LAUREATES heightens competition
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
The LAUREATES program, a scholarship that funds biology majors for summer research projects, rejected students for the first time this year due to an increasing number of applicants.
Because of the large number of junior biology majors and stiffer competition for scholarship money, the program accepted only 15 of the 23 students who applied.
"In the past we try to give them all something," Dean of Sciences Chris VanOrman said. "This year we tried to make it more highly competitive."
In the LAUREATES program, which stands for Laboratory for Advanced Undergraduate Research Education Adapted for Talented and Extraordinary Students, awarded students receive a stipend as well as money to pay for room and board during the summer research program. In addition, faculty members aiding the students are awarded money.
VanOrman said he had $60,000 for students and professors. In order to award money to everyone who applied he would have needed $85,000.
VanOrman said the donors who fund the LAUREATES program want to make sure the most highly qualified students are chosen to receive funding.
Winners are chosen based on their overall GPA and a project proposal. Students who receive funding are also usually juniors.
The LAUREATES program allows students to work on their undergraduate research projects while they are not also trying to take a normal class load.
Meghan McDonald, also a junior, said students in the program typically work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for six weeks during the summer and that their projects are usually not completely finished by the end of the summer session.
"It allows you to do more research, better research," junior Ali Lanctot said.
VanOrman said the number of students receiving Bachelor of Science degrees has been rising over the past few years.
"If I have the same sort of trend next year then I think I might have to go to some other sort of process," VanOrman said. "In the past I haven't had this problem."
Because of the large number of junior biology majors and stiffer competition for scholarship money, the program accepted only 15 of the 23 students who applied.
"In the past we try to give them all something," Dean of Sciences Chris VanOrman said. "This year we tried to make it more highly competitive."
In the LAUREATES program, which stands for Laboratory for Advanced Undergraduate Research Education Adapted for Talented and Extraordinary Students, awarded students receive a stipend as well as money to pay for room and board during the summer research program. In addition, faculty members aiding the students are awarded money.
VanOrman said he had $60,000 for students and professors. In order to award money to everyone who applied he would have needed $85,000.
VanOrman said the donors who fund the LAUREATES program want to make sure the most highly qualified students are chosen to receive funding.
Winners are chosen based on their overall GPA and a project proposal. Students who receive funding are also usually juniors.
The LAUREATES program allows students to work on their undergraduate research projects while they are not also trying to take a normal class load.
Meghan McDonald, also a junior, said students in the program typically work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for six weeks during the summer and that their projects are usually not completely finished by the end of the summer session.
"It allows you to do more research, better research," junior Ali Lanctot said.
VanOrman said the number of students receiving Bachelor of Science degrees has been rising over the past few years.
"If I have the same sort of trend next year then I think I might have to go to some other sort of process," VanOrman said. "In the past I haven't had this problem."
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