Gail and Russell G. Smith II Endowment for Science and Environmental Writing Award

Gail & Russell G. Smith II Endowment for Science & Environmental Writing Award shall be awarded for the two best papers that demonstrate the ability to take a technical subject and reduce it into terms that are easily understood by the everyday consumer reader. A faculty Liaison will market and publicize said awards by referencing them in course schedules, on bulletins posted in the English, Science, and Health Science Buildings, within class syllabus’, within student groups, Honors Program and MKEAP Programs. Printing cost for the materials will be expending from the fund, also.
The award will be based on a portfolio of written works the student has produced and on a topic(s) in one or more of the following areas of study: biology, Biomedical, Pre-Medical studies, pre-veterinary studies, conservation, engineering, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and geology. The work submitted in the portfolio may be on any topic related to one or more of the above-named fields of study.
Portfolio work must be written for non-scientific, non-technical audiences, with a strong preference for science/environmental writing done in the public’s interest. Students may be of any undergraduate major, minor, or certificate track and do not have to major in the area from which the topic(s) of their written works come.

To be eligible to submit written work for consideration for the Smith Award, the student must be an MSSU student for at least two or the three 16-week semesters during the award period in which they apply and must have completed all the writing, revision, and supporting research on their own. The recipients must have completed at least 60 credit hours prior to submitting their work and must have completed the application letter and portfolio. Portfolios must be 15 – 25 pages and comprise of a single document or a combination of documents. Suitable documents can include but are limited to papers, proposals, articles, reports, theses, and conference readings.

Because this is a cash award, and not a scholarship, graduating seniors are eligible to apply. Portfolios will be submitted to a committee of selectors comprised of professors, professionals and members of the MSSU Foundation by March 1st each year. The committee will select and announce award winners by May 31st.