Application For The New Mexico Chapter of The Wildlife Society Biodiversity Scholarship Program
Biodiversity Scholarship Description:
The New Mexico Chapter of The Wildlife Society Biodiversity Scholarship program was established through an endowment from the proceeds of the 1990 Biodiversity Symposium, which was sponsored by the Chapter and several other natural resource agencies and organizations. Applicants for the Biodiversity Scholarship should work with wildlife, which includes all fauna and habitat components, excluding fisheries-related studies. The Chapter considers applications for two scholarships annually, which may be awarded to undergraduate or graduate students. Applicants should be currently enrolled in a natural resource-oriented higher education program in the State of New Mexico, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 for undergraduates, and 3.5 for graduate students. Scholarships will be awarded at the Joint Annual Meeting of the New Mexico and Arizona Chapters of The Wildlife Society and Arizona/New Mexico Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in Flagstaff, Arizona on February 5th, 2016. Applications are due no later than January 5th, 2016.
Application Format:
The application package should be addressed to the New Mexico Chapter of The Wildlife Society Board and must include a cover letter and current resume. The cover letter should be no longer than one page, and the resume no longer than two pages. Please use standard one inch margins and size 12 font. The application package should contain the following information:
- Applicants should briefly state their academic and professional goals and include details on past and anticipated future contributions to the conservation of biodiversity in New Mexico and elsewhere.
- Applications should contain detailed information on educational experience including: field of study; institution where currently enrolled and, if applicable, those previously attended; expected date of completion; completed relevant coursework; and cumulative grade point average. Additional information on honors, awards, and/or scholarships received is also appropriate.
- Applications should include information on professional experience, whether paid or volunteer, including employers, locations, time periods, and brief descriptions of work responsibilities.
- Applicants should provide information on relevant leadership experience, either through academic or professional experiences or through related extracurricular activities.
- Applicants must provide a brief statement of financial need including personal indebtedness related to education, current scholarships, grants or assistantships, and whether the applicant has previously received the NMTWS Biodiversity Scholarship.
- Applications must include current contact information for at least one professional reference and one academic reference. The academic reference should be able to verify the information contained in the application package if necessary. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that reference contact information is up to date; scholarship reviewers must be able to communicate with references.
Award Criteria:
The New Mexico Chapter of The Wildlife Society Board reviews applications and determines awardees through a ranked review process based on the following criteria:
- Current cumulative grade point average and related educational experience and/or achievements receive the greatest weighted consideration during the review process.
- Contribution(s) to the field, especially current and anticipated future contributions to the conservation of biodiversity in New Mexico, receive secondary weighted consideration.
- Demonstrated leadership through professional and/or academic experiences is also given consideration during the review process. This component can also include strength of professional and academic references.
- Demonstrated financial need is considered as a final determinative factor to distinguish among applicants who may otherwise receive equal rankings during the review process.
Application Submittals:
Applications for the NMTWS Biodiversity Scholarship should be submitted to:
Quentin Hays
New Mexico Chapter of The Wildlife Society
709 Mechem Drive
Ruidoso, NM 88345
Electronic submissions are preferred. Please write NMTWS Biodiversity Scholarship in the subject line and include the submittal package as one email attachment (pdf is preferred) using the following naming format:
Applicant Name_NMTWS_BioScholarship_Year
Example: QuentinHays_NMTWS_BioScholarship_2015