Regulations and Application Procedures
Application Deadline: March 1
Send application to the IAGLR Business Office, ATTN: Scholarships, 2205 Commonwealth Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
Purpose: Paul W. Rodgers (1952 - 1996) was an environmental scientist and engineer whose career focused on advancing understanding of the fate and transport of pollutants in the Great Lakes. He began his professional career as a scientist at the US EPA lab at Grosse Ile. From 1983 until his untimely death he worked at Limno-Tech, Inc., becoming a partner and executive Vice-President. He advocated the use of computer simulation and other science-based approaches to improve our policy and management efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes.
The intent of the bequest is to support the advancement of knowledge relating to Great Lakes aquatic ecosystem health and management. The Rodgers Scholarship is awarded annually to individuals dedicated to Great Lakes research, management, and/or the dissemination of knowledge.
Number and Value of Awards: The Paul W. Rodgers Scholarship is awarded annually on the basis of funds available from the memorial endowment set up by IAGLR for this purpose. One $2,000 (US) scholarship will be awarded this year. In addition, the scholarship winner will receive a one-year membership in IAGLR, including a subscription to the Journal of Great Lakes Research. The winner will receive the award(s) at the banquet for the annual meeting.
Eligibility: Any senior undergraduate, masters, or doctoral student who is a member of IAGLR, who wishes to pursue a future in research, conservation, education, communication, management, or other knowledge-based activity pertaining to the Great Lakes and who has not previously received the award is eligible. Relatives of IAGLR officers and/or directors are not eligible. (Students will recover the cost of IAGLR membership as reduced registration fees if they attend the annual meeting.) Students already holding a major scholarship (>$10,000) at the time of application are excluded. Scholarship holders must be registered in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional program at a recognized postsecondary institution.
Application Elements: A complete application is composed of four parts:
- A Letter of Application (maximum two pages) indicating the following:
- name, address, e-mail, and telephone number of applicant;
- brief list of postsecondary institutions and years attended;
- present department school;
- name of advisor or supervisor (if applicable);
- degree/diploma sought and estimated time to completion;
- a summary of past and present involvement with Great Lakes concerns;
- brief description of proposed program or thesis research topic;
- relevance of the proposed program of study to Great Lakes concerns.
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended.
- Two confidential letters of reference from teachers, instructors, advisors, supervisors, or individuals who can comment on the student's dedication to Great Lakes concerns and suitability for the scholarship.
- A statement explaining how further academic training and personal goals will help the student to fulfil their personal goals as they relate to the purpose of the scholarship (maximum one page).
Criteria for Judging: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of academic excellence, letters of support from teachers/advisors, involvement in activities related to Great Lakes issues, and the candidate's statement explaining how their further academic training and personal goals would help them to fulfil the goals of the scholarship.