BACKGROUND

The Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society recognizes stellar student academic performance with four scholarships: one each for associate, bachelor, master’s, and doctoral students. The goal of these scholarships is to further the objectives of AFS by rewarding and promoting the education and development of future fisheries professionals. Each of these scholarships is awarded at the discretion of the ORAFS Scholarship and Executive Committees.

Each scholarship award will consist of a check for $2,000, an award certificate, professional recognition at the Annual Meeting and in Fisheries and the Piscatorial Press, and the usual student perks of reduced registration and opportunity for group lodging at the Annual Meeting. Scholarships will be formally awarded at the upcoming OR AFS Annual Meeting, which recipients are expected to attend.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

• Applicant must be enrolled in or have been accepted for admission into a 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 FROM 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 1-page cover letter describing how your academic and professional development has and/or will contribute to the AFS objectives of:
  • Advancing the conservation, development, and appropriate use of fisheries resources;
  • Promoting the development and advancement of fisheries science;
  • Gathering, interpreting, and disseminating scientific and technical information about fisheries; and
  • Encouraging the teaching of fisheries science in colleges and universities

You are encouraged to include undergraduate and graduate experience or research, along with volunteer and work experience to demonstrate the relevance of your professional development to the objectives of AFS. 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 AFS.

• Copies of official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended in the previous two years (photocopies of official transcripts will be accepted).
• One letter of recommendation from mentor, or another professional, who must be an AFS member. The letters should address the potential of the applicant to be a productive member of AFS and to contribute to fisheries science. It is the applicants responsibility to contact references and ensure that their recommendation letters are sent to scholarships@orafs.org by the deadline.