach Live! 2026 winners
First place: Victoria Olajengbesi, Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Breaking the Invisible Wall: Designing Classroom Space Where Language Learners Dare to Speak. (facebook.com)
Second place: Lateefat Jimoh, Chemistry
Mistake is Part of the Learning Process. (facebook.com)
Third place: Mark Hines, English
Agency as Art: Student Led Annotations and Conversations. (facebook.com)
People’s Choice: Lateefat Jimoh. (facebook.com)
Why it matters for the UK community
For the UK community, GradTeach Live! is a reminder that graduate teaching is both a responsibility and a craft. It takes preparation, empathy, and the ability to connect with learners in real time. By asking finalists to communicate their teaching approach with clarity and purpose, the showcase highlights the instructional leadership graduate students bring to UK classrooms and labs across disciplines.
To learn more about future teaching focused professional enhancement opportunities, visit The Graduate School’s page