Graduate College Engagement Celebrations and Events Grad Student Appreciation Week

We're getting ready!

April 6 - 10, 2026 

Illinois graduate students are simply amazing! 

They make many different contributions to our lives and our future. We have all benefited from the graduate students in our classrooms, labs, department seminars, office hours, graduate student associations, coffee hours, mentoring sessions, and all the other places grad students make a difference.  

Graduate Student Appreciation Week is a chance to recognize those contributions and say thank you for being a part of our Illinois community. 

badge with date for graduate student appreciation week 2026

Feature Celebrations

Research Live! Showcase

Gregory Hall Auditorium

Join us Tuesday, April 7, at 5 p.m. at the Gregory Hall Auditorium to see the finalists share their remarkable research in 3 minutes or less.

Image of Research Exhibition

Image of Research 2026 finalists grid

Explore the online exhibition and vote for your 3 favorites. Your votes will determine the People's Choice winner ($100 award). Voting closes Friday, April 10. 

Celebration Resources

Looking for digital and print assets to celebrate in your unit or organization? 

Explore these Resources