Scholarships, Awards, and Grants

The FAS Dorothy Moore Student Grant

The Florida Anthropological Society (FAS) is making available up to $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 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.

 

2024 RECIPIENTS

2024 recipient, Dennis Pierson, (right) is presented an FAS Dorothy Moore Student Grant by Greg Hendryx.

Dennis Pierson is doing research in Hillsborough County, southeast of Tampa. He is focusing on archaeological sites in Williams Park at Mill Point and adjacent Mosaic Park. Dennis is investigating if these sites may be associated with the Indigenous town of Mocoso, which was mentioned by the 1539 Hernando de Soto expedition. Dennis’ grant money will be used to supplement political economy theory and to radiocarbon date a bone artifact from Mosaic Park to see if it corresponds to the time of the de Soto expedition.

Colby Williams is focusing on identifying maroon sites. He plans to analyze the Prospect Bluff artifact assemblage from a maroon site on the Apalachicola River in north Florida. This analysis will help identify and interpret additional maroon sites, including a site in Bradenton where some Prospect Bluff inhabitants are thought to have fled following the 1816 destruction of the Prospect Bluff fort. Colby’s grant money will be used for travel and lodging to analyze the Prospect Bluff assemblage.

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 $500 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.

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 register for the conference and submit a copy of their paper by the respective deadlines below and make an oral presentation at the FAS meeting. The oral presentations must be drawn from the written paper.

Judging criteria for student papers and oral presentations are: 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.

2024 Student Prize Winner

Alyssa Catlin (right) receives the FAS Student Paper Prize from FAS President Jen Knutson

Alyssa Catlin won this prize for her paper titled “Archaeological Tourism in North versus South Florida: A Comparative Study of The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and Everglades National Park.” She earned her B.A. in Social Studies Education and an M.A. in History from Florida International University.  Alyssa is completing a second M.A. in Archaeology from the University of Miami. She has been a public school history teacher for Miami-Dade County, teaching law studies, American history, and ancient civilizations. Alyssa also tutors undergraduate student athletes in writing, history, and anthropology courses at the University of Miami.