rebels grand slam 2022

The Rebel Grad Slam

The idea is to explain who you are, what you study, why you study it, what your research question is, how you're analyzing it, and — most importantly — why it matters to folks outside your field using 1 PowerPoint slide and less than 3 minutes!

Hear from past Rebel Grad Slam participants – Austin McKenna (2017), Henry Castillo (2015), LaToya Burdiss (2019), and Jason Avedesian (2019) – about why they participated, their experience, and tips for future competitors.

Rebel Grad Slam 2017 Winner
Rebel Grad Slam 2015 Winner
2019 Rebel Grad Slam participant LaToya Burdiss
2019 Rebel Grad Slam participant Jason Avedesian

The Rebel Grad Slam 3-Minute Thesis Competition is an opportunity for graduate students to showcase their research and scholarship in an engaging way. This is a fast paced research rumble to highlight the innovative and impactful work being done by UNLV graduate students. Come out to cheer on your friends, students and colleagues

The Rebel Grad Slam challenges students to a 3-minute/1-slide presentation to showcase their research to the audience and judges in a condensed and compelling way. Participants will be evaluated on how well they explain and communicate the most significant parts of their scholarship/research. Winners of the Preliminary Rounds will progress to the Semi-Finals. Winners of the Semi-Finals round will compete in the Rebel Grad Slam Finals.

Winners of every round win scholarships and the value of these awards increases from the preliminary rounds to the semi-finals and the finals! The total cash prize pool is over $14,000!

This is a medallion-qualifying event for UNLV graduate & professional students. For additional information, please see the Graduate College Medallion Program website.

Rebel Grad Slam Registration is due by Monday, October 17, 2022.

Rebel Grad Slam Schedule & Winners

Preliminary Rounds

This year’s Rebel Grad Slam Preliminary rounds will be hosted virtually (via Webex). Each student only participates in one round.

  • Monday, October 31, 2022, 10-11 a.m., via Webex
  • Monday, October 31, 2022, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., via Webex
  • Monday, October 31, 2022, 12-1 p.m., via Webex
  • Monday, October 31, 2022, 5-6 p.m., via Webex
  • Tuesday, November 1, 2022,10-11 a.m, via Webex
  • Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., via Webex
  • Tuesday, November 1, 2022,12-1 p.m., via Webex
  • Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 5-6 p.m., via Webex
  • Wednesday, November 2, 2022,10-11 a.m, via Webex
  • Wednesday, November 2, 2022,11 a.m.-12 p.m., via Webex
  • Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 12-1 p.m., via Webex
  • Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 5-6 p.m., via Webex

Semi-Finals Rounds

Each student only participates in one round (if you advance to the semi-finals).

  • Thursday, November 3, 2022: 9 - 10:30 a.m., Philip J. Cohen Theatre
  • Thursday, November 3, 2022: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Philip J. Cohen Theatre
  • Thursday, November 3, 2022: 1:30 - 3 p.m., Philip J. Cohen Theatre

Finals Round & Reception

  • Friday, November 4, 2022: 4-6 p.m., GUA Auditorium & Lobby

Upcoming Events

This event has passed, please check back soon for more details.

Rules and Regulations

  • Contestants must submit the authorized Rebel Grad Slam PowerPoint to gradacademy@unlv.edu by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, October 17, 2022.  Please label the PowerPoint document: LastName_RGS2022.
  • You cannot modify your PowerPoint slide between rounds.
  • You may only use your 1 PowerPoint slide: no music, performances, props, note cards, etc. 
  • The 3-minute presentation maximum will be strictly enforced; any contestants exceeding 3 minutes will be disqualified from the competition. A time clock will be made visible for contestants to monitor.
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps, or songs). 
  • All judges' scoring and decisions will be final.
  • Business casual is encouraged.
  • Preliminary and Semi-Finals round contestants must check in 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the competition.
  • Finals round contestants must check in 30 minutes prior to the start of the competition.

Why You Should Compete

All participants will receive a Rebel Grad Slam T-shirt and a gift bag, and the winners of each round receive scholarships.

