Graduate students in the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences are invited to apply for the Graduate Student Awards.

Information about applying

Students may apply for both research and outstanding student awards; however, separate applications will be required for each category of awards as described below. Students may receive multiple awards, but it is the intent of the College to increase the number of graduate students recognized for exceptional performance.

See below for complete information on eligibility requirements and selection criteria.

Deadlines

  • Application deadline for all awards: 4:30 PM on Friday, January 5, 2024
  • Research Awards Presentation: Late January or early February (Date TBD)

Application form

Applications require the following:

  1. Completed application form. We recommend that you draft your responses to the questions in a document and then copy and paste them into the form.
  2. Complete (unofficial) transcripts of the applicant’s UMaine graduate coursework. This may be uploaded through the online application form. 
  3. Upload one letter of nomination (as a PDF file) from your advisor, department chair, school director, or graduate program coordinator. You may submit a maximum of two additional letters of support. Letters should be no more than two pages long and should address the selection criteria for any awards for which you are being considered.

Outstanding student awards

Four awards recognize overall outstanding graduate student achievement: the Outstanding Master’s Student Award, Jean A. and David A. Webb Outstanding Professional Master’s Degree Award, Edith M. Patch Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award, and Outstanding Service Award.

Edith M. Patch Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award and Outstanding Master’s Degree Student Award

Edith M. Patch Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award and Outstanding Master’s Degree Student Award were established in 2008 to recognize outstanding graduate students at the master’s and Ph.D. levels who have distinguished themselves in multiple ways.

  • Eligibility: Student in an Earth • Life • Health graduate program. Applicants for the master’s and Ph.D. awards must be matriculated in those respective programs in December of the academic year they apply for these awards.
  • Selection criteria: (1) research and scholarly activity, (2) teaching, (3) professional activity, (4) university and public service, and (5) academic performance during the applicant’s current program of study. Note any activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Activity in all of the above areas is not required for these awards. The competition, however, is typically keen, and award recipients excel in several categories.

Jean A. and David A. Webb Outstanding Professional Master’s Degree

Jean A. and David A. Webb Outstanding Professional Master’s Degree Student Award was established in 2014 to recognize outstanding graduate students in nonthesis masters programs who have distinguished themselves in multiple ways.

  • Eligibility: Students in an Earth • Life • Health graduate programs. Applicants for this award must be matriculated in their nonthesis master’s program in the December prior to the award competition.
  • Selection Criteria: (1) academic performance, (2) professional development and professionalism, (3) leadership, (4) university service, and (5) public service during and directly associated with the applicant’s current program of study. Note any activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Outstanding Service Award

Outstanding Service Award was established in 2008 to recognize graduate students with a distinguished record of service to the university in the form of teaching and/or other university and professional service.

  • Eligibility: Student in an Earth • Life • Health graduate program. Applicants must have a student status in December of the academic year they apply for awards.
  • Selection criteria: (1) teaching accomplishments and quality, (2) service contributions to the university, (3) contributions to the profession, and (4) public service activities during the applicant’s current program of study. Note any activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Activity in both teaching and other service is not required for this award.

Research awards

We anticipate making five awards in recognition of outstanding research and scholarly achievements related to the College and the Experiment Station.

All graduate students in the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences are eligible for the Graduate Research Excellence Award.

To be eligible for the Dow, Griffee, or Clements awards, a graduate student’s thesis or dissertation research must be related to the goals and objectives of an approved project of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. The Clements award also requires training and research in disciplines related to Maine agriculture. Detailed descriptions of the four awards may be found below.

For all awards, applicants must have student status in December of the academic year they apply for awards. Also, to receive the Dow, Griffee, or Clements awards applicants must have a student status in the following spring semester to receive associated scholarship funds and must be available to present research accomplishments during the end of January and early February (specific date TBD). To be considered and be competitive for these awards, students must have made significant progress on their thesis or dissertation work and have substantial results and other accomplishments to report. Therefore, M.S. degree candidates must be within one year of their expected graduate date at the time of application. Ph.D. degree candidates must be within two years of their expected graduation date at the time of application. Preference will be given to students who are within one year of graduation. 

Applicants for research awards should be near the end of their program of study and have results from their thesis or dissertation research to present as part of the competition.

