Grants and Scholarships

SMALL RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR BIRD STUDY IN SOUTH DAKOTA

The Nathaniel R. Whitney, Jr. Memorial Research Grant Program is administered by the South Dakota Ornithologists' Union (SDOU).

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 2008 summer field season.  Deadline for applications is March 20, 2008.  The winner will be notified by April 20, 2008.

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 the results of the research will be presented at a paper session at 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 recommendations directly to the SDOU Whitney Small Grants Committee Chairman.  Letter 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 committe chairman: Todd Jensen, gyrfalcon@redwoodwireless.com , 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 11, 2008.

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 will appreciate each department's participating in the process to nominate a candidate for the Husmann Memorial Scholarship.

The nominee must be an undergraduate senior or 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. (An undergraduate junior may be nominated for the scholarship to be awarded in his/her senior year).

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), and temporary (school) address.
3. The nominating letter should be signed by the department head and the nominee's adviser. If the department head also is the nominee's adviser, then 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 2005. Please send the nomination to:

SDOU Scholarships and Awards Committee
c/o Jocelyn L. Baker
3220 Kirkwood Drive
Rapid City, SD 57702
osprey@hills.net

By September 1, the check for the award will be sent directly to the scholarship winner's college or university.

The scholarship award will be $200.

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The Hinds Memorial Scholarship is awarded periodically to students and researchers for meritorious contributions to South Dakota ornithology.