Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week Wrap-Up Celebrating Community

The University of Kentucky’s Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW), held from April 9–16, 2025, was jointly hosted by The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Congress (GSC), and by GSC President Tori Stanton. The week brought together hundreds of students, faculty, and campus partners to recognize the incredible contributions of our graduate and professional students. With a jam-packed calendar of events, the week highlighted both gratitude and community spirit, culminating in impressive engagement across campus.

Throughout the week, students participated in events aimed at supporting their academic journeys, promoting wellness, and fostering community. Popular favorites included Abbie Wood's Resume Workshop, the professional headshot booth, and relaxing massage chair sessions offered through the “Grad-itude & Growth” wellness initiative from POWER. From free coffee and pastries at the "Grad & Go" pop-ups to community-building events like Power-Up Bingo and the Partner Pop-Ups, GPSAW had something for everyone.

The SGA & GSC Block Party was a major highlight, bringing students together for games, BBQ, and fun. Another standout moment was the Grad Goodies Giveaway, where more than 300 students stopped by the Graduate School to pick up swag bags and sweet treats—making it one of the most popular events of the week.

The celebration also reached new heights at Graduate Student Night at the UK Baseball Game, where a special Graduate School commercial aired to the stadium—an exciting moment of recognition for graduate students.

In total, GPSAW welcomed participation from over 10% of the graduate student population, including both in-person and online students, a testament to the strong sense of community and appreciation felt across the university.

Students shared overwhelmingly positive feedback in post-event surveys. One student wrote, 

“It was really encouraging to see the university take time to recognize graduate students and making us feel appreciated, honestly.”

Harper Propst, Marketing & Communications Graduate Assistant in The Graduate School and one of the event’s organizers, reflected on the experience: 

“It was such a joy to help plan this week and see students engaging with one another and truly feeling appreciated. The energy was contagious—I think we all left the week feeling seen as students, which graduate students don't often feel.”

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the many groups who helped make this week a success, including the Graduate Student Congress, Student Government Association, UK POWER, the Office for Student Success,  UK Athletics, and the Office of Graduate Student Professional Enhancement (GSPE). 

We’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate our graduate and professional students—and we can’t wait to do it again next year!

Want to help shape the future of GPSAW?
Please take a moment to complete our brief feedback survey. It should take less than five minutes, and your input is greatly appreciated.