Applications are now available online for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists/ExxonMobil Student Education Program (SEP). This program offers travel grants to graduate students pursuing degrees in the geosciences.
The application deadline for a grant to Russia is January 12, 2010, and for Europe is January 20, 2010. Visit the program website for application materials.
The National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation (NGWREF) awarded a total of $10,000 to eight students from its Len Assante Scholarship Fund, Foundation President Alan Eades, CWD/PI, announced today.
Breana Hashman of West Chester, Pennsylvania, won the Past President’s Award—the top scholarship presented to the most qualified of the applicants. Hashman, who is studying geology at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, received $2,000 toward her education.
The other recipients are:
NGWREF also awarded $2,000 in scholarships to four students for their paper presentations made at the 2009 Ground Water Summit that took place in April. The $500 scholarships are given in honor of the late Dr. Robert Farvolden, former senior science counsel for NGWA.
The scholarships were awarded based on the quality of the presentation, content (including contribution to ground water science, engineering, management, or policy), and demonstrated insight on the chosen topic.
The winners are:
This marks the 32nd year in which scholarship awards have been made. Since its inception, the scholarship program has supported 179 students in their pursuit of education.   Â
The American Geological Institute’s (AGI) Government Affairs Program seeks outstanding geoscience undergraduate or graduate students with a strong interest in federal science policy for a semester-long internship. Representing the geoscience community in Washington DC, the program actively works with Congress and federal agencies to foster sound public policy in areas that affect geoscientists, including water, energy, and mineral resources; geologic hazards; environmental protection; and federal funding for geoscience research and education. Applications for the spring semester are due by October 15, 2008. For more information about the internship, including how to apply visit: http://www.agiweb.org/gap/interns/index.html
This fall the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, known since 1945 for highly competitive fellowships, will offer a new fellowship opportunity for recent college graduates, as well as individuals from midlife professionals to retirees who might wish to change careers. I write to invite you to assist us in reaching potential candidates, especially career changers, with information about this initiative.
This new award, the Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship, seeks to attract talented, committed college graduates and professionals with significant work experience in math- and science-related fields into teaching in high-need high schools. Funded through a $10 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, the Fellowship offers rigorous preparation, extensive clinical experience, and ongoing mentoring.
The Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship will provide Fellows in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields with a $30,000 stipend during a master’s degree program at one of four Indiana universities. The master’s program will prepare Fellows in urban and rural high schools that serve primarily disadvantaged students. In exchange, Fellows will commit to teach math or science for three years in an Indiana secondary school. Upon completing the master’s degree and teaching certification, Fellows will be placed in teaching jobs in participating districts, where they will receive continued support and mentoring. More details about the program are available at www.woodrow.org/indiana.
Michelle Brand Buchanan, a teacher at Pineville Junior High in Pineville, Louisiana has been named the first recipient of the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching.
Ms. Buchanan received her Bachelor of Science from the University of North Texas. She has completed postgraduate science and education courses at four additional institutions and is currently a National Board Certified teacher of 7th grade life and environmental science and 8th grade earth, space, and environmental science.
Ms. Buchanan is involved in several organizations that promote science education. She’s a member of the Louisiana Science Teachers Association, the National Science Teachers Association, and is active in the Antarctic Geologic Drilling Program.
Columbus Goodman, Principal of Pineville Junior High says that Ms. Buchanan has a “loyalty and willingness to support new and innovative educational programs in the science field.†She is thorough in personally designing lesson plans that involve multiple hands-on activities that engage the students in learning.
In addition to the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award, she has received several other accolades, including the 2007 National Association of Geoscience Teachers Outstanding Earth Science Teacher of the Year Award for Louisiana, the U.S. Department of Education’s Star Teaching Award, and the 2005 Sam’s Club Regional Teacher of the Year Award.
Given annually, the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award recognizes one classroom teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade for his or her leadership and innovation in earth science education. This award is named in honor of Dr. Edward C. Roy, Jr., who was a strong and dedicated supporter of earth science education. He served as Past President of AGI, chaired the AGI Education Advisory Committee, and received both the Ian Campbell Medal and the Heroy Distinguished Service award. In addition, he served as the Gertrude and Walter Pyron Distinguished Professor of Geology at Trinity University, as Dean of the Division of Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering, and as Vice President for Academic Affairs. Roy was also appointed Chair of the Texas Earth Science Task Force by the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency.
Ms. Buchanan will be presented with the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award at the AGI Past Presidents Dinner, Sunday April 20th 2008 in San Antonio, Texas.
The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 44 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society’s use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.
The American Geological Institute announces that applications are now being accepted for the 2008-2009 AGI Minority Geoscience Scholarships. Please forward this announcement to any African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native American students who are declared majors in your geoscience department.
Application materials are available online for the 2008-2009 AGI Minority Geoscience Scholarships. Recipients of AGI Geoscience Student Scholarships are provided with mentors, scholarship support and an award for professional development expenses, such as field camp tuition, professional society memberships, and/or travel and registration to a professional meeting of one of AGI’s member societies.
If you are enrolled in an earth science education or geoscience degree program and would like to apply for a scholarship for the 2008-2009 school year, please review the qualifications and procedures outlined at http://www.agiweb.org/mpp. All application materials must be received by March 14, 2008. Please direct questions and inquiries to mpp@agiweb.org.