S3 Awards
Award winners, family and friends of winners, mentors and judges are welcome to attend the awards ceremony.
The 2025 Awards Ceremony will be held in the morning on Saturday March 8, 2025.
The awards are as follows:
President’s Awards
Nine President’s Awards of $500 will be given to the most outstanding oral presentations
across all disciplines. Those receiving a President’s Award will represent SDSU at
the California State University (CSU) Student Research Competition.
President’s Award for the Arts
One President’s Award for the Arts of $500 will be given to an outstanding presentation
in the performance arts or exhibit category. The awardee will represent SDSU at the
California State University (CSU) Student Research Competition.
Charles Wei-hsun Fu Foundation Philosophy Award
Sponsored by the Charles Wei-hsun Fu Foundation and the San Diego State Department of Philosophy, one award of $500 will be given for students doing excellent research in the field
of philosophy. This award encourages a special niche where philosophy students can
shine. This award is open to all students, regardless of their major, who are engaged
in philosophical research that are presenting an oral project at S3.
Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Mentor Awards
Four Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Mentor Awards of $500 will be given
to recognize excellence in student mentoring (2 for mentors of undergraduates and
2 for mentors of graduate students). Mentor awardees are nominated by students when
they submit their presentation for the symposium.
Provost’s Awards
Sixteen Provost's Awards of $250 will be given for the top two oral and poster presentations
in each college.
Women in Engineering Awards
The Women-in-Engineering (WIE) award has been presented during the annual SDSU Student
Symposium (S3) event since 2015. This award aims to promote women student engineers/researchers
from the College of Engineering at the undergraduate (B.S.) and graduate (M.S./Ph.D.)
degree education levels. The first, second and third prize amounts are $250, $200
and $150, respectively and will be awarded to the top three women engineers/researchers
from the College of Engineering based on S3 oral/poster judging criteria. This award is sponsored by Prof. Satish Sharma, Director,
Antenna and Microwave Lab (AML), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Research Awards for Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
Diversity, social justice, and inclusion are values at the core of our university
mission. Five awards of $250 each will be given to the best oral or poster presentations
that exemplify our ongoing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Award
Sponsored by the Office of Hispanic Serving Institution Affairs, this student research
award goes to the top students whose research furthers our understanding of serving
Latinx, Chicanx, or Hispanic students in higher education, or contributes to the commitment
to honor SDSU's designation as an Hispanic Serving Institution. Two awards of $250
will be given.
Arts Alive Award
The S3 Arts Alive SDSU Award, Sponsored by Arts Alive, is offered to an outstanding student
from any academic program who integrates the arts as part of an interdisciplinary
research project that addresses cultural or sociopolitical issues. One award of $250
will be given.
Arts Exhibit Award
One Arts Exhibit Award of $250 will be given to the best art exhibit. Art exhibits
can showcase a wide range of artistic mediums including: Painting, Sculpture, Photography,
Digital Art, Mixed Media, Film, Textiles, Ceramics, Glass, Jewelry, and Installations.
Outstanding Performance and Visual Arts Award
One Outstanding Performance and Visual Arts Award of $250 will be given for the best
performance presentation. Performing arts are artistic disciplines that involve live
performances, such as:
- Theater: plays, musicals and other dramatic productions
- Music: concerts, operas, symphonies, and other musical performances
- Dance: Ballet, modern dance, jazz dance, and other dance forms
- Opera: A dramatic musical work, typically in several acts, combining singing, acting and orchestral music
SDSU Undergraduate RSCA Program (SURP) Award
Two awards of $250 each will be given for oral or poster presentations by students
who have participated in the SDSU Undergraduate RSCA Program (SURP).
Sustainability Award
The primary mission of the Center for Regional Sustainability (CRS) is to advance sustainability and environmental justice through regional collaborations
in community-based participatory research, stewardship, and outreach to support our
region in becoming a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable place to live, work
and play. CRS sponsors the SDSU Student Symposium Sustainability Award to recognize
student work that focuses on creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable world
by integrating vital environmental, social, and economic needs of the present while
ensuring future prosperity. One award of $250 will be given.
Library Awards
Five Library Awards of $250 each will be given for oral or poster presentations. Awards
will go to the best projects using University Library resources and collections, including, but not limited to printed resources, databases,
primary resources, and materials in all media.
Dean’s Awards
Sixteen Dean’s Awards of $200 each will be given for oral or poster presentations.
Awards will go to the top presentations in each college.
Undergraduate Research Excellence Awards
Ten Undergraduate Research Excellence Awards of $150 each will be given for oral or
poster presentations across all disciplines recognizing scholarly achievement.
*Please note– Students will be awarded the highest award they qualify for but will not be considered for additional awards.