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.
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 Sunday, November 12, 2023.
This year’s Rebel Grad Slam Preliminary rounds will be hosted virtually (via Zoom). Each student only participates in one round.
- Monday, November 27, 2023: 10 - 11 a.m.
- Monday, November 27, 2023: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Monday, November 27, 2023: 12 - 1 p.m.
- Monday, November 27, 2023: 5 - 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 28, 2023:10 - 11 a.m.
- Tuesday, November 28, 2023: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 28, 2023: 12 - 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 28, 2023: 5 - 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 29, 2023: 10 - 11 a.m.
- Wednesday, November 29, 2023: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 29, 2023: 12 - 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 29, 2023: 5 - 6 p.m.
Each student only participates in one round (if you advance to the semi-finals).
- Thursday, November 30, 2023: 9 - 10:30 a.m., Philip J. Cohen Theatre
- Thursday, November 30, 2023: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Philip J. Cohen Theatre
- Thursday, November 30, 2023: 1:30 - 3 p.m., Philip J. Cohen Theatre
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Friday, December 1, 2023: 4 - 6 p.m., GUA Auditorium & Lobby
Upcoming Events
Rules and Regulations
- Contestants must submit the authorized Rebel Grad Slam PowerPoint to gradacademy@unlv.edu by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. Please label the PowerPoint document: LastName_RGS2023.
- You cannot modify your PowerPoint slide between rounds.
- You may only use your 1 PowerPoint slide: no music, 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.
- 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 $500
- 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 $500
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
- Watch winning 3MT presentations from around the world.
- Top Ten Tips for Writing and Delivering Very Brief Speeches by Bill Cole, Founder and CEO of William B. Cole Consultants
- TED Talks: Approximately 3-minute talks on "ideas worth spreading"
- 10 Most Common Rookie Mistakes in Public Speaking by Terry Gault, Managing Partner and Vice President of the Henderson Group
- How to win at academic presentations: top tips on what to say and how to say it by Sarah Knowles, Research Fellow with the NIHR
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.