ORAFS
Albert G Lassuy DEI Scholarship

BACKGROUND

The Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (ORAFS) is proud to announce a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Scholarship to be awarded to a deserving undergraduate college student. The goal of this scholarship is to promote the education and development of future fisheries professionals who are commonly under-represented in the fisheries field, including people of color, women, and other historically marginalized communities. This scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of the ORAFS Scholarship and Executive Committees to an individual who best meets the goal of the scholarship and provides evidence of meritorious work within and/or in addition to their education.

The recipient will be awarded a check for $2,000, a certificate, and professional recognition at the ORAFS annual meeting and in the quarterly newsletter, reduced meeting registration, and the opportunity to participate in group lodging at the annual meeting. 

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant must be enrolled in or have been accepted for admission into an undergraduate degree program within the state of Oregon
• Applicant must be a current member of ORAFS, but may join at the time of scholarship application (follow the link here and be sure to specify that you are in the Oregon Chapter)
• Applicant’s major field of study must be relevant to fisheries or aquatic science
• Applicant must never have been awarded this scholarship

EXPECTATIONS FOR RECIPIENTS

• We strongly encourage recipients to attend the upcoming annual meeting to receive the award (scholarship funds can be used to defray meeting costs and future AFS membership fees). The recipient will be honored at an awards lunch and get their photo taken with the president of ORAFS.
• We request that the recipients provide a 1-page “Fishery Feature” to the Piscatorial Press relating to your use of scholarship funds and/or fishery experiences during the scholarship year.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

• A 3-page essay introducing yourself and describing how your academic and professional development has and/or will contribute to the scholarship objectives through a description of:
• • the challenges that the applicant has faced in their higher education journey
  • how the applicant has worked/volunteered within an underrepresented community, both scholastically and in community service and
  • how the scholarship will allow the candidate to pursue education and employment in the fisheries field

Applicants are encouraged to include high school and any undergraduate experience, along with volunteer and work experience to demonstrate the relevance of your professional development in the fisheries field. Essays may also describe any grants, honors, or awards you have earned, or the influence of a class project or how you think your future contribution to fisheries science issues will promote the objectives of AFS. Essays will be judged based on the ability to communicate your ideas in writing and how well your goals and experience align with the objectives of this scholarship.

• Copies of official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended in the previous two years (electronic copies of official transcripts will be accepted).
• One letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, or other professional. The letter should address the potential of the applicant to be a productive member of AFS and to contribute to fisheries science. The applicant is responsible for notifying references to submit their letters of recommendation electronically to the externaldirector@orafs.org by the listed deadline. The applicant’s name must be clearly noted in the letter of recommendation.