For the Preliminary Rounds:

  • first-place winner gets $300
  • second-place winner gets $200
  • third-place winner gets $100

For the Semi-Final Rounds:

  • first-place winner gets $600
  • second-place winner gets $400
  • third-place winner gets $200
  • audience choice gets $100

For the Final Round: 

  • first-place winner gets $1,500
  • second-place winner gets $1,000
  • third-place winner gets $750 
  • audience choice winner gets $700

Please note: You must have a current FAFSA form or the Alternate Need Determination Form on file. If you owe money for current or prior terms, the funds will be applied towards that balance. Disbursement of the scholarship can take between 4-6 weeks.

The College with the most Grad Rebel participants wins a free lunch! 

The overall 1st place winner's College will be awarded the Rebel Grad Slam Trophy to keep and display for the academic year. 

In addition, we are once again participating in the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) 3MT Competition and the Southwest Showdown 3MT Grad Slam. Finalists of the UNLV Rebel Grad Slam competition may have the opportunity to compete in these regional competitions. 

Tips for Success

  • Use limited text on the PowerPoint slide.
  • Use visuals on the PowerPoint slide. Optional visuals include: original charts, graphs, illustrations & photos.
  • Practice, practice, and practice!
  • Time yourself; Practice not exceeding 3 minutes.
  • Speak to your audience, make eye-contact, speak clearly and confidently.
  • Avoid jargon: present your ideas in an accessible way.
  • Be engaging: make the audience feel something.
  • Show up 15 minutes early to the event in which you are competing.
  • Watch other 3MT presentation videos for guidance & inspiration.
  • Be aware of the scoring rubric to help you prepare your presentation and earn the points you need to win your round.

Resources for Participants

Recaps from Past Rebel Grad Slams

2022

2022 Winners

1st Place
Santiago Bataller, College of Sciences

2nd Place
Taylor Flaherty, College of Liberal Arts

3rd Place
Jenn Chandler, College of Fine Arts
Nicole Tanguay, College of Education
Bhagya De Silva, College of Sciences

2021

2021 Winners

1st Place
James Skelly, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering

2nd Place
Melissa Schofield, College of Sciences

3rd Place
Katherine Luebke, College of Sciences

2020

2020 Winners

1st Place
Kendra McGlothen, School of Integrated Health Sciences
Harjiv Singh, School of Integrated Health Sciences

2nd Place
Andrew Ortiz, Graduate College

3rd Place
Johanna Andrews, Public Health
Michael Wong, Graduate College

 

2019

2019 Winners

1st Place
Nam Hoang, College of Sciences

2nd Place
Jason Avedesian, Graduate College

3rd Place
Johanna Andrews, Public Health
Michael Wong, Graduate College

2018

2018 Winners

1st Place
Trevor Pollom, College of Liberal Arts

2nd Place
Henry Castillo, College of Education

3rd Place
Bhagya de Silva, College of Sciences

2017

2017 Winners

1st Place
Austin McKenna, College of Sciences

2nd Place
Celine Ayala, College of Liberal Arts

3rd Place
Lorena Samentar, College of Sciences

2016

2016 Winners

1st Place
Karli Nave, College of Liberal Arts
Jacqueline Phan, College of Sciences

2nd Place
Wynn Tashman, College of Education

3rd Place
Stephanie Devine, College of Education

2015

2015 Winners

1st Place
Henry Castillo, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

2nd Place
Kaiyang Wu, Lee Business School

3rd Place
Chris Hardy, College of Sciences

2014

2014 Winners

1st Place
Erica Marti, College of Engineering

2nd Place
Katelyn DiBenedetto, College of Liberal Arts

3rd Place
Chris Hardy, College of Sciences

Please be advised that your participation in the Rebel Grad Slam event may amount to a public disclosure which could jeopardize your ability to obtain patent protection in certain jurisdictions. As a student, prior to participating and openly sharing the details of your project, you may want to seek legal counsel. Regarding faculty, staff member or employee of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, please contact the Office of Economic Development regarding any disclosure you plan to share or otherwise present to ensure compliance with NSHE policy and to best advise you on how to protect any intellectual property that may arise from your project.