Frank A. Andersen travel award

Frank A Anderson ecology travel award for graduate students (Non-Endowed)

1. NAME: The name of this award shall be the "Frank A. Andersen Ecology Travel Award for Graduate Students."
2. PURPOSE: The purpose of this award shall be to honor and recognize outstanding achievement by a graduate student who is enrolled in the Graduate School at The Pennsylvania State University.
3. AMOUNT/SOURCE OF FUNDS: Support for this award, $7,500, has been contributed to The Pennsylvania State University for the above-stated purpose by F. Alan Andersen in memory of his father, Frank A. Andersen. Additional contributions may be made by interested persons or organizations.
4. ELIGIBILITY: Consideration for this award shall be given to all graduate students enrolled in the Graduate School who have achieved excellence in their research topic in Ecology and who will greatly benefit from active participation in an approved professional conference where the student will have opportunities to interact with other colleagues and scholars in their field of study.
5. SELECTION PROCEDURE: Recipients of this award will be appointed by the Chair of the Ecology Program. Preference shall be given to eligible recipients who have not previously received this award. The Office of Student Aid, which is responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations concerning federal, state, and other aid in accordance with University policy regarding academic scholarships under University control, shall be informed of all awards.
   Candidates will submit a short (< 250 words) abstract by February 1st for review along with a funding request for a particular conference to the award selection committee. The awards committee will be comprised of the Ecology Graduate Student Organization president and vice president, a faculty member, and one other student selected by vote during the annual elections. The abstract may be a copy of the candidate's official meeting abstract or to remain within the 250 word limit, a summary of said abstract. If selected for this award, recipients must give an oral presentation or present a poster at the conference. The awards committee will select recipients based on abstract quality and available funds by February 15th. Individual awards will be capped at $1,000, although smaller awards can be made at the discretion of the selection committee. Upon returning from the conference, awardees will be required to write a short reflection on the conference for the monthly Ecology Program newsletter. The awards committee will announce the amount of available funds by December 1st.
6. AMOUNT OF AWARD: The number of awards made and the amount of each shall be determined by the awards committee comprised of the Ecology Graduate Student Organization president and vice president, a faculty member, and one other student selected by vote during the annual elections. In no case, however, shall the value of the awards exceed the funds available for this purpose. Any available monies not awarded in a particular year shall be added to funds available for expenditure in the following year.
7. TERM OF AWARD: Each award shall be for one academic year. Further extraordinary accomplishments by a recipient may enable that recipient to be again considered for this award.
8. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION: The Board of Trustees of The Pennsylvania State University, in consultation with the donor when possible, shall have the authority to make changes in these guidelines which are necessary to ensure the fulfillment of the above-stated objectives. Annual funding may be terminated upon written notice by either the donor or the Board of Trustees, not later than March 1, of the year the award is to be made.