The following describes various awards and source of funding that are available internal to the Department of Geosciences. Thanks to our generous alumni, each senior has access to at least $500 for thesis research and can apply for more if needed.
The William Vernon Prize for Excellence in Geology:
The William Vernon Prize for Excellence in Geology is awarded to a graduating senior Geosciences major by vote of the Department faculty. Selection is based on three criteria each weighed equally:
- academic excellence in geology, as measured by GPA;
- contributions to the department, and
- promise for the future.
This prize was established in honor of Professor William Vernon, the founding member of the department. It will normally be awarded annually in May at the year end picnic. The selected student will be listed in the Commencement program at graduation.
The William Vernon Research Prize in Geology:
The William Vernon Research Prize in Geology is awarded to an outstanding rising senior Geosciences major in support of laboratory or fieldwork or travel to present results at a recognized professional conference as part of their senior independent research project. The award recipient will be chosen through a selection process which will be conducted by the Geosciences Department faculty based on cumulative grade point average and a formal application submitted by each student. This application will include a complete research project proposal including an abstract, a hypothesis, an outline of their experimental design, a discussion of proposed data analysis techniques, a summary of how they plan to present their results, and a proposed budget for the project. This prize was established in honor of Professor William Vernon, the founding member of the department. It will normally be awarded annually in May at the year end picnic with the moneys being available for use either over the summer or during the course of the following academic year. The selected student will be listed in the Convocation program at the beginning of the following fall semester.
The Henry Hanson Research Prize in Geology:
The Henry Hanson Research Prize in Geology is awarded to an outstanding student in support of research in Geosciences as part of their independent research project. The money will be used to help pay for expenses such as travel for field work, purchase of research equipment, software, supplies, etc. Travel to professional meetings can be supported, but only in so far as it is related to the student's research. While field work should be encouraged, support of laboratory work will also be appropriate. The award recipient will need to demonstrate initiative, curiosity, creativity, and promise in the field of Geosciences through a selection process which will be conducted by the Geosciences Department faculty based on cumulative grade point average and a formal application submitted by each student. This application will include a complete research project proposal including an abstract, a hypothesis, an outline of their experimental design, a discussion of proposed data analysis techniques, a summary of how they plan to present their results, and a proposed budget for the project. This prize was established in honor of Professor of Geology Henry Hanson. It will normally be awarded annually in May at the year end picnic with the moneys being available for use either over the summer or during the course of the following academic year. The selected student will be listed in the Convocation program at the beginning of the following fall semester.
The Atlantic Richfield Foundation Research Award:
The Atlantic Richfield Foundation Research Award is given to a rising sophomore, junior, or senior who, by determination of the Geosciences department faculty, based on written proposal, has shown promise for an original research contribution through field and/or laboratory research in the Geosciences. This prize was established from an endowment set aside to offset expenses for student research in the Geosciences. Initially, the grant which produced the endowment was for equipment in the chemical and geological sciences. It will normally be awarded annually in May at the year end picnic with the moneys being available for use either over the summer or during the course of the following academic year. The selected student will be listed in the Convocation program at the beginning of the following fall semester.