Outstanding Undergraduate Award (Geography)

The Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Geography will be provided to a student who has achieved outstanding academic accomplishments in Geography throughout their time at UTK. They will have a high GPA (3.75-4.00). They will have participated in UTAGS and assumed (informal/formal) leadership positions in the Department, including but not limited to a leadership position in UTAGS, and played an important role in organizing or participating in student events in the Department. Doing research or participating in events where they presented their research will also be considered in addition to other leadership credentials.

Any student who has been in the undergraduate program for at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters, including the semester the award is given) is eligible. Students are eligible for this award only once during their undergraduate graduate study in the Department. The Chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee solicits nominations for the award. The Geography Department reserves the right not to make the award when there is an absence of qualified student candidates.

Outstanding Undergraduate Award (Sustainability)

The Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Sustainability will be provided to a student who has achieved outstanding academic accomplishments in Sustainability throughout their time at UTK. They will have a high GPA (3.75-4.00). They will have participated in UTAGS and assumed (informal/formal) leadership positions in the Department, including but not limited to a leadership position in UTAGS, and playing an important role in organizing or participating in student events in the Department. Doing research or participating in events where they presented their research will also be considered in addition to other leadership credentials.

Any student who has been in the undergraduate program for at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters, including the semester the award is given) is eligible. Students are eligible for this award only once during their undergraduate graduate study in the Department. The Chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee solicits nominations for the award. The nominations will be considered by the Undergraduate Program Committee. The Geography Department reserves the right not to make the award when there is an absence of qualified student candidates.

Outstanding Research Award

The Outstanding Research Award will be issued to an undergraduate student who has engaged in either long-term research or multiple research projects under the guidance of one or several faculty members. These research projects will be undertaken in addition to regular coursework and class assignments. Students who are considered for this award may have received funded research grants and will have presented their research at different conferences and events.

Any student who has been in the undergraduate program for at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters, including the semester the award is given) is eligible. Students are eligible for this award only once during their undergraduate graduate study in the Department. The Chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee solicits nominations for the award. The nominations will be considered by the Undergraduate Program Committee. The Geography Department reserves the right not to make the award when there is an absence of qualified student candidates.

Exceptional Outreach Award

The Exceptional Outreach Award will be issued to an undergraduate student who has been involved in important and multiple outreach activities on Campus and/or in the Knoxville Community throughout their time at UTK.

Any student who has been in the undergraduate program for at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters, including the semester the award is given) is eligible. Students are eligible for this award only once during their undergraduate graduate study in the Department. The Chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee solicits nominations for the award. The nominations will be considered by the Undergraduate Program Committee. The Geography Department reserves the right not to make the award when there is an absence of qualified student candidates.

Bruce Ralston Geospatial Achievement Award

The Bruce Ralston Geospatial Achievement Award is reserved for a student who has participated in and contributed meaningfully to a GIS-related research project and/or promotes the use of geospatial science to others via GIS outreach activities, tutoring/helping others in understanding and using GIS.

Bruce Ralston is a well-known scholar in Transportation Geography and Geographic Information Systems and has been recognized with a number of university and national awards for his excellence in teaching and scholarships. In 2010, he was named the Mace Bearer, the highest faculty award at the university and in 2013 was recognized by the UT Institute for Public Service with its Faculty Excellence Award. He is also a nationally recognized author of books about GIS and is a programmer of widely used software that assists in the use of public domain data in mapping and analysis.

Any student who has been in the undergraduate program for at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters, including the semester the award is given) is eligible. Students are eligible for this award only once during their undergraduate graduate study in the Department. The Chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee solicits nominations for the award. The nominations will be considered by the Undergraduate Program Committee. The Geography Department reserves the right not to make the award when there is an absence of qualified student candidates.

The Michelle Pfeffer Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

The Geography Department at the University of Tennessee named its outstanding undergraduate award in honor of Michelle “Chell” Pfeffer, a beloved geography undergraduate who passed away due to complications from leukemia. Ms. Pfeffer was known for her passion for environmental causes, and she sought to educate people about environmental issues. The award that carries her name is reserved for a Geography or Sustainability undergraduate student who, in addition to performing well academically, shows a similarly high level of engagement in promoting the importance of a geographic perspective and a commitment to making a difference in the wider world of ideas and issues. 

