Columbus attorney James E. Butler, Jr. established the Butler Fellowships with a $1 million gift to the Institute of Ecology in 2006. A lifetime of experiences beginning with a love of fishing in Georgia’s rivers instilled in James Butler a deep regard for the environment. The fellowships that bear his name are for graduate students studying aquatic ecology, water quality and land use in Georgia and surrounding states. Each year the Odum School of Ecology in cooperation with the UGA River Basin Center awards a research assistantship to one incoming Masters student in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development, who is designated a “Butler Fellow.” The assistantship provides funding for 5 consecutive semesters (Fall of the first year through Spring of the second year) at 50% time. Nominations are sought from members of the graduate program faculty of the Odum School of Ecology, based upon the pool of candidates offered admission to the MS CESD degree program.  Students applying for admission do not have to provide any additional application materials to be considered for the fellowship. Applicants should be interested in conducting applied research or policy analysis in the Southeastern U.S.

Butler Fellows: Rachel Katz (2007-2009), Danyel Addes (2010-2012), Kelly Robinson (2011-2013), Catherine Bartenstein (2012-2014), Laura Keys (2013-2015), Laura Early (2014-2016), Philipp Nussbaum (2015-2017), Rick Bauer (2016-2018), Carol Yang (2017-2019), Laura Rack (2018-2020), Will White (2019-2021), Anna Baynes (2020-2022).

This fellowship honors John Kyle Spencer, a graduate student in the Odum School of Ecology, who was an extraordinary individual loved for his humor, generosity, energy, enthusiasm, and kindness. John studied urban streams and was passionate about freshwater ecology, conservation and ecological restoration. The fellowship was created by his family and friends to honor John’s legacy by giving future students the opportunity to pursue a career in freshwater ecology conservation and management. Each year the Odum School of Ecology in cooperation with the UGA River Basin Center awards a research assistantship to one incoming Masters student designated a “John Spencer Fellow.” The assistantship provides funding for 5 consecutive semesters (Fall of the first year through Spring of the second year) at 4/9 time for either the MS in Ecology or the MS in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development (the latter is preferred). Nominations are sought from members of the graduate program faculty of the Odum School of Ecology, based upon the pool of candidates offered admission to the MS degree programs (Ecology or CESD).  Students applying for admission do not have to provide any additional application materials to be considered for the fellowship. Applicants should be interested in pursuing a career in management and conservation of freshwater ecosystems (including rivers, streams, and wetlands). Candidates are judged partly on academic qualifications and partly on their enthusiasm, energy, and passion for freshwater conservation, as expressed in their application essay.

John Spencer Fellows: Emily Johnson (2016–2018), Zach Butler (2017-2019), Talia Levine (2019-2020), Kyle Connelly (2019-2021), Andrew Nagy (2020-2022).

The Odum School of Ecology recognizes research conducted by our graduate students through the annual Best Student Paper competition. The award is given to a student who was the sole, or first, author of the peer-reviewed paper (article or book chapter) that was judged to be the best based upon its originality, experimental sophistication, application to ecological principles, level of effort, and potential impact. Verification of the applicant’s contribution may be asked of the co-authors. The paper must have been published during the current or proceeding calendar year (or be in press); If the paper is not yet published, documentation of manuscript acceptance is required. The paper must be based upon research conducted while the applicant was a graduate student in the Odum School of Ecology, and must show the Odum School of Ecology as the student’s institutional affiliation. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an Odum School graduate program or have graduated less than one year prior to the application deadline. Only one paper can be submitted per student.

The application packet should consist of single PDF that includes:

1. A 1-page cover letter in which the student articulates the importance of the research and its impact on the discipline;
2. The paper;
3. Documentation of acceptance, if the paper is in press, and
4. The student’s CV.

Each application should be submitted as a single PDF, with the naming convention: StudentLastName-Award.pdf. Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 11 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

Previous winners include: Tad Dallas (2014), Dara Satterfield (2015), Daniel Becker (2015 and 2016), Jeffrey Minucci (2017), John Vinson (2017), Chao Song (2018), Claire Teitelbaum (2019), Ania Majewska (2020), Annakate Schatz (2021).

The Odum School of Ecology Distinguished Graduate Student Teaching Award was established in 1998 to recognize outstanding ecology student teaching assistants and is given each spring to students enrolled in the ecology graduate program. Any Odum School Faculty member (regular, adjunct, research) may nominate one person per year.