There is a common application for the four research awards. Applicants do not need to apply for a specific award. The Graduate Awards Committee will make determinations on applicant eligibility for specific awards during the selection process.

Complete applications for the research awards must be submitted online by 4:30 p.m. on the due date. Late applications will not be accepted, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required materials are submitted by the deadline.

In mid-January, the Graduate Awards Committee will select a set of finalists for the four research awards and invite those students to give a research presentation to the Committee. Presentations will be open to all faculty and students. The committee will select award recipients based on application materials, presentations, and selection criteria outlined in the award descriptions. The committee will only consider the achievements of an applicant during their current program of study at the University of Maine.

George F. Dow Graduate Award

George F. Dow Graduate Scholarship Fund was established in the University of Maine Foundation in 1975 for the benefit of the University of Maine, Orono, with gifts from and in honor of Dr. George Dow ’27. Income from the fund is used to provide scholarship assistance to graduate students. The recipients shall be selected on the basis of academic proficiency and promise for future development. Financial need is preferred, but not required.

  • Eligibility: Student in an Earth-Life-Health graduate program. Thesis or dissertation research must be related to the goals and objectives of an approved project of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. Applicants must have a student status in December of the academic year they apply for awards and in the following spring semester to receive associated scholarship funds.
  • Selection criteria: Academic and research performance during the applicant’s current program of study and promise for future development. Financial need is a secondary criterion. Candidates are required to give a research presentation to the selection committee. Please note if your research impacts diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Fred Griffee Memorial Award

Fred Griffee Memorial Award was established in 1952 by co-workers and friends in memory of Dr. Fred Griffee, Director of Maine Agricultural Experiment Station from 1931 to 1951. The income from this fund shall be awarded to a graduate student in the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences on the basis of research ability, character and scholarship.

  • Eligibility: Student in an Earth • Life • Health graduate program. Thesis or dissertation research must be related to the goals and objectives of an approved project of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. Applicants must have a student status in December of the academic year they apply for awards and in the following spring semester to receive associated scholarship funds.
  • Selection criteria: Academic and research performance during the applicant’s current program of study and character. Candidates are required to give a research presentation to the selection committee. Please note if your research impacts diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Norris Charles Clements Graduate Student Award

The Norris Charles Clements Graduate Student Award was established in the University of Maine Foundation in May 1997 for the benefit of the University of Maine, Orono, with a bequest from Laurel Clements ’48 in honor of her father, Norris Charles Clements, a distinguished Maine poultry farmer who in 1953 was honored by the University of Maine as Maine’s Outstanding Farmer. Income shall be used to provide financial assistance for rewarding outstanding graduate students in agricultural sciences and to recognize the accomplishments of graduate students whose studies have the potential to make a significant contribution to Maine agriculture. Candidates should have training and be doing research in disciplines related to Maine agriculture, such as agronomy, soil science, animal and veterinary sciences, agricultural economics, entomology, plant pathology, agricultural engineering and other disciplines the dean deems contribute significantly to the well being of Maine agriculture. Students will be chosen for awards on the basis of their high academic standing, the quality of their research and their personal integrity.

  • Eligibility: Student in an Earth • Life • Health graduate program. Thesis or dissertation research must be related to the goals and objectives of an approved project of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station and be related to Maine agriculture. Applicants must have a student status in December of the academic year they apply for awards and in the following spring semester to receive associated scholarship funds.
  • Selection criteria: Academic and research performance during the applicant’s current program of study and character. Candidates are required to give a research presentation to the selection committee. Please note if your research impacts diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Graduate Research Excellence Awards (Masters and Doctoral)

Graduate Research Excellence Awards were established in 2008 and expanded in 2020 to recognize master- and doctoral-level student excellence in research in the college.

  • Eligibility: Student in an Earth • Life • Health graduate program. While all graduate students in the college are eligible, note that one purpose of this award was to provide an opportunity to recognize students not eligible for the Dow, Griffee, or Clements awards, which are restricted to students associated with the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. Applicants must have a student status in December of the academic year they apply for awards.
  • Selection criteria: This award is based solely on research performance and scholarly activity. Specific criteria include (1) research accomplishments during the applicant’s current program of study, (2) quality of research and scholarly activity, and (3) quality of a research presentation to the selection committee. Candidates are required to give a research presentation to the selection committee. Please note if your research impacts diversity, equity, and inclusion.