Stewart R. Wallace — 1919–2009 - Society of Economic Geologists

8 SEG NEWSLETTER No 78 JULY 2009
FOUNDATION PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE
Student Programs and Fund-Raising Update
STUDENT PROGRAMS
Each year, the period between mid-
February and mid-May is the busiest
time for SEG Foundation volunteers.
They receive and review Student
Research Grant, Fellowship, and Field
Trip applications and decide who will
receive awards. Following is a brief
summary of the results of our three
main student support programs for 2009.
Student Research Grants
There were 97 grant applications
received and 42 awards given for a total
of US$100,000. In addition, the SEG
Canada Foundation awarded 13 grants
totaling CDN$34,500. These grants will
help students attending 30 different
universities in 10 countries cover field
and laboratory expenses for thesis
research on mineral deposits. A complete
summary of 2009 research grant
awards is posted on the SEG website
under Students.
Student Fellowship Awards
There were 28 fellowship applications
received and 16 awards given for a total
of US$150,000. These awards will provide
much-needed assistance to students
commencing graduate studies in economic
geology. The fellowship review
committee commented that the general
quality of fellowship applications this
year was exceptional.
Student Field Trip
Seventeen students were selected from
31 total applicants to participate in the
field trip to Nevada gold deposits, which
was held during May 12–21. The student
participants represented 17 different
universities in 9 countries. Feedback on
the field trip has been received from
nearly all student participants and it is
overwhelmingly positive.
Please join me in congratulating all
this year’s award recipients. I also extend
our profound thanks to Dick Nielsen,
Gerry Carlson (Research Grants), and
John Thoms (Fellowships and Field Trip)
and their respective committee members
for the careful review of more than
150 total student applications (all programs)
this year. These volunteers put
tremendous effort and care into the student
support review process and we are
most grateful for their dedication.
Finally, we thank field trip leaders
Bill Chávez and Erich Petersen for their
usual tireless, enthusiastic effort, and
the various mine operations for their
gracious cooperation. The field trips
are extremely important development
opportunities for economic geology
students.
The Foundation also provides support
for SEG Student Chapters (US$20,000),
student membership sub sidies
(US$9,300), and travel for lec turers and
Regional VP activities (US$50,000 total).
In nearly all instances, the lectures and
Regional VP activities reach and have
an important impact on students.
FUND-RAISING
In the last News letter, I mentioned the
fund-raising challenges facing the
Foundation due to the severe global
financial crisis of 2008 –2009. The SEGF
Trustees have responded in part by
releasing a “Special Request for Support”
that was sent to the
SEG membership by
e-mail on May 15.
The request also
appears in this
Newsletter on
page 10.
This special
request appeals to
our members and
corporate support-
BARTON SUCHOMEL
SEG Foundation
President 2009
ers for small additional contributions,
in this difficult year, to help the
Foundation maintain the level of student
support achieved in the past few
years. The Student Facts shown in the
request are remarkable (e.g., 1,870 students
supported by over $1 million
during 2006–2008; global student
membership increased over 100% in
the same period) and demonstrate that
your generosity is being rewarded
through the encouragement and development
of the next generation of economic
geologists!
To date (June 1), since initial release
of the special request, we have received
45 additional contributions totaling
$8,500, and we are hopeful that
significant further responses will flow in
the weeks ahead. You will find a contribution
form on the SEG website and we
are working to facilitate direct, webbased
contribution capability.
Remainder of 2009
For the balance of this year, we pri -
marily will be focused on raising funds
to meet and possibly exceed our annual
contributions budget. Together with
SEG Council, we will continue to review
our student support programs and to
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