Annually, the SMBHC will grant up to two Barksdale Awards of $5,000 each. The SMBHC reserves the right to make one or no awards. The SMBHC deans are available for brainstorming and general questions.
Deadline: December 