Support the graduate student travel grant program

The ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Graduate Student Travel Grants were a great success for the 2021 International Annual Meeting! We awarded 11 students with travel grants to assist in their ability to participate in the meeting. “This opportunity gave me the encouragement to continue with the research that can advance the scientific community,” says Marcia Quinby, one recipient of the travel grant. For the 2022 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, we hope to continue on that success and award at least 10 student (up to $750/student) travel grants.

This program, which is the first of its kind within the Societies, was launched in 2020 and has been strategically raising funds with the support of the Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF). Currently, after awarding the 2021 recipients, the program has approximately $20,000, and we are eager to keep building these funds. As members of the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Graduate Student Committee, we would like to see the program grow to be able to fund travel grants every year. The first step towards this goal is raising an additional $15,000 to establish the grant as a permanent, endowed, fund. Our current goal is to raise at least $6,000 before this year’s Annual Meeting, and ASF will match each donation (up to $5,000) to raise a total of $11,000 for the fund in 2022. This is an ambitious goal, so we need your help!

Supporting Students with Financial Need

The Graduate Student Travel Grant supports travel, lodging, and meal expenses for graduate students who might not otherwise be able to attend the Annual Meeting due to financial strain. Their value in helping students fully participate, present, network, and get started in their careers was made clear by another 2021 travel grant recipient, Ashleigh Montgomery: “Without the travel scholarship, I’m not sure I would have been able to attend and have these truly amazing experiences.” The program also supports the Societies’ aim to foster diversity and inclusion.

Bishwa Sapkota (2021 travel grant recipient) states that he “grabbed as many opportunities” as he could, including oral and poster presentations, networking with peers, and establishing new collaborations. The travel grant also helped Bishwa attend the Graduate Student Leadership Conference where he learned “invaluable tips to enhance leadership skills.” (If you are a student, consider applying to the 2022 Leadership Conference!) The Graduate Student Committee is excited to help graduate students experience and enjoy future ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Annual Meetings.

Donations Accepted, Applications Open

Everyone in the Societies can help us make the Graduate Student Travel Grant an annual opportunity for graduate students. We hope that you will consider donating to the cause. Be on the lookout for an upcoming raffle to have a chance to win some great prizes and contribute to our Graduate Student Travel Grant fund!

Applications for the 2022 Graduate Student Travel Grant are now open. Initiate your nomination by 12 July 2022 4:00 pm CDT. All graduate student members are encouraged to apply! Learn more at www.agronomy.org/awards/view/218, www.crops.org/awards/view/218, and www.soils.org/awards/view/218.

We would also like to thank our generous past donors and the Agronomy Science Foundation for believing in our project and supporting the creation of this fund. All donations made will be generously matched by ASF, so please donate today!