Student Scholarship Program

The TENSOS Student Scholarship Program provides college students the unique opportunity to showcase their research on timely environmental issues and network with a wide range of environmental professionals from throughout the Southeast and beyond.

Finalists are invited to attend the TENSOS conference (May 15-17, 2024 | Chattanooga) and present their research via a poster session. Finalists are granted full conference registration, and three nights lodging. Finalists are expected to provide their own travel to and from the conference. Additional Eligibility & Conditions are listed below.

Multiple $1,000 scholarships may be awarded after the final round of judging at the conference. In addition to the monetary award, scholarship recipients will be recognized on the conference website, and will be offered a complimentary registration for TENSOS for the following year.


Evaluation Criteria

Pre-judging – Applicants will be evaluated based on the following relative to their research:

  • Scientific rigor
  • Innovation
  • Importance/relevance of research to the environmental field
  • Communication/delivery of information via the application

During the conference – Finalists will be evaluated on:

  • Oral presentation and ability to communicate research project details clearly
  • Clarity of poster

Eligibility & Conditions

  • Eligible applicants must be degree-seeking students enrolled at an accredited higher education institution in the Southeast Region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee), with a graduation date not prior to the spring 2023 semester.
  • All applicants must complete the electronic application, which includes an abstract of their research topic, and have their major professor/research advisor submit a reference (online Reference Form link below) by the stated application deadline.
  • Research topic must be related to a timely environmental issue that is relevant to the Southeast Region or beyond.
  • Upon an initial review of the applications by the Student Scholarship committee, finalists will be selected for invitation to attend the conference. The finalists will be notified via email, and will be invited to prepare and submit a research poster. If a selected finalist declines the invitation to attend the conference and continue in the poster competition, an alternate student may then be selected as a finalist. Upon acceptance, guidance for the format of the poster including the size will be provided to the finalists. Posters should be designed in a solution-oriented manner instead of merely stating the issue.
  • Finalists will submit an electronic (.pdf) copy of their poster prior to the conference. Finalists will be expected to format their poster in accordance with the guidelines as provided. A monitor will be provided during the poster session and in the Exhibit Hall for the electronic poster displays during the conference. (Posters do not need to be printed.)
  • Finalists will participate in a poster session with the scholarship committee on Wednesday, May 15 at 9 a.m. This session will also be open to all Early Session attendees.
  • Finalists should also be available as directed (conference schedule will be provided) to speak with conference attendees and the scholarship committee during the conference. Finalists may be asked to give a “flash” presentation during one of the conference General Sessions. Instructions will be provided.
  • Finalists are expected to participate in the conference by attending topic sessions.
  • Finalists are expected to attend the evening Scholarship Awards Reception on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

Schedule

  • Application submission deadline – 5 p.m. on March 30, 2024
  • Finalists announced – mid-April, 2024
  • Finalists participate in Poster Presentation Session – 9 a.m. on Weds., May 15, 2024
  • Finalists’ posters displayed in Exhibit Hall – Weds., May 15 and Thurs., May 16, 2024
  • Scholarship award recipients announced at the conference evening reception on Thurs., May 16, 2024

Application & Reference Forms

Click here: Student Scholarship Program application form

Click here: Faculty/Advisor reference form


2024 Student Scholarship Committee

  • Scott Anderson, Haley & Aldrich, Inc. (Chair)
  • Keith Cole, Ramboll
  • Dodd Galbreath, Lipscomb University
  • Ben Gramling, S&ME
  • Travis Johnson, Pace Analytical
  • Jordan Knight, Land Science
  • Brian Kvam, Stantec
  • Ashley Morris, Waypoint Analytical

2024 Student Scholarship Program Contributors

Student Scholarship Program Sponsor: TBA
Student Scholarship Program Contributors: TBA


For More Information

Dr. Jill Geraghty, TENSOS
JGeraghty@CentergyGroup.com

Scott Anderson, Scholarship Committee Chair
Scott. Anderson@haleyaldrich.com