Student Activity Award

About this program

Entomological Society of America, sponsored by Bayer Crop Science, offers the Student Activity Award to recognize a graduate student in entomology for outstanding contributions to ESA, their academic department, and the community while demonstrating academic excellence; the award includes a $5,000 cash prize and an inscribed plaque presented at the ESA Annual Meeting. Eligible nominees must be ESA student members pursuing graduate coursework in entomology (membership held by January 1 of the award year) and must not have graduated more than 12 months before the award presentation; regular members returning to graduate study may qualify if they convert to student membership within two years. Nominations are submitted electronically by June 1 via the ESA Student Activity Award nomination site and must include a detailed CV (specified sections), a two-page applicant letter outlining activities and accomplishments, two letters of recommendation addressing academics/ESA/community service, and official or unofficial graduate transcripts (PDF/TIF/JPG; files uploaded individually, ≥10‑pt font). Applications are scored on academics (50 points), contributions to ESA (35 points), and community service (15 points); candidates may be renominated up to two additional times within two years and are typically notified about two months after the deadline.