The nomination packet should include:

1. A letter specific and detailed stating why student should receive award;
2. A brief (2-page) CV, and;
3. Letter(s) from instructor(s) in charge of course(s) taught during award academic year.

The Odum School of Ecology’s Graduate Program Committee will select the winner(s) from the nominations. There will be one award of $200. The recipient will also have their name engraved on a plaque in the lobby and receive a certificate. The funds are not available until August and the recipient must be enrolled during that time.

Each application should be submitted as a single PDF, with the naming convention: StudentLastName-Award.pdf. Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 1 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

Previous winners include: Kristy McDowell (2014), Jenna Malek (2015), Kaitlin Farrell (2016), Elise Krueger (2017), Ania Majewska (2018), Kelsey Solomon (2020), and Dessa Dunn, Nate Tomczyk, and Carol Yang (2021).

The Odum School of Ecology Environmental Policy Award was established in 2000 to recognize outstanding contributions to environmental policy research and development by students and staff. Any Odum School of Ecology faculty member (regular, adjunct, research) may nominate one person per year. Because the award recognizes truly extraordinary work, the award will not necessarily be given each year. The nomination packet should include: a letter specific and detailed stating why student or staff member should receive award. a copy of the work product (thesis, publication, slide show, etc.) that is proposed to be recognized. The award will be judged on the basis of application of ecological principles, excellence of work product, professionalism, actual and potential impact, and level of effort. The faculty of the Odum School of Ecology who teach classes in environmental policy will select the winner(s) from the nominations. The award will consist of an engraved plaque to hang in the foyer of the ecology building and a framed certificate.

Each application should be submitted as a single PDF, with the naming convention: StudentLastName-Award.pdf. Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 1 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

Previous winners: Katherine Edmonds (2011), Shannon Bonney (2013), Zachary Butler (2018), and Megan Hopson (2019).

Golley Memorial Scholarship

This award recognizing demonstrated leadership abilities is given in memory of the former Institute of Ecology director Frank Golley. Born in Chicago, Golley earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Purdue University, a master’s degree in wildlife management from Washington State University, and a doctorate in zoology from Michigan State University. Dr. Golley was the director of the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory from 1962-1967, and director of the Institute of Ecology from 1968-1979. He was an internationally acclaimed leader in the field of landscape ecology. He also wrote over 40 books and chapters, and more than 150 papers on the fields of ecology, biology, social sciences and history. After over four decades at The University of Georgia, Dr. Golley retired in 2000. This award can be used in its full amount on research and travel if applied through the Odum School of Ecology, or can be distributed through your payroll (and taxed) if directly received. This money is not available until August in the year in which it is awarded, and the recipient must be enrolled during that time. The award amount is: $750. The Graduate Program committee will review all applications and make the final decision.

Materials should be compacted into one PDF document. Only one entry per person. Applicants for this one-time monetary scholarship must meet the following criteria:

1. Graduate student in  an Odum School of Ecology graduate program (master’s or doctorate);
2. Good academic standing (3.0 Grade point average)
3. Applicants should preferably have demonstrated leadership qualities

The nomination packet should include:

1. Application;
2. Applicant essay;
3. A brief (2-page) CV;
4. Faculty recommendation

Download application: Golley Memorial Scholarship

Each application should be submitted as a single PDF, with the naming convention: StudentLastName-Award.pdf. Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 1 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

Previous winners include: Kimmy Kellett (2014), Kaitlin Farrell (2015), Wes Flynn (2016), Cecilia Sánchez (2017), Kelsey Solomon (2018) and Dessa Dunn (2020), and Caitlin Conn (2021).

The Graduate Diversity Award in Ecology

The Graduate Diversity Award was created by now emeritus faculty member Dr. David Coleman to support diversity in the Odum School graduate program. This award of $1,000 will be made available to the recipient at the beginning of the academic year for use toward research in the Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology.

Applications should include:

1. A 1-page (single-spaced) description of the proposed research;
2. A brief (2-page) CV;
3. A statement of your representation of diversity within the Odum School of Ecology

Upon accepting this scholarship the recipient will be expected to send a thank you letter to Dr. Coleman acknowledging their acceptance and appreciation of this award. You will need to be in attendance for Spring Fling to meet Dr. Coleman. This money is not available until August and the recipient must be enrolled during that time. The Graduate Program Committee will review all applications and make the final decision.

