Feb. 20 is an exciting day for graduate students, as they have the opportunity to earn $23,600 in scholarships.

The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) is hosting the Wiley Exposition today, Feb. 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Compton Union Building (CUB). It gives students a chance to not only present their research projects and compete for scholarships, but also network with professional alumni.

Davi Kallman, chair of the event, said that all students are given equal and unbiased opportunities.

This year, $23,600 will be given away in scholarships. With over three hundred student entries, this year will be the biggest Wiley exposition to date.

The GPSA has partnered with ASWSU and the Office of International Programs to offer scholarship opportunities to a wider range of students. Starting this year, the exposition is hosting an undergraduate research category in which $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to two students.

“With so much diverse and cutting-edge research going on, it gives everyone a chance to see what’s going on at WSU,” said Robbie Zinna, co-chair of the event.

In addition, there is a new category for international research and cross-cultural collaborations. This category highlights the graduate research with a global impact, and is a way to increase international diversity. It is sponsored by the Office of International Programs.

Along with the international research category, the exposition encourages international students to get involved.

As part of the Wiley Expo, the Graduate and Professional Writing Center will be hosting a writing workshop that aims to help students hone their writing and professional skills.

The exposition also brings WSU alumni back to campus. The judges are part of the Alumni Association. This gives the students an opportunity to network with alumni who can give them knowledge about their field of study, as well as showcasing their research.

One alumnus attending is Eric Nyberg, the keynote speaker of the event. Nyberg graduated from WSU with a bachelor of science and masters of science degrees in materials science and engineering.

Nyberg is a chief engineer for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) laboratories where he works to develop lighter vehicles for the automotive industry.

The Wiley Exposition will begin with a keynote address from Nyberg at 9 a.m. Following the keynote, oral presentations will go from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Poster presentations will run from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The writing workshop is open from 10-1:30 a.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. All presentations are open to spectators.