For deadlines, see the ASB Calendar.
Have a question about an award? Contact Us.
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ASB SUPPORT AWARDS

ASB support awards provide funds to help students attend the annual meeting and its events.

The Lafayette Frederick Underrepresented Minorities Scholarship ($1200)

The Frederick Award, sponsored by the ASB Committee on Human Diversity, honors long-time ASB member, Past President, and John Herr Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dr. Lafayette Frederick. The annual scholarship provides one outstanding undergraduate student membership to the association, registration to the annual meeting, mentorship on site, and attendance to many networking opportunities such as the Plenary Social, the Diversity Luncheon, the Thursday Night Social, and the Friday Night Banquet. This scholarship also provides funds to partially defray  travel and lodging costs at the annual meeting. ​

Learn more about Dr. Frederick, his works, and his legacy in the video below.

Eligibility

Each applicant must fulfill all the requirements listed below:

1. Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program with a minimum of a 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale
2. Major in a Natural Sciences field
3. Belong to one of the following underrepresented groups in STEM: Black or African American (native or non-native), Hispanic, Native American heritage, or Asian, including Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders as well as students with disabilities.
4. Application must be submitted prior to the deadline (see ASB Calendar)
5. Applications can be submitted prior to receiving an abstract acceptance letter.

Requirements

Your Application must include:

1. Full Name; Institutional Address (including department); Academic email address; Academic Status (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior); and Major.
2. If you plan to present your work at the ASB meeting please provide the title, abstract, and co-author information.
3. A 500-word personal statement describing why you are a good candidate for this award. We would like your letter to include:
   1. A description of where your passion in biology lies.
   2. Your current post-baccalaureate plans, and
4. The importance of seeing people like Dr. Frederick (and YOU) in the scientific community.
   
5. Two letters of recommendation 

Apply for the Frederick Award
​

​Support Awards for First-Generation Undergraduate Student Members of ASB

​First-Generation Support Awards, sponsored by the ASB Committee on Human Diversity, partially defray the expenses of undergraduate first generation college students that will attend the Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting. The awards provide funds to support student membership, registration to the meeting, and attendance to meeting events. There are a limited number of awards each year.

eligibility

Each applicant must fulfill all the requirements listed below:​

1. The recipient is a current member of ASB. 
2. The recipient must present at the Annual Meeting, failure to attend will result in forfeiture of the award. 
3. The recipient must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at a US college or university, or have graduated the semester immediately before the meeting for which the award is given (eg., Fall graduate prior to Spring ASB meeting). 
4. The recipient must be a first generation college student, meaning that neither parent has received a four-year college degree.
5. ​Application must be submitted prior to the deadline (see ASB Calendar)
6. Applications can be submitted prior to receiving an abstract acceptance letter

requirements

Your Application must include:

1. Full Name; Institutional Address (including department); Academic email address; Academic Status (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior); and Major.
2.  If you plan to present your work at the ASB meeting please provide the title, abstract, and co-author information. 
3. A 200-word essay describing your experience in undergraduate research.
4. A Letter of Support should be solicited from an academic mentor (a professor that knows you well or works with you on undergraduate research) from your college or university confirming your first generation college-undergraduate status, a statement of financial need of the student attendee, and commentary on the student work that will be presented, if applicable.

Apply for a First Gen Award

Support Award for Graduate Student Members of ASB ​

​Support awards defray expenses for graduate student members who attend and present at the ASB meeting. The award will provide complementary early-bird registration and tickets to events at the annual meeting and student membership for the upcoming year. There are a limited number of awards each year.

Eligibility

Each applicant must fulfill all the requirements listed below:

1. The applicant is a current member of ASB.
2. The applicant must be currently enrolled as a graduate student in the department where s/he conducted the research that will be presented.
3. Applications are competitive and must be received by the deadline (see ASB Calendar).
4. The recipient must present (poster or oral presentation) at the Annual Meeting. Failure to be present will result in the forfeiture of the award.
5. ​Applications can be submitted prior to receiving an abstract acceptance letter

REquirements

Your Application must include:

1. Full Name; Institutional Address (including department); Academic email address; Academic Status (seeking Master's or PhD)
2. Advisor's Name
3. Educational History
4. A Summary of your research (no more than 500 words)
5. A Description of other sources of funding for this meeting and while in graduate school)
6. You must present at this year's Annual Meeting to receive the award, but we encourage you to apply for support before receiving the acceptance letter for your presentation. Provide your title, abstract, and co-author information. 
7. Advisor's signed letter of support

Apply for a Graduate Support Award

AFFILIATE SUPPORT AWARDS

Southern Appalachian Botanical Society 

Student Conference Support Award 

The SABS Student Conference Support Award is available only to undergraduate and graduate students presenting a paper or poster with a botanical focus at the ASB Annual Meeting. Students should submit their SABS Student Travel Award application materials on or before January 15 at the link, https://castaneajournal.com/student-conference-travel-award/ questions should be directed to Dr. Pamela Puppo ([email protected]). Students must be a member of SABS at the time of their application. Students, if not already members, should join the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society at the member rate of $10/yr at the previous link.  The award includes ASB registration, tickets to the Thursday night social and the Friday night banquet. We plan to announce winners before early-bird registration
closes. Other requirements of the application for the award are on the application webform. 

Apply for the SABS Support Award

Rebecca Cook Travel Award for Botanical Professionals

We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Rebecca Cook Travel Award for Botanical Professionals. We honor Rebecca’s long-time commitment to the Society and to the broader botanical community here in the southeastern US.
 
This award defrays expenses for Professional Members of SABS attending the annual meeting of ASB. Preference will be given to early career professionals (e.g., Post- Doctoral Associates, pre-tenure faculty, or other professionals with less than five years of service in their current position). Applicants should demonstrate a need for support and must clearly indicate other existing or anticipated sources of funding. While presentations at ASB are not required for eligibility, the awardees are expected to attend the SABS Business Meeting and the SABS/BSA student social that take place during the ASB conference.

Matt Estep ([email protected]) will provide an application form at a later date and will serve as contact for this award. Deadline for application is Wednesday, 14 January 2026. Awardees will be notified prior to close of early bird registration (25 February 2026).