Student Pitch Competition

Student Pitches

New Event this Year- Student Pitch Competitions!
The Office for URaCE and the UTC Graduate School will host in-person student pitch competitions on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in conjunction with the virtual Fall Research Conference. Current UTC graduate students and undergraduate students are invited to participate!  The event is free and open to the public.

Competitions

Graduate Student 3M Thesis© Competition

Undergraduate Student Research Elevator Pitch Competition

Undergraduate Student Research Elevator Pitch Competition

WHEN: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 
WHERE: McKenzie Arena Wolford Family Athletic Center 

Competition runs from 1:20 PM - 2:00 PM with competitor check-in starting at 12:50 PM.

Pitch Competition Prizes 

Prize winners must submit a project proposal (with budget details) to the Office for URaCE before funds are distributed. 

First Place: $750.00

Second Place: $500.00

Third Place: $250.00

Purpose

Students who participate in the competition will “pitch” a new research/creative works idea OR get support for an ongoing research/creative project. The pitch competition provides a valuable opportunity to practice key communication skills and tell a compelling research story. In contrast to the traditional “elevator pitch” the “research pitch” focuses on the research project versus your personal story. 

Pitch Details

• Student competitors will present a brief, but compelling “story” of how a new or existing research/ creative project has value and contributes to the knowledge base. The pitch must be accessible to a general audience (avoiding complex jargon), and focus on the aims of the research, projected outcomes, and contribution to the discipline. The pitch competition will be judged by a panel of UTC Faculty. Students preparing for graduate school and/or the workforce are strongly encouraged to participate! Space is limited so submit your pitch registration early!
• The Undergraduate Student Research Elevator Pitch Competition is scheduled from 1:20 PM -2:00 PM October 28, 2025. Before you register to compete in this event, make certain that you are available to attend this event from 12:50 PM - 2:00 PM (time range includes check-in and event times) 

Pitch Competition Eligibility

Competitors must…

• be working under the supervision of a UTC faculty mentor/advisor.
• be currently enrolled, degree-seeking UTC undergraduate students in good academic and judicial standing at the time the competition submission form is submitted and on competition day.
• be enrolled in classes during the fall 2025 semester.
• have an active UTC email address and UTC student ID.
• submit the pitch registration form by the submission deadline.
• be selected to participate in the pitch competition. Selected participants will receive an official pitch competition confirmation e-mail, and pitch presentation time  from the event coordinators.

Pitch Details and Guidelines

• Pitches must be presented in person.
• Pitches will run no more than 2 minutes in duration and will be timed.
• Competitors may use slide decks to accompany their pitches. Slide decks will include no more than 2 slides (including title slides).
• Competitors will bring a copy of their slides (saved on a thumb drive) to the competition.
• Competitors must check-in between 12:50 PM - 1:20 PM. Competitors arriving late will not be permitted to compete.
• The competition will be judged by a panel of UTC Faculty. The judging criteria and rubric will be shared with students prior to the competition.
• Pitch competition winners will be announced immediately following the competition.
• Pitches will be filmed and photographed. Competition video coverage will be shared on the UTC and Office for URaCE websites.
• Prize winners must submit a project proposal (with budget details) to the Office for URaCE before funds are distributed

Want to participate in the Undergraduate Student Research Elevator Pitch Competition? Register HERE (Registration opens early September). 

Graduate Student Three Minute Thesis Pitch Competition

Where: Mckenzie Arena Wolford Family Athletic Center

When: Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Competition runs from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM with competitor check-in starting at 10:00 AM. 

Pitch Competition Prizes 

Prize winners must submit a project proposal (with budget details) to the Graduate School before funds are distributed.

First Place: $750.00

Second Place: $500.00

Third Place: $250.00

Graduate Student 3M Thesis Information

The 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition will follow the official 3MT Guidelines. Presentations will be evaluated by a panel of UTC faculty judges. 

From the 3M Thesis website: Developed by The University of Queensland, 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Pitch Competition Eligibility

Competitors must…

• be working under the supervision of a UTC faculty mentor/advisor.
• be currently enrolled, degree-seeking UTC graduate students in good academic and judicial standing at the time the competition submission form is submitted and on competition day.
• be enrolled in classes during the fall 2025 semester.
• have an active UTC email address and UTC student ID.
• submit the pitch registration form by the submission deadline.
• be selected to participate in the pitch competition. Selected participants will receive an official pitch competition confirmation e-mail, and pitch presentation time from the event coordinators.

Note: The information below is excerpted from the official 3M Thesis Competition website. 

Competition Rules:

• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum. Competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or movement) and is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are allowed.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Judging Criteria:

At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighed and has an emphasis on the audience.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear motivation, background and significance to the research question
• Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research
• Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research

Engagement and communication

• The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience
• The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation
• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention

 Additional Information

• Competitors will bring a copy of their slide (saved on a thumb drive) to the competition.
• Competitors must check-in between 10:00-10:30am. Competitors arriving late will not be allowed to compete. The competition will start promptly at 10:30 AM.
• The competition will be judged by a panel of UTC Faculty. The judging criteria and rubric will follow the 3M Thesis Judging Criteria listed above and on the 3M website.
• Pitches will be filmed and photographed. Competition video coverage will be shared on the UTC and Office for URaCE websites.
• Pitch competition winners will be announced immediately following the competition.
• Prize winners must submit a project proposal (with budget details) to the Office for URaCE before funds are distributed.

Before you register to participate, you should thoroughly review the 3M Thesis Competition website for full competition details. 

View 3M Thesis Examples HERE. 

• The 3 Minute Thesis Pitch Competition is scheduled from 10:30-11:15am on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.  Before you register to compete in this event make certain that you are available to attend this event from 10:00-11:15am (time range includes check-in and event times).

Want to Participate in the 3M Thesis Competition? Register HERE (Registration opens early September). 

Additional details about the competitions along with a link to the registration form will be posted here at the beginning of the fall semester.