Award Description
The Department of Zoology has a long history of proudly honoring its most talented students with undergraduate awards.  The Department is pleased to offer these awards annually to sophomores, juniors, and seniors majoring in Biological Science, Physiology or Zoology at OSU.  The awards provide recognition among students, staff, and faculty in the Department, enhancement of a student’s credentials, and modest financial support of the student’s education.
Currently the Department of Zoology offers 6 awards to our undergraduate students:

• The Dr. G. Michael Steelman Endowed Scholarship
• The Edwin Chappabitty Jr. M.D. Scholarship in Zoology
• Outstanding Seniors majoring in Biological Science, Zoology, and Physiology
• Outstanding Junior
• Outstanding Sophomore

The requirements for each award can be found within the application.

Application
Applications for these awards are made available in November and must be submitted in January each year.  Applicants are required to complete the form, provide a copy of his/her CV, write an essay, and have two letters of recommendation.  Descriptions of these items can be found within the application form.

Selection Criteria
Recipients are selected using the criteria as described below, listed in order of importance, number one being most influential.  
1) Academic Excellence - indicated by GPA and completion of Zoology’s most challenging courses
2) Participation in the Scholarship of Discovery - indicated by involvement in meaningful and productive research experiences and letters of recommendation
3) Service - indicated by involvement/leadership in scientifically or educationally related organizations, service to the department, and professional service to the community
4) Professional Maturity - indicated by an essay that shows evidence of reflection about accomplishments and goals

FAQs
Who should I ask to write me letters of recommendation?

The Selection Committee prefers recommendation letters from full-time faculty members.  They will, however, accept letters from an instructor, laboratory teaching assistant, or academic advisor.  At least one of the letters must be from someone within a science discipline at OSU.

What is a CV?

A CV (curriculum vitae) is a written description of your work and research experience, educational background, and skills.  It is similar to a resume but is not limited to 1-2 pages, includes more details, and focuses on your applicable experiences and skills rather than on your recent work history.  You can visit with someone in Career Services for assistance in developing your CV.

What do I gain from applying?

These awards are competitive and prestigious. It is an acknowledgement and record of strong academic and professional performance that will bolster your CV considerably, regardless of your career goals (e.g. medical school). In addition, you will receive anywhere between $300 and $1000!

Should I apply for an award based on my number of earned hours or by the years I’ve attended college?

You could apply for either, but typically you benefit more if you apply along with your year so that you will be eligible for awards in the future.  For example, if a junior (by year) has enough hours to apply as a senior, we would recommend he/she apply as a junior so that he/she would be eligible for the junior award the current year and the senior award in the next year.

Can I receive the same award twice?

The awards are offered as one time honors.  Students can apply for a different award the following year but cannot receive the exact same award more than once.