Gary "Pete" Peterson Dryland Soil Management Scholarship Grant

Gary "Pete" Peterson Dryland Soil Management Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Soil Science Society of America
Amount: US $5,000
Last Updated: February 08, 2026

Summary

The Gary "Pete" Peterson Dryland Soil Management Scholarship is designed to support graduate students pursuing careers in dryland soil management. Established in honor of Gary "Pete" Peterson, this scholarship encourages research that addresses practical soil management challenges in arid regions. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a Soil Sciences program at a U.S. university, maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and demonstrate leadership. Preference is given to those focusing on field experiments.

Overview

The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage students to pursue research and careers in dryland soil management and to honor the teaching and research career of Gary "Pete" Peterson. Pete’s career emphasis has been the application of soil science principles to the solution of field-level soil management problems. Dryland farming is defined herein as a special case of rain fed agriculture practiced in arid and semiarid regions in which annual precipitation is about 35% of potential evapotranspiration. Conditions of moderate to severe moisture stress occur during a substantial part of the year, greatly limiting yield potential. Dryland farming emphasizes water conservation in all practices throughout the year. The scholarship was established by friends and colleagues of Gary "Pete" Peterson, a prominent and highly respected soil scientist and former president of SSSA (2008). Funds for the scholarship are made available by the Agronomic Science Foundation and administered by the Soil Science Society of America.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants shall be enrolled in a graduate-level degree program in the Soil Sciences curriculum of an accredited university located in the United States.Applicants shall be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4 point scale. Applicants shall exhibit evidence of leadership activities within their school or community. Applicants shall have future plans related to a career in Soil Science. Previous awardees are eligible for renewal of the scholarship. No fees will be charged to applicants for this scholarship. Current student members, who are M.S. or Ph.D. students or current undergraduate students accepted for a graduate program pursuing a degree in dryland soil and crop management or closely related field are eligible to apply. Applicants shall be a citizen of a North American country: the United States, Canada, or Mexico. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. Current student members are eligible to apply.

Ineligibility

Members of this SSSA Award Committee and the SSSA Executive Committee are not eligible to be a nominee for this scholarship.