Student Work Showcase & Awards Night
Movies have the Oscars. Music has the Grammys. Comm Lead has Screen Summit.
It’s time for Comm Lead’s annual year-end showcase and awards night!
Each year at Screen Summit, students present their very best work from the academic year to classmates, colleagues, and a panel of industry judges who award cash prizes to winners.
But it’s not just about competition. It’s about celebrating the work of our community, shaped by industry-leading instruction, real client contexts, and the applied practice at the core of our program.
Screen Summit is open to everyone in our community: current students, alumni, incoming students, faculty, , friends, family, and professional colleagues. Whether you’re here to see a classmate’s work recognized, reconnect with the community, or get a firsthand look at what Communication Leadership students produce — this is your night!
Story Showcase is the screening of audio and video projects at 3 pm, PCAR 192, followed by the Strategy and Design presentations during the Screen Summit awards held at 6 pm, UW Club.
The Categories
Story: Video, audio and written work work built around meaningful narratives. Projects that use the craft of storytelling to inform, move, or change perspective.
Strategy: Campaigns, brand launches, social impact work, and self-driven initiatives rooted in strategic thinking for real outcomes.
Design: Human-centered design work with a clear focus on usability, value, and purpose for the people it serves.
Presenting at Screen Summit!
Submissions are open to current Comm Lead graduate students who completed work during the 2025–2026 academic year.
Who is eligible:
- Current Comm Lead graduate students from the 2025–2026 academic year
- Cohort 24 students who completed coursework in Autumn 2025 or Winter 2026 and are participating in the Spring 2026 graduation ceremony — you are still eligible to submit
More details on How To Apply.
Application deadline: May 20 at 10 am | Final project due: May 26 at 10 am
If you are presenting, please remember to RSVP to Story Showcase and/or Screen Summit..
Frequently Asked Questions (If You Are Presenting)
I graduated in Autumn or Winter — can I still apply? Yes. Cohort 24 students who officially graduated in Autumn 2025 or Winter 2026 and encouraged to apply. If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, reach out at commlead@uw.edu.
My project isn’t finished yet. Can I still submit? Yes. A draft or work-in-progress is fine. You’ll confirm in the application that your final version will be ready by May 26. If you don’t have a draft to share yet, note that in your submission form.
Can I submit a team project? Yes, and team submissions are encouraged. Submit one application together with a single primary contact. You may submit one solo project and be attached to one team project, but cannot be the primary contact on both. If a team project wins, the award is split among all listed members — one plaque is given per team.
What happens if my project is selected? Selected students present at a table during the event — 5 minutes or less, in a format similar to a short TED Talk, with whatever visual elements you choose to bring. You’ll have small square table (3 x 3 ft) to work with. For Story category audio and video projects, you’ll present at a separate screening event — details shared after selection.
When will I find out if my project is selected? You’ll hear from us soon after the deadline on May 20. We’ll confirm presentation timing and setup details at that point.
If you require any accessibility accommodations to participate in this event (e.g., ASL interpretation, captioning, accessible seating), please contact commlead@uw.edu by May 18th. We are committed to making our events accessible to all attendees.
RSVP to reserve your spot and join us celebrate.
University of Washington
Department of Communication