GPSA Week
History of Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week
In 1993, three students, Tony Rosati (Georgetown University), Gina Pearson (American University) & Anne Holt (Florida State University), all activists within the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS), wanted to find a way to physically manifest support and appreciation of the contributions, impact and value of graduate students. Their effort led to a cooperative initiative called National Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW), which seeks to emphasize the contributions, impact and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States. It is celebrated annually on the first week of April.
GPSA Week at the University of Houston
Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week is an annual observance designed to recognize and celebrate the valuable contributions of graduate and professional students in academia and beyond. Typically held during the first week of April, this week-long event highlights the dedication, perseverance, and achievements of individuals pursuing advanced degrees.
The purpose of the week is to foster a sense of community, express gratitude for the vital role graduate and professional students play in research and education, and raise awareness about the unique challenges they may face. Various universities and institutions organize events, workshops, and activities to honor these students and promote a supportive environment for their continued success. To learn more about GPSA Week please visit the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students website here .
Here at University of Houston, University Career Services hosts a lineup of events to support and uplift our graduate, professional, and doctoral cougars. We encourage all graduate and professional students to engage with us, as participation in select events will enter students’ names into a raffle to win giveaways from University Career Services! Please RSVP to events through Cougar Pathway via your Access UH.
Appreciation Notes
- "Thank you for your HARD WORK and supporting students. You are greatly appreciated. Enjoy this week!"
- "Kathleen, it has been my distinct pleasure to work with you these past few years. You ask all the right kinds of questions that a scientist should ask and work hard to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. You are the kind of student that PhD advisors dream of having. You're amazing and I am so proud of the progress you are making in the program."
- "I am delighted to see you furthering your graduate studies in the exciting field of machine learning (ML) and data science. I have no doubt that you will bring even more innovation to your area of passion. Congratulations."
- "Gracias por todo lo que me has enseñado! I am so excited to see all the wonderful things you will do."