Grants awarded to Youngstown State University this year reach record heights.

YSU secured 11.7 million dollars in grants for 2009, outshining last year's record-setting total by 72-percent.

An awards banquet was held Wednesday to honor those who have worked to obtain the outside funding for research, service and educational projects.

The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, Peter Kasvinsky, believes YSU's stellar reputation is key to landing such prestigious awards.

STEM grants to the University totaled 7-million dollars.