"Celebrating Excellence in Graduate Education," a series of informational sessions for prospective and current graduate students at UNLV, is scheduled to take place Oct. 15-24.

Through a series of presentations, participants can learn how to apply to the Graduate College and can attend a variety of seminars on topics including financial assistance opportunities and how to prepare a thesis or dissertation. The "Celebrating Excellence" series is an annual event that first took place in 1999.

The two major themes for this year's event are "Preparing for Graduate College" and "Preparing, Submitting, and Presenting Research."

The individual sessions are:

-- "Writing a Thesis or Dissertation in MicroSoft Word 2000," 9:30 a.m. - noon Oct. 15 and 1 - 3:30 p.m. Oct. 24, System Computing Services, Room 104. Participation for each session is limited to the first 12 registrants. Call 895-4392 to reserve a place.

-- "Applying to the Graduate College," noon - 1:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Moyer Student Union (MSU), Room 202. Those attending are invited to bring a brown-bag lunch.

-- "UNLV McNair Scholars Poster Presentation & Reception," 1 - 3 p.m. Oct. 16, MSU, Room 201.

-- "Financial Assistance Opportunities for Graduate Students," noon - 1:30 p.m. Oct. 17, MSU, Room 201. Those attending are invited to bring a brown-bag lunch.

-- "Protecting Human Subjects in Research," 3 - 5 p.m. Oct. 17, MSU, Room 201.

-- "Thesis & Dissertation Preparation Seminar," 3 - 5 p.m. Oct. 18, MSU, Room 201.

-- "The Tests of Time: Taking the GRE, GMAT, & Other Exams," noon - 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19, MSU, Room 210 South. Space for this event is limited. Those attending are invited to bring a brown-bag lunch.