The Committee on Graduate Student Participation was formed in 1984 with the mission to “deal with the matter of how graduate students can become more involved in Society affairs”. Well before this time, however, graduate students were an active part of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists membership. With mentorship and encouragement from senior members, graduate students have received career-building grants, served on multiple committees, and worked to engage in the Society in novel and meaningful ways. Herein, we review reflections of past award winners, initiatives stemming from graduate students themselves, and a summary of the attendance and fundraising that graduate students have brought to the Society.