Grants and Scholarships
Nathaniel Whitney Small Grants || Husmann Memorial Scholarship
Alfred Hinds Memorial Award || Mary E. Baylor Memorial Scholarship
Nathaniel R. Whitney Jr. Memorial Research Grant Program
Administered by the South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union		 Top
Nathaniel R. Whitney, Jr.

SMALL RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR BIRD STUDY IN SOUTH DAKOTA

 

Grants may be awarded to qualified graduate and upper division (junior or senior year) students majoring in ornithology, avian ecology, avian wildlife management, or an appropriately-related scientific discipline at an accredited college or university in South Dakota offering 4-year degrees in ornithology or related fields.  Whitney research grants may also be awarded to other ornithologically or scientifically-qualified individuals, including amateur ornithologists.  Whitney Small Grants are payable up to $500.

SDOU invites applications for the 2012 summer field season.  Deadline for applications is April 20, 2012.  The winner will be notified by May 15, 2012.

The application process is as follows

The application must include:

  1. The applicant's name, address, and telephone number, and information about the applicant's background and qualifications for doing the research.

  2. A statement of the purpose(s) and objective(s) of the research project, the methods, techniques (including any analytical techniques that may be used),and materials needed for the project.

  3. A statement of the amount of funding requested and the specific use of the funds in the project.

  4. The applicant's assurance that the grant will be used solely and specifically for the designated research project.

  5. The applicant's assurance that the results of the research will be presented at a paper session at the SDOU Fall Meeting or in an acceptable article to be published in SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES or in a major ornithological or related scientific journal, within three years of the research.

Other requirements:

  1. The application should be no longer than three typed pages.

  2. The applicant must arrange for two individuals to send letters of recommendation directly to the SDOU Whitney Small Grants Committee Chairman.  Letters of recommendation should include an appraisal of the applicant's personal qualities and qualifications for pursuing the advancement of knowledge about the birds of South Dakota.

  3. Applications and letters of recommendation may be sent by e-mail to the committee chairman: Todd Jensen, gyrfalcon@midco.net, or in triplicate by mail to: Todd Jensen, 920 South Holt Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57103. Inquiries are welcome by phone after 6:00 pm, (605) 431-2442.

Successful applicants will receive a check for the grant's authorized amount from the SDOU treasurer on or before May 25, 2012.
 
Husmann Memorial Scholarship Top

2012-2013 Academic Year
$500 to be awarded to an outstanding graduate student by the South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union.

A department of biology, zoology or wildlife management at a South Dakota college or university may nominate one student for the Kenneth H. Husmann Memorial Scholarship.  The South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union invites each department’s participation in nominating a candidate for the 2012-2013 Husmann Memorial Scholarship.

During the 2012-2013 academic year, the nominee must be a graduate student majoring in ornithology, ecology or wildlife management and must have a strong interest and ability in studying one or more of these natural science specialties.

 If nominees have similar academic and personal qualifications, an award will be influenced by the student’s commitment to and interest in ornithology and by South Dakota residency.

The process of nomination:

  1. The department or appropriate departmental committee will select a worthy nominee.
  2. The department will submit the nomination with the following supporting information: the nominee’s academic and personal worthiness, probable date for completion of the academic degree, permanent residence address, temporary school address and e-mail address.
  3. The nominating letter should be signed by the department head and the nominee’s advisor.  If the department head also is the nominee’s advisor, the second signature should be by another senior professor in the department.
  4. The SDOU Scholarships and Awards Committee should receive the nomination by 15 April, 2012.  Please send the nomination to the SDOU Scholarships and Awards Committee, c/o Jocelyn L. Baker, Chair, 3220 Kirkwood Drive, Rapid City, SD 57702 or by e-mail to osprey@midco.net.

The scholarship award is in the amount of $500.00. The check for the award will be mailed directly to the winning student at his or her college or university address no later than September 1, 2012.
 
Alfred Hinds Memorial Award Top

$100 Award

The South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union will present a memorial award in the amount of $100.00 to a deserving individual or organization in 2012.  The Alfred Hinds Memorial Award for Ornithology, established in 1983, will be presented to an individual, student (high school, undergraduate, or graduate), or an organization/agency that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of ornithology in South Dakota.  It may also be awarded to a special project of the South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union which needs financial support. 

Nominations should include: nominee’s name/address/e-mail address and phone number, nominee’s accomplishments and any supporting information (i.e. newspaper articles, remarks for co-nominators, etc.).

Nomination period will close April 15, 2012.  The $100.00 award will be announced in mid-May 2012.  Send name of nominee to: Jocelyn Lee Baker, Chair, SDOU Scholarships and Awards Committee, 3220 Kirkwood Drive, Rapid City, SD 57702 or osprey@midco.net.


Mary E. Baylor Memorial Scholarship
Administered by the South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union		 Top

$1200 to be awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student
  1. The scholarship will be restricted to an undergraduate student in his/her junior or senior year at a South Dakota college or university.
  2. The student must be pursuing a major in biology with particular interest, in order of priority, in ornithology, ecology, wildlife management, biological education, medical practice, or medical research.
  3. The scholarship award must be utilized as tuition during the student’s junior or senior academic year.
  4. The student should have a high academic grade-point average and demonstrate a strong interest in one of the major areas of study mentioned above.
  5. The department or appropriate departmental committee or major professor will select a worthy nominee, using the guidelines mentioned above.
  6. The department will submit the nomination with the following supporting information: the nominee’s major area of study, his/her academic and personal worthiness, probable date for completion of academic degree, permanent residence address, temporary school address and e-mail address.
  7. The nominating letter should be signed by the department head and the nominating professor or advisor.  If the department head is the nominee’s professor or advisor, the second signature should be another senior professor in the department.
  8. Nominations should be received no later than April 15, 2012.  The scholarship winner will be notified in May. A check in the amount of $1200. will be mailed after the start of the academic year (September, 2012) to the winning student.

Please send the nomination letter to: South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union, Scholarships and Awards Committee, Jocelyn Lee Baker, Chair, 3220 Kirkwood Drive, Rapid City, SD 57702 or by e-mail to osprey@midco.net.