2018 Impact and Horizon Awards

 Each department may nominate three students for the 2018 award cycle. Departmental nominations are due by Monday, October 9, 2017. Because departmental review and approval are required prior to nomination to The Graduate School, you should check with your department for its internal deadline. You must complete your application early enough for your department to nominate you to The Graduate School.

 Applications must be submitted through the online application system, which can be found at http://gradschool.unc.edu/impact.

 Impact and Horizon Awards are meant to recognize a very particular type of research that is of high quality with significant, immediate and direct impact on specific North Carolina citizens, communities, problems and issues. You must be able to specifically describe the significance of your research to the state of North Carolina, especially if your research project has a broad reach. It must contribute new knowledge or insights with a direct impact on the citizens of North Carolina. We are looking for important or innovative research ideas. Students from all academic areas are encouraged to apply.

 Awardees receive a cash prize, plaque, and recognition at The Graduate School’s annual Graduate Student Recognition Celebration. The Graduate School also directs significant outreach both within the university and beyond toward communicating the benefit of Impact Award-winning research.  The Graduate School’s communications staff will work closely with all awardees in the creation of a short story and the scheduling of a professional photograph – the basis of this public communications outreach.

 You are eligible to apply if:

(1)    You are a current master’s or doctoral student or a recent graduate (May 2016 or later)

(2)    Your research is on a topic that directly impacts North Carolina

Previous winners are NOT eligible to apply again with the same project, but may apply with a project unrelated to their previous Impact Award-winning research.

 For more information please visit http://gradschool.unc.edu/impact.

 Impact and Horizon Award recipients bring honor to their academic programs and their university. We appreciate your interest in these awards and encourage you to contact gradfunding@unc.edu if you have any questions.