Steven D. Smallen Memorial Fund, Casstevens Family Fund and Academic Fund for Seniors 2020-2021

Location:
Clinton, NY
Open Date:
Sep 8, 2020
Close Date:
Oct 2, 2020
Description:

All eligible students are invited to submit proposals for the awards described below.  Awards vary in size, depending on the number and quality of requests received, and will be determined by the Dean of Faculty Office based on the merits of the project and the student’s potential for successfully completing the proposed work.  Funds are intended to support activities leading to the production of student work, not for conference travel. Applications for projects to be completed in this academic year will be accepted until Friday, September 11.  Proposed projects must be completed by May 14, 2021.

For information about these and other support opportunities for student work please see Support for Student Projects    Please address questions to Kim Reale at Kreale@hamilton.edu

• THE STEVEN DANIEL SMALLEN MEMORIAL FUND FOR STUDENT CREATIVITY

This fund was established in 1993 by Ann and David Smallen in memory of their son, Steven Daniel Smallen.  Steven was valedictorian of the 1990 graduating class at Clinton Central School, winning numerous awards for his work in the arts and sciences.  He attended Hamilton College for one year while receiving treatments for leukemia and then continued his studies at Haverford College prior to losing his battle with cancer in 1992.  He was an avid reader, with strong interests in conservation, science, ornithology, the arts, and gardening.

This fund is designed to encourage student creativity among Hamilton students by providing support for projects displaying originality, expressiveness, and imagination.  The proposed project must lead to something that can be exhibited to the College community, perhaps becoming a permanent part of it.  Examples of projects might include sculpture, paintings, a research project, a short story, a published book of poetry, or a campus beautification project.

View the 2019 Awards: Smallen Awards

• THE CASSTEVENS FAMILY FUND

The annual income generated by this fund is awarded to deserving juniors or seniors who are pursuing either an independent study or a senior project. Funded expenses may include visits to major research libraries and purchases of special materials or equipment. Award recipients will be designated "Casstevens Research Scholars," and the final research reports will be catalogued and placed permanently in the Burke Library for the benefit of the entire College community, but particularly for other Hamilton students who aspire to do excellent independent work.  Preference will be given to members of the junior class to help them prepare for senior projects in their concentrations.

• THE ACADEMIC FUND FOR SENIORS

Support is available from the Academic Fund for Seniors to support students in the completion of their senior projects. Expenses for materials, travel, attendance at conferences, and similar items can be supported by these funds.  Requests to cover photocopying or printing needs are not typically supported.

Application Instructions:

Interested students should submit their application by  Friday, September 11. Students wishing to apply should share their proposals with their advisors and give them adequate time to prepare a statement of support.

The student proposal should include the following labeled sections:

1) TITLE AND ABSTRACT.  The abstract should be a 40-50 word description of the proposed project.  

2) PROJECT DESCRIPTION.  A detailed description of the project (no more than 1 page), including the intended objectives of the study, the anticipated procedures to attain those objectives, and a time-frame for completing the work.  The description must be addressed to a non-specialist reader; failure to do so will negatively impact a student’s chances for receiving funding.  Applications should also include a bibliography, if appropriate. 

3) EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.  A statement clearly specifying the expected role of your supervisor in this project (frequency and purpose of meetings with supervisor, anticipated laboratory, studio, or field assistance, etc.), and a statement clearly outlining your obligations in this study (preparations for meetings with supervisor, paper type and length, lab notebook, portfolio or finished products, anticipated deadlines, etc).

4) EVALUATION. A statement clearly describing how the research will be evaluated (tests, papers, laboratory notebook, dance production or a talk, quality and quantity of art work). 

5) BUDGET. An itemized budget indicating total amount of request and demonstrating that the work could not be conducted without support.  These awards are typically NOT used for equipment purchases

6) Because projects might involve cross-departmental collaborations, all projects requiring the use of campus resources (lab materials, studio space, etc.) must include a statement of support from the affiliated department chair indicating that the student has received permission for the project.

7) Proposals for the Smallen Award should also outline how the student plans to share the products of work with the College community, with the work perhaps becoming a permanent part of it.

FACULTY ENDORSEMENT:

The faculty advisor of the project must provide a statement evaluating (1) the academic merits of the project, (2) the capacity of the student to carry out the project successfully, (3) the merits of the budget, and (4) a statement to confirm the degree to which the affiliated department or program can provide some financial support.  Faculty should submit their confidential endorsements online through Interfolio and clearly indicate the student being supported.