The FAS Dorothy Moore Student Grant
The Dorothy Moore Student Award makes available $1000.00 to be awarded annually to archaeology students (B.A., M.A., or Ph.D.) who are currently enrolled in a Florida university. The grant money will assist students conducting archaeological research in Florida. Grant funds can be used to cover the costs associated with archaeological fieldwork, special analyses (e.g., radiocarbon dates, faunal or botanical analyses, soils analysis, etc.), and, in some cases, travel expenses associated with presenting a paper based on the student’s research at a professional meeting.
Students interested in applying for the grant should submit a letter by March 31 to Greg Hendryx (greg@searchinc.com) that is not to exceed two pages that describes the project for which the funds are being requested; what research question(s) or problem(s) are being addressed; how the funds will be applied to these problems; what, if any, additional funds will be used to accomplish the research; and how the research will contribute to Florida archaeology. The applicant should include a budget indicating the amount requested and describing how the money will be spent along with a letter(s) of support from faculty.
Applications for the 2026 award are now being accepted and can be sent to: Greg Hendryx, via email to greg@searchinc.com. Application deadline is March 31, 2026.
2025 RECIPIENT
Hui Xiao was the 2025 recipient of the Dot Moore Student Grant. Hui is a third-year Ph.D. student at the University of South Florida, supervised by Nancy White. Her research is focused on interpreting the organization of sacred and secular activities in the Woodland period component at the Pierce Mound Complex, in Apalachicola. With these grant funds, Hui plans to obtain AMS dates from a shell midden ridge along the site’s western side, where Woodland period ceramic artifacts were recovered. She hopes to gain a more precise temporal placement of Woodland period activities, and to investigate if it was a habitation site or used primarily as a ritual center.
Student Prize Competition
Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in degree granting collegiate programs are encouraged to compete for a prize. The student must submit a paper of original research that contributes to our understanding of Florida’s cultural history.
Contestants must be registered for the conference and submit a copy of their paper. The written paper cannot exceed 2,500 words and must be typed and double-spaced. Students are required to make an oral presentation, drawn directly from their written paper at the FAS annual meeting. Past first place winners of the student paper prize are not eligible. Judging criteria for student papers and oral presentations include quality of writing, overall presentation, quality of arguments and supporting data, and overall contribution to our understanding of Florida’s cultural past and/or present. Prizes will be awarded during the Saturday evening banquet (the winner receives a banquet ticket).
2025 Recipients
Victoria Hayes won this prize with her paper titled “Gathering Oysters and Piling Shells: The Curious Shell Formations at Cedar Point North.” She earned her B.A. at the University of North Florida (UNF), where she worked with archaeologist Keith Ashley. At UNF, Victoria studied pottery from the Mill Cove Complex near Jacksonville. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Florida.
Heather Stewart was given this prize for her paper titled “The Santa Rosa Island Shipwreck: The Last Remainder of the Windward Fleet.” Heather’s paper was her undergraduate honors thesis, with Dr. John Worth serving as advisor. Heather earned her B.A. from the University of West Florida (UWF) and enrolled in graduate school there in the Fall of 2025. She enjoys underwater diving and has worked with the UWF Archaeology Institute.
Student Scholarships & Grants
Warm Mineral Springs Little Salt Spring Archaeological Society (WMSLSSAS) wmslss.org
Student Travel: scholarships for conference travel between $200-$300. Submit abstract and conference registration to the chapter for review. Contact the chapter’s president Kathy Gerace, dtgerace@gmail.com for more details.
Palm Beach County Anthropological Society (PBCAS) with Palm Beach Museum of Natural History
Valerie Ferdinando Award: Regular and Student memberships to FAS. Contact the museum or the chapter rep for more details.
St. Augustine Archaeological Association (SAAA) staugarch.org
Eugene Lyon Education Fund: features a $1000 grant to support research across all disciplines of archaeology, anthropology and history relating to St. Augustine or Northeast Florida. Applications are accepted from students or anyone involved in scholarly research. These funds can be used to cover costs associated with research, fieldwork, travel, or other expenses connected with presentations at professional meetings. Email: staugarch@gmail.com
Time Sifters Archaeology Society (TSAS) timesifters.org
Cornelia Futor Memorial Fund: scholarships for $1,000-2,000 for Florida university or college students to attend field schools. Contact chapter’s president Smitty Smith, hmsbeagle22@gmail.com for more information.
Pensacola Archaeological Society (PAS) pasfl.org
This chapter gives $500 award twice a year to University of West Florida anthropology students both graduate and undergraduate. The award can go towards research, archival and fieldwork, or for specific tools that they might need. Email: pensacolaarchseologicalsociety@gmail.com
Florida Archaeological Council (FAC) flarchcouncil.org
The John W. Griffin Student Award: up to $2000 may be given to an archaeology graduate student (M.A. or Ph.D.) who is currently enrolled in a Florida university. The award money assists those conducting archaeological research, and may be divided among more than one applicant.
Students and researchers should consider reaching out to their local chapter or the chapter where their research is located to not only connect with local knowledge and resources, but to also see if there may be discretionary funds available to help a student or researcher with their project.