Wakonse Conference

The Wakonse Conference application deadline is 14th March 2025.

Wakonse is a word from the Lakota Indian language meaning to teach, to inspire. The Wakonse Foundation brings together people who find inspiring and influencing others is what they do for a living. This award provides financial support for students to go to a conference on teaching in May, and there are multiple recipients every year. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants has not received a Wakonse Conference Award previously.
• Applicants must be a current ISU graduate or professional student in good academic standing.
• Student must have at least one year of graduate school remaining after the Wakonse Conference has ended.
• Students can be considered for each of the Leadership, Research, and/or Teaching awards within the same year
• Completed applications include:
  • Completed GPSS Wakonse Conference Award Application Form
    • Be concise and do not exceed the word limit
  • Nominee's CV
  • Two letters of support that can speak to your teaching impact:
    • One from a student that attended a class taught by the nominee
      • *** We are now accepting teaching evaluations as a means to meet this student feedback criteria. Although a written letter from an individual student is preferred, if this is unable to be fulfilled, an applicant can submit teaching evaluations.
    • One from the class instructor (if the applicant is the class instructor, this letter should be from the applicant's advisor, department chair, or supervisor for the course taught)
• All application materials will be included and submitted in the GPSS Wakonse Conference Award Application Form
• Any questions regarding this award or your application can be directed to gpsspresident@iastate.edu.

Past Conference Award Winners