Student Awards

The Wildlife Disease Association offers a scholarship and three awards to encourage student participation in the Association and our annual conference, and to recognize outstanding student research.

For a list of past WDA Student Award recipients, click here.

Each year the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA) sponsors student awards competitions. For 2008, students are encouraged to compete for four awards:

1. Graduate Student Research Recognition Award (judged by WDA Student Awards Committee)
2. Graduate Student Scholarship Award (judged by WDA Student Awards Committee)
3. Terry Amundson Student Presentation Award (judged by select members of the audience at the annual WDA conference), and
4. Student Poster Award (judged by select audience members at the annual WDA conference)

Applicants for all awards MUST be Student Members of the WDA at the time applications or abstracts are received. Applicants for the Graduate Student Research Recognition and Scholarship Awards also MUST be pursuing an advanced (graduate) degree at the time of application.

All four awards are non-renewable and each award may be received only once by a given candidate. Submit applications electronically as email attachments to:

Dr. Kevin Keel Chair, WDA Student Awards Committee mkkeel@uga.edu

Mail address and telephone number for inquiries only: College of Veterinary Medicine, SCWDS The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 Phone: (706) 542-1741 FAX: (706) 542-5865

Wildlife Disease Graduate Student Research Recognition Award

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Received no later than Friday April 17, 2009

This award is given to the student judged to have the best research project in the field of wildlife health/disease, based on written communication and scientific achievement.  The winner receives a plaque and up to $5000 US to cover travel, housing, registration, etc. related to the annual WDA conference.  The student will be the featured presenter during the Student Presentation Session at the conference.

For consideration, applicants must submit 1 copy of the following documents (electronic submission as email attachment only, formatted as MS Word or PDF files):

1. A summary of their research (maximum of 10 pages double-spaced, typeface font 10 or larger, and 1” margins) structured as follows: Title, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, references, tables, and figures. The title page should be separate, and the 10-page limit applies only the title, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, and discussion.
2. A cover letter written by the applicant stating how the research relates to WDA objectives (see inside back cover of the Journal of Wildlife Diseases or the WDA website).
3. One letter of support from the faculty advisor indicating degree of student involvement in planning and execution of the research project.

Grounds for disqualification include:

• Items missing.
• Submissions postmarked beyond deadline date.
• Failure to secure status as a student member of the WDA at the time of application.
• Absence from a graduate degree program at the time of application.

Judging criteria for this award: Please click here.

Wildlife Disease Association Scholarship

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Received no later than Friday April 17, 2009

This award acknowledges outstanding academic and research accomplishment, productivity, and future potential in pursuit of new knowledge in wildlife disease or health. The scholarship has a value of $2000 US and is awarded annually to an outstanding student pursuing Master’s or doctoral degrees specializing in research on wildlife disease. To be considered, the candidate must have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree. Candidates with an overall grade point average of 3.5 or above in 4.0 systems or 80% or better in percentile systems will receive priority – students not scored on the 4.0 grade point system MUST include an official explanation of the grade point or grade score system used at their institution and preferably provide a. conversion to a 4.0 or percentile grade point average. The candidate should be committed to leadership, scholarship, and service in the wildlife health profession.

To be considered, applicants must submit 1 copy of the following documents (electronic submissions as email attachment only, formatted as MS Word or PDF files):

1. All relevant collegiate transcripts. Transcripts can be official (i.e., with the imprint or official seal of the institution and signature of the responsible university officer) or copies signed by the student’s faculty advisor.
2. Up to 2 letters of support, including a letter from the student’s faculty advisor, that directly address the following specific abilities of the applicant: academic achievement, scholarly promise, research ability, oral and written communications skills, industriousness, leadership abilities, judgment, and potential for contribution to the field of wildlife diseases. Additional letters (> 2) will not be read or evaluated, and letters not directly addressing the above qualities will not score well.
3. A curriculum vitae demonstrating evidence of superior scholastic achievement and productivity (specifically list and describe coursework and all scholarships, awards, publications, and presentations).

Grounds for disqualification include:

• Items missing.
• Submissions postmarked beyond deadline date.

Judging criteria for this award: Please click here.

Terry Amundson Student Presentation Award

DEADLINE: TBA (deadline for abstract submission will correspond with the deadline for general abstract submissions for the annual WDA conference)

This award acknowledges outstanding oral presentation of research findings. The winner receives $250 US and a plaque. To be considered, the student must give an oral presentation (usually 12 minutes with 3 minutes for questions) on their research project to the WDA conference audience in the student presentation session. Students wishing to be considered for the award must submit a presentation abstract following the guidelines in the “Call for Abstracts/Papers" to both the Scientific Program Chair for the annual conference and to the Chair of the Student Awards Committee (contact information above), clearly identifying the abstract as a student submission for consideration for this award. Abstracts may be scored on a competitive basis to determine which will be chosen for the conference and for consideration for this award.  Abstracts describing completed research projects with conclusions based upon the data generated are more likely to be selected.

Evaluation of Presentations:  Candidates will be scored on the following criteria:

• Quality, innovation and impact of science
• Quality of visual aids
• Delivery and style
• -Relevance to management of wildlife health

Judging criteria for this award: Please click here.

Wildlife Disease Association Student Poster Award

DEADLINE: TBA (deadline for abstract submission will correspond with the deadline for general abstract submissions for the annual WDA conference)

This award acknowledges the best student poster detailing a wildlife disease or wildlife health research project presented at the annual WDA conference. This award is not presented every year. The winner receives $250 US and a plaque. To be considered the student must submit a poster abstract following the guidelines in the “Call for Abstracts/Papers" to both the Scientific Program Chair for the annual conference and to the Chair of the Student Awards Committee (contact information above), clearly identifying the abstract as a student submission to be considered for the poster award.

Evaluation:  Candidates will be scored on the following criteria:

• Quality, innovation, and impact of science
• Organization and layout of poster
• Quality and style of text, figures, and images
• Relevance to management of wildlife/ecosystem health

Judging criteria for this award: Please click here.