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Scholarship Opportunities for Dragonfly Students

Scholarship funds as graduate support can help reduce some of the financial burden so students focus their efforts on their coursework and in achieving their student goals. Project Dragonfly, along with key donor partners, offers several partial scholarships each year (ranging from $250-$1000) as individual awards to current graduate students in our Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) programs. Students must have been enrolled for at least two semesters to be considered. These funds can be used to cover tuition and other course-related costs. Since 2009, Dragonfly students have received $31,000 in scholarship funds. We also offer some further ideas on Helping to Fund your Degree.

Each of our scholarship donors are interested and care about each scholarship recipient and so awardees may be asked to provide a brief summary of their graduate work via written report or presentation, depending on the scholarship. Scholarship awardees may also receive additional support from advisers as mentors in the field of conservation.

Learn how these scholarships are supporting Dragonfly students to further conservation and shared action in the fields of inclusion, diversity, environmental justice, and other related fields on our winners page.

Earth Expeditions student Amanda Badger on an EE trip to Kenya

"Maintaining the wild is a complex task requiring the work of many. I am thankful and proud to be the recipient of the Audubon Rosie Bloom Scholarship because it helped make traveling to Kenya more feasible." -Amanda Badger, EE Kenya 2014
Earth Expeditions student Shara Clark on an EE trip to Namibia

"This life-changing experience was more than I could have ever imagined. Besides the gorgeous views and seeing amazing animals in the wild, all that I learned about Namibia, its people, and the challenges they face are lessons that will stick with me for a lifetime." -Shara Clark, EE Namibia 2019

Scholarship descriptions and specific application information are shared below. Awards are for master's degree-seeking Dragonfly students who have been enrolled for at least two semesters. Applications are reviewed based on the scholarship description and an applicant’s academic performance. Availability of funds varies by year. Past awardees can apply again; however, they will have to show how their new application is different and above and beyond their first winning application. We hope you consider applying!

Applications will open in February and are due April 1 or April 7 (depending on the award). Awardees will be contacted in May.

If you are interested in becoming a scholarship donor, please contact Jill Korach at korachjk@miamioh.edu or contribute to our ongoing Dragonfly scholarship here.

Scholarships for Dragonfly Students

Rosie Bloom Scholarship

Rosie Bloom logoThe Audubon Miami Valley (AMV) has been a local chapter of the National Audubon Society in Butler and Preble county Ohio USA since 1976. AMV works to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

AMV in collaboration with Project Dragonfly, supports educators who live in the Miami River Valley USA and who advocate environmental stewardship and global understanding. The AMV Rosie Bloom Scholarship, named for local Audubon Society charter member and nature advocate Rosie Bloom, supports local educators who advocate environmental stewardship and global understanding. The AMV, in collaboration with Miami’s Project Dragonfly, has awarded over 26 partial scholarships to Dragonfly graduate students since 2009.

The AMV Rosie Bloom Scholarship helps support Earth Expeditions (EE) field course participants who live or work in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana.

To apply for the Rosie Bloom Scholarship

Dragonfly’s Inquiry, Community, Voice Scholarship

dragonfly re logoProject Dragonfly programs work to inspire positive ecological and social change. Created in 2021, the Dragonfly scholarship supports Dragonfly students earning either a M.A. in Biology or a M.A.T. in the Biological Sciences who are committed to furthering the fields of inclusion, diversity, environmental justice, and other related fields using innovative and relevant approaches to conservation. Priority will be given to students from historically underrepresented populations, including Black, Latinx, Native American, all abilities, and inclusive of gender identities. Allies are also welcome to apply.

Each award recipient (we expect to award 2 scholarships annually) receives up to $1000 toward their current graduate studies along with ongoing support from program advisers, student mentors, and peers. Awarded scholars will work with their graduate advisers to support their master’s project plans and how to best engage the Dragonfly network of support.

In 2023: Current Advanced Inquiry Program students may apply.

To apply for the Dragonfly Scholarship

José Pareja-Wendy Tori Scholarship

Logo for the José Pareja-Wendy Tori ScholarshipThe José Pareja-Wendy Tori Global Conservation and Field Scholarship is awarded to accepted master’s students in the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) or Global Field Program (GFP) with a clear, demonstrated interest in conservation science, field studies or environmental education. This award will provide partial funding to be used for EE related costs. The award is made possible by José I. Pareja and Wendy P. Tori, natives of Peru, who were a part of the GFP/AIP team at its inception in 2008. Past winners are not eligible to receive scholarship grants. José was also one of the founding GFP/AIP team members and currently, they are both active faculty members of Earlham College. 

Drs. José I. Pareja and Wendy P. Tori, in collaboration with Miami’s Project Dragonfly, have awarded 15 partial scholarships since 2013. This scholarship is open to current Dragonfly students working toward their either the M.A. or M.A.T. graduate degree.

