Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology

Scholarship Sponsored by Association for Women Geoscientists

Association for Women Geoscientists — Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology Award

Overview
The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) invites applications for the Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology Award. The prize includes $1,000 and paid membership in both the Paleontological Society and AWG for the duration of the recipient’s academic program. The award recognizes an outstanding woman undergraduate preparing for a career in paleontology. This competition is supported through generous gifts from David Watkins and Mary Anne Holmes. The recipient will be informed in May and the award will be paid in early summer.

Eligibility
- Applicants must be women enrolled as undergraduates in paleontology or closely related sciences at an accredited, degree‑granting institution.
- The applicant must be registered as a student for the period covered by the award.
- Applicants must provide proof of student status via official or unofficial transcripts. (Student ID numbers and Social Security numbers must be redacted — submissions without these numbers blacked out will not be considered.)
- Candidates should demonstrate strong motivation, professional promise, outreach involvement, and a long‑term commitment to their goals in the field.
- An individual may receive the Winifred Goldring Award only one time during the span of their graduate school career.
- Prior membership in AWG or the Paleontological Society is not required.
- Applicants from other countries are welcome, except from countries under applicable sanctions.

How to Apply
All application materials must be combined into a single PDF and submitted by the deadline shown on the application form. Send the packet and any questions to goldring@awg.org. Please put the applicant’s full name in the email subject line, formatted as: Undergraduate Paleo Award Applicant’s Name.

Required PDF packet (single file)
1. Completed application form with full name, institution, and email address.
2. Transcript(s) (official or unofficial) for your current degree program — remember to black out student ID and Social Security numbers.
3. Personal statement (one page, maximum 500 words) describing: how you became interested in paleontology, your long‑term career goals, current and planned research interests, and any extracurricular activities that support your objectives.
4. Curriculum vitae (up to 5 pages), presented in reverse chronological order and dated. Do not list coursework. Include publications, meeting abstracts, extracurricular and professional development activities, awards, grants, GPA, and relevant work experience. For guidance on CV formatting, see https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/641/01/.

Letter of recommendation
- One letter of recommendation must be sent separately by a faculty member or scientific mentor on official/departmental letterhead directly to goldring@awg.org.
- Letters should address: the recommender’s experience with the applicant; the applicant’s current and potential future contributions to paleontology and the broader community; the applicant’s promise for success in paleontological work; strengths and weaknesses in leadership, intellectual merit, academics, character, and community involvement; and any circumstances that might have affected the applicant’s academic record.

Award Recipient Obligations
- Submit an annual report (250 words or fewer) to the Award Committee outlining academic and/or research progress and related outreach. The first report is due at the end of the first year of the award and then annually until the recipient completes the degree program.
- In the first year of the award, provide a personal statement (up to 500 words) and a photograph for publication in Gaea describing your interests in paleontology.
- Make every reasonable effort to attend the AWG Breakfast and the Paleontological Society Dinner at the Geological Society of America annual meeting during the first year of the award, where the recipient will be publicly recognized.

Questions and submission email: goldring@awg.org (subject line: Undergraduate Paleo Award Applicant’s Name)

We look forward to your application and to supporting the next generation of paleontologists.