In 2005, the ASM Graduate Research Scholarship Program was established with the generosity of Paul and Frances Bauer. The Bauers committed $2000 annually for five years which provides research funding to a graduate student at a Missouri university doing ornithological research in Missouri . A request for applications is sent to university contacts in the fall, and the applications are due the following January 15. A formal review process by the ASM Scholarship Committee (Brad Jacobs, Susan Hazelwood, and Sue Gustafson) determines the scholarship recipient.
The 2006 Scholarship was awarded to Robin Hirsh-Jacobson of the University of Missouri-Columbia for his dissertation "The Effects of Late Season Nests on Source-Sink Dynamics in Mid Missouri Forest Fragment." Robin's required one year follow-up report appeared in the June 2007 issue of The Bluebird.
The 2007 Scholarship was awarded to W. Andrew Cox of the University of Missouri-Columbia for his dissertation "Identification of important nest predators and the factors that influence their contribution to overall predation rates in a Midwestern landscape." Andrew's required one year follow-up report appeared in the March 2008 issue of The Bluebird.
The 2008 ASM Graduate Scholarship was awarded to Cara Joos of the University of Missouri-Columbia for her research entitled: "Habitat selection and reproductive success of Bell 's Vireo (Vireo belli belli) in managed habitats of central Missouri ." Cara's required one year follow-up report appeared in the September 2009 issue of The Bluebird.
The 2009 ASM Graduate Scholarship was awarded to Allison S. Cox of the University of Missouri-Columbia for her research entitled " Natal dispersal of Red-bellied Woodpeckers in a fragmented landscape." Allison's required one year follow-up report appeared in the June 2010 issue of The Bluebird.
The 2010 ASM Graduate Research Scholarship was awarded to Kaylan Kemink at the University of Missouri-Columbia for her research entitled "The Missouri Greater Prairie-Chicken: Historic Decline and Present-Day Survival and Movement." Kaylan's required one year follow-up report appeared in the March 2011 issue of The Bluebird.
The 2011 ASM Graduate Research Scholarship was awarded to Richard A. Stanton, Jr. at the University of Missouri-Columbia for his research entitled "Assessing the Potential for Brown-headed Nuthatch Reintroduction in Missouri: Habitat Selection at Multiple Spatial Scales." Richard's required one year follow-up report appeared in the June 2012 issue of The Bluebird.
The 2012 ASM Graduate Research Scholarship was awarded to Vincenzo A. Ellis at the University of Missouri-St. Louis for his research entitled "Health and its Relation to Patterns of Abundance and Distribution of North American Birds."
The 2006, 2007, and 2008 scholarships were $2000 each, funded entirely by the Bauers. The amounts of the 2009 and 2010 scholarships were $3000 each, thanks to the generosity of donors meeting the Bauer's challenge for funding. The 2011 scholarship was $2800, again thanks to multiple donors meeting the Bauer's challenge. The 2012 scholarship was $2000 funded by the Bauers, multiple donors and a Fidelity grant to ASM.
We are now ready to offer another scholarship for 2013 and again seek member donations in addition to the support provided by ASM. Donations can be sent to ASM Treasurer, Pat Lueders, at 1147 Hawken Place, Webster Groves, MO 63119 OR donate online by going to this website address, http://mobirds.org/ASM/Donate.aspx, and indicate the donation is for the scholarship program. Thanks for your support of this important program!