CS: Youth Incentive Award Grant

The Youth Incentive Award, established by the Coleopterists Society, encourages students in grades 7-12 to explore the fascinating world of beetles. Annually, up to $1200 is awarded, with two grants of $400 and $800 for junior and senior categories, respectively. Recipients also receive a subscription to The Coleopterists Bulletin. The program aims to promote beetle studies, develop essential life skills, and provide financial support for educational projects, fostering a passion for entomology among youth.

The Coleopterists Society, an international organization of professionals and hobbyists interested in the study of beetles, has established a program to recognize young people studying beetles. The Society has pledged to provide up to $1200 each year for the Youth Incentive Award Program. Each of the two awards (Junior and Senior) will receive a monetary grant of $400 and $800, respectively. In addition to monetary grants, award recipients will receive a one-year subscription to the society journal, The Coleopterists Bulletin. This is for individual students of grades 7-12 only.
The objectives of the Youth Incentive Award are to:
provide encouragement and assistance to young beetle enthusiasts (grades 7-12).promote the study of beetles, the most diverse group of insects, as a rewarding lifelong avocation or career.provide opportunities for young people to develop important life skills such as leadership, cooperation, communication, planning and conducting a scientific study, grant writing and managing funds.provide some financial support to enrich activities or projects.
A Youth Incentive Award Committee from the Coleopterists Society will evaluate the applications and will select up to two winners annually: one each in junior (grades 7-9) and senior (grades 10-12) categories. The selection committee invites proposals for topics such as field collecting trips to conduct beetle species inventories or diversity studies, attending workshops or visiting entomology or natural history museums for special training and projects on beetles, studying aspects of beetle biology, etc. The proposed activities or projects will be evaluated on their degree of creativity, educational benefit to the applicant, scientific merit, feasibility and budgetary planning. This Award is for proposals by individuals only. Each applicant is strongly encouraged to find an adult advisor (teacher, youth group leader, parent, etc.) to provide guidance in proposal development, but the proposal MUST be written by the applicant. The Coleopterists Society would also be happy to assist in establishing contacts between youth and professional Coleopterists.

Eligibility

This is for students of grades 7-12 only.Each applicant is strongly encouraged to find an adult advisor (teacher, youth group leader, parent, etc.) to provide guidance in proposal development, but the proposal MUST be written by the applicant.