Each application should be submitted as a single PDF, with the naming convention: StudentLastName-Award.pdf. Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 1 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

Previous winners include: Dexter Strother (2013), Joseph Colbert (2014), Cecilia Sánchez (2015), Anya Brown (2016), Keysa Rosas-Rodriguez (2017), Kaylee Arnold (2018), David Vasquez Jr. (2019), Talia Levine (2020) and Laura Kojima and Akanksha Sharma (2021).

The purpose of the Horseshoe Bend Georgia Power Award is to support undergraduate and/or graduate research that is conducted at the Horseshoe Bend Experimental Site. Support shall include, but not be limited to research materials, travel expenses for research presentations, awards, conferences, supplies and any other expenses deemed appropriate.Any student can apply to receive this award, with a faculty mentor who will oversee the project. Projects will be evaluated by members of the Odum School Facilities Committee, who will make recommendations based on the merits of each proposal. Two awards of up to $500 each will be made each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The deadline for the spring award is April 1, and for the fall award is October 1. Funds will be processed as a scholarship, and a half-page report detailing the research performed will be due within 6 months of the award date. To apply, students should draft a proposal with the following information: Name, major, year of study, faculty advisor’s name, a 300-word description of the research (including goals, predictions and methods), and a short budget to indicate how the funds will be spent. Applications should be sent to Andy Davis ([email protected]), to the attention of the Odum School of Ecology Facilities Committee.

Previous winners: Doreen Chaussadas (2021).

The purpose of the Meyer-Helfman Graduate Travel Award is to support graduate student travel to meetings, conferences, or other activities (e.g., meeting with legislators or decision-makers) related to the intersection of science, public policy, and conservation, with preference given to students whose research focuses on aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Judy Meyer is Professor Emerita in the Odum School. Meyer’s research has focused on ecological processes that maintain water quality, on river and stream food webs, and on the impact of watershed disturbance and riparian zone management on river and stream ecosystems. Dr. Gene Helfman is Professor Emeritus in the Odum School. Helfman’s distinguished teaching and research career have focused on conservation of fishes, effects of land use on fishes, invasive species, and behavioral and ecological interactions and their impact on fish conservation. There will be up to two awards of $400 each.

Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 11 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

The Graduate Program Committee will review all applications and make the final decision. , and materials should be compacted into one pdf document. Applicants for this award must meet the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. 1. Graduate student in an Odum School of Ecology graduate program (master’s or doctorate);
         2. Good academic standing (3.0 grade point average).

The nomination materials should include:

1. 1. 1. 1. Application;
         2. Applicant essay;
         3. A brief (2-page) CV.

Download application: Meyer-Helfman Graduate Travel Award

Each application should be submitted as a single PDF, with the naming convention: StudentLastName-Award.pdf. Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 1 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

Previous winners: David Manning and Kaitlin Farrell (2014), David Manning (2015), Katie Brownson (2016), Kaitlin Farrell and Chao Song (2017), and Edward Stowe (2019).

The Dr. Rebecca Reyburn Sharitz and Carl Byrne Hatfield Fellowship supports doctoral candidates in ecology or plant biology at the University of Georgia, with preference given to those affiliated with the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. It was established in 2020 by their family in memory of the late Prof. Emerita Rebecca Sharitz, world-renowned wetlands ecologist at SREL, and her husband Carl Byrne Hatfield.

Any Odum School or Plant Biology faculty member (regular, adjunct, courtesy, research) may nominate one student per year.

The nomination packet should include:

1. A nomination letter (no longer than 2 pages) written by the student’s major professor;
2. A research statement written by the student (no longer than 2 pages; references are included in the 2-page limit);
3. A current CV for the student (no longer than 2 pages).

A committee of faculty from the Odum School of Ecology and the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences will select the winner from the nominations. No committee member will have their own student under consideration. There will be one award of $5,000. The funds will be provided directly to the recipient and may be used to support education, living, and/or research expenses. The fellowship may be renewable.

Each application should be submitted as a single PDF, with the naming convention: StudentLastName-Award.pdf. Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 1 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

Previous winners: Emily Bertucci (2020), Samantha Bock (2021).

The Robert A. Sheldon Memorial Fund was established in (February) 1971 by a contribution from Dr. Joanne S. Sharpe in memory of her late husband, who was an outstanding graduate student in the Department of Zoology. Funds are to provide scholarship to one or more students annually attending the University of Georgia studying in the field of Zoology or other related field and used exclusively for educational purposes within the United States.

This fund has traditionally supported field research for graduate students working away from campus. First priority will be given to a student who does not have alternative sources of funding.

Applications should include:

1. A 1-page (single-spaced) description of the proposed research;
2. A brief (2-page) CV;
3. An overall budget, detailing intended use of the Sheldon funds, how they fit in with other, non-Sheldon expenses, and how other costs will be met;
4. A statement from the student’s advisor confirming that other grant funds are unavailable to support the proposed work (this is not a letter of recommendation; Please emphasize this to your advisor). This letter should be included in the application and should not be sent separately.

There will be one award of at least $500. The funds are not available until August and the recipient must be enrolled during that time. The Graduate Program Committee will review all applications and make the final decision.

Each application should be submitted as a single PDF, with the naming convention: StudentLastName-Award.pdf. Submit entries by 11:59 p.m. on April 1 to the graduate program advisor AND graduate coordinator.

Previous winners: Sara Heisel (2014), Cara Love (2015), Molly Fisher (2016), Lexi Kenna (2020) and Andrew Nagy (2021).

The purpose of this award is to support undergraduate and/or graduate research that is conducted at the Horseshoe Bend Experimental Site. Support shall include, but not be limited to research materials, travel expenses for research presentations, awards, conferences, supplies and any other expenses deemed appropriate. Any student can apply to receive this award, with a faculty mentor who will oversee the project. Projects will be evaluated by members of the Odum School Facilities Committee, who will make recommendations based on the merits of each proposal.

The purpose of this award is to honor a graduating senior enrolled in a B.S. or A.B. degree program in the Odum School of Ecology. The award competition will be based on a combination of research, classroom, and service performance (i.e., all-around qualities of a professional ecologist and impactful citizen within the Odum School of Ecology.)

The purpose of this award is to provide support for students in the Odum School of Ecology who travel to Costa Rica as part of the Tropical Ecology Maymester or Tropical Biology fall semester programs. Support will be in the form of a stipend paid directly to the recipient.

The purpose of this award is to encourage individual excellence in undergraduate studies with awards to Odum School undergraduate students for travel, papers, general merit, or other endeavors.

Since becoming a standalone school in 2007, the Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology and the IDEA Advisory Board have played a leading role in making the University of Georgia a more sustainable campus. Through our teaching, research and outreach initiatives the University of Georgia is serving as a living laboratory that provides opportunities for students, faculty and staff to enhance the quality of life on campus and beyond.

As founding chair of the IDEA Advisory Board, Rutherford Seydel has played a major role in leading these efforts, and continues to challenge UGA not to rest on its laurels. Beyond his service to the Odum School and UGA, Seydel is a director and vice-chairman of The Conservation Fund, co-founder and CEO of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Fund, Inc., a member of the board of directors of the Southern Environmental Law Center and Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University School of Law, and a Trustee of the National Parks Conservation Association. As co-owner of the Atlanta Thrashers and Atlanta Hawks, he was responsible for making Atlanta’s Philips Arena the first sports arena in North America to achieve LEED certification.

In his honor, we have established the Seydel Award in Sustainability and Conservation.

The Odum School of Ecology Educator Award recognizes outstanding educators from around the country who have supported and inspired their students to study ecology and achieve at high levels. This award allows the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology to honor and celebrate educators who motivate and inspire future ecologists.

Students are invited to nominate high school educators, and a committee composed of Odum staff and faculty selects one educator to receive the award for their teaching effectiveness, commitment to learning, and passion for ecological education. In April, the winner is recognized at the Odum School of Ecology’s Spring Fling and sent a congratulatory letter and certificate. The administrators of their high school is also notified of their achievement.

The entire Odum School of Ecology credits the excellence of the Odum student body to educators like these, who shape their students long before they attend the University of Georgia, and would like to thank these and all educators in their ongoing efforts in motivating and supporting their students.

5 p.m. April 1.
Nominate Educator