To apply for the José Pareja-Wendy Tori Scholarship

Carrie R. Wilson Memorial Scholarship

Pelecanus In. logo.Pelecanus Inc., a non-profit organization co-founded by AIP graduate Austin Parker and his brother Taylor, created the Carrie R. Wilson Memorial Scholarship in 2021. Carrie Wilson, who served as Dean of Students of the University of San Diego Law School, believed in community inspiration through direct and intentional action, and this scholarship honors her memory as a “heartfelt gift to make the world a better place.” This $2000 scholarship will be awarded annually to one Dragonfly student each year.

To be eligible for this award, students must be actively enrolled in a Dragonfly graduate academic program (the AIP or the GFP), in good academic standing, and have completed a minimum of 3 credit hours. Applicants who contribute to growing diversity within the conservation sector (people of color, people with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities) are strongly encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.

To apply for the Carrie R. Wilson Memorial Scholarship (Applications for this scholarship open March 1)

John L. Vankat Student Grant Fund for Field Research in Terrestrial Plant Ecology

Miami University logo

This award is administered by Miami's Biology Department and supports field research in terrestrial plant ecology by undergraduate or graduate students in any department or program. May be used to offset costs of equipment, supplies, or travel. Apply using Biology application form along with 1-page description of the proposed research project that includes the relationship to the student’s degree program and a brief budget that states how award funds would be spent. 

1. Complete this application form with information provided in the spaces below.

2. Include an unofficial (MyMiami/Banner) transcript copy of all coursework.

3. One letter of recommendation.

4. For Research Awards only, provide a one-page description of the proposed research project and include the estimated budget for the project.

Send your application materials as an email attachment and arrange to have your letter of recommendation sent to: Scholarship Committee, c/o Darlene Davidson, davidsmd@miamioh.edu by April 7, 2023. 

Richard A. Howard Fund

Miami University logo

This award is administered by Miami's Biology Department and supports undergraduate or graduate student research in botany or environmental science, with a preference for research in the Caribbean. Apply using Biology application form and also provide 1-page description of the proposed research project.

1. Complete this application form with information provided in the spaces below.

2. Include an unofficial (MyMiami/Banner) transcript copy of all coursework.

3. One letter of recommendation.

4. For Research Awards only, provide a one-page description of the proposed research project and include the estimated budget for the project.

Send your application materials as an email attachment and arrange to have your letter of recommendation sent to: Scholarship Committee, c/o Darlene Davidson, davidsmd@miamioh.edu by April 7, 2023. Availability of funds vary by year. 

Charley Harper Scholarship

Miami University logo

This award is administered by Miami's Biology Department and supports undergraduate or graduate students in the biological sciences who demonstrate a talent and interest in the arts. Based on academic merit and financial need.

1. Complete this application form with information provided in the spaces below.

2. Include an unofficial (MyMiami/Banner) transcript copy of all coursework.

3. One letter of recommendation.

Send your application materials as an email attachment and arrange to have your letter of recommendation sent to: Scholarship Committee, c/o Darlene Davidson, davidsmd@miamioh.edu by April 7, 2023. 

W. Hardy Eshbaugh- T.K. Wilson Scholarship in Botany

Miami University logo

This award is administered by Miami's Biology Department and supports undergraduate or graduate students participating in international courses offered by the Department of Biology, based on either academic merit or financial need.  

1. Complete this application form with information provided in the spaces below.

2. Include an unofficial (MyMiami/Banner) transcript copy of all coursework.

3. One letter of recommendation.

Send your application materials as an email attachment and arrange to have your letter of recommendation sent to: Scholarship Committee, c/o Darlene Davidson, davidsmd@miamioh.edu by April 7, 2023. 

MIAMI Women

MIAMI Women is a group that empowers women – alumni, faculty, staff and students – to make connections and to support opportunities that mentor, advance and invest in the future of Miami University. There are many ways to get involved. You can give to other future grantees by joining the Giving Circle. Or, you can consider a project idea and apply for one of MIAMI Women’s “Hawk Tank” grants. To learn more, visit MIAMI Women.

Graduate School Awards

Graduate Student Travel Fund: In some rare occasions, Miami’s graduate school is able to help offset some of the costs (up to $150) to present a poster or paper at a conference, to receive an award, etc. See the application form for details.

Graduate Student Achievement Award: The Graduate Students' Achievement (GSA) Award is intended to recognize significant achievement in any research or creative activity by full or part-time graduate students making satisfactory progress in their degree program. Dragonfly students can apply for this award though know that past history shows most awardees are Ph.D. students. See Achievement Award for details.

Marjorie Post Farrington Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded by the Graduate School for the academic year to a graduate student in any area of study. The award is based primarily on merit and secondarily on financial need. See the Farrington award webpage for further details.