Any student who has been in the undergraduate program for at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters, including the semester the award is given) is eligible. Students are eligible for this award only once during their undergraduate graduate study in the Department. The Chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee solicits nominations for the award. The nominations will be considered by the Undergraduate Program Committee. The Geography Department reserves the right not to make the award when there is an absence of qualified student candidates.

Steward K. McCroskey Memorial Fund

The Stewart K. McCroskey Memorial Fund 

The Stewart K. McCroskey Memorial Fund was established in 1993 by the McCroskey family to honor and foster the memory of Stewart K. McCroskey. Stewart, who was a graduate student in Geography at the time of his illness and death, was especially interested in the people of the Caribbean and their relationships to their environment. His research examined water management strategies on the dry island of Antigua, but he was sincerely interested in a wide range of geographic questions and environments. Ongoing contributions continue to strengthen the Stewart K. McCroskey Memorial Fund. 

Purposes of the Fund 

1. To provide financial support for field research: The fund supports the quality applications for graduate students based on their applied categories (Physical/Human/Geo-spatial/Sustainability) and undergraduate students’ research contingent on annual budget and number of requests.

2. To support and help offset the cost of attending professional meetings, seminars and workshops. Preference will be given to the applicants who attend conferences in order to advance any sponsoring student competitions or who are invited for seminars and workshops.

3. To support professional development by (1) graduate students, and (2) undergraduate students (seniors or rising seniors) for their research.

How to Apply?

1. Submit a proposal (maximum two pages) that includes:
   • Purpose for which funds are requested (3 items below should be mentioned)
     • Your academic status (graduate/undergraduate)
     • Time of support (Select one: Fall, Spring, Summer) 
     • Research category (Physical/Human/Geo-spatial/Sustainability)
   • How funds will be used. See examples below.
     • To travel for field research, survey or interview
     • To purchase specialized field equipment and supplies for fieldwork research
     • To expense for survey or interview
     • Attend conference, workshops, or seminars (AAG & SEDAAG are NOT eligible)
     • Undergraduate student’s research with faculty advisor 
   • Amount requested, and an estimate of itemized and total project costs,
   • Amount of funds awarded or expected from other sources, including personal funds, toward meeting the costs of the project.
   • Results from previous McCroskey awards (if applicable, it should be disclosed).
2. With the proposal, include a supporting letter from a faculty advisor that specifies how funds will assist the student in their research (maximum two pages).  
3. Proposals should be submitted by the date mentioned above, in order to guarantee consideration for funding. Email the proposal and the letter of recommendation (word document or pdf, both versions are okay) to the committee chair.

Funding Decisions

Funding decisions are made by the Awards & Honors (A&H) Committee. The committee, appointed by the Head of the Department of Geography and Sustainability, normally consists of a few faculty members, and a graduate student representative from the Department. The funding committee will meet within two weeks of each proposal deadline and announce funding decisions by letter and email within a week of the meeting. The Department Head may call ad hoc meetings of the A&H Committee in special circumstances if you need to request an early decision about your proposal due to inevitable reasons.

Requirements of those Awarded Grants

1. If your proposal is funded, you will need to meet with the Department Administrative Services Assistant (Ms. Alex Logan alogan13@utk.edu) regarding how to file for the funds, records and receipts that must be submitted with expense vouchers, and other information pertinent to receiving reimbursement or, when essential, advance of funds for travel. Do this as soon as possible. Be forewarned that those who wait until the last minute to secure appropriate information may find that advances and/or reimbursement are not possible. 
2. All equipment and other expendable supplies purchased with McCroskey funds are property of the Department of Geography and Sustainability. 
3. Those awarded grants are required to write and send a thank you letter to the McCroskey Family (Jill Coupe and Hope Williamson) within a month of being notified of receiving funds. The thank you letter should be an expression of appreciation for the support and a brief description of the project being undertaken by the student and how the McCroskey Funding is essential to that project. Students should submit thank you letters to the Chair of the McCroskey Committee for review. After the Committee Chair’s review, the awardee will print it on departmental letterhead and submit it to our staff to be mailed by the department. The awardee must also make a copy of the same for the Committee chair. The McCroskey Chair keeps copies of any reports and thank you letters that are submitted to the Department Head at the end of the academic year for record-keeping, fund-raising and audit purposes. 

* Depending on the status of the award, federal law may require they pay taxes on the amount received.

** Please note that at this time, the award process can be suspended depending on the travel restrictions. We cannot issue fellowships that endorse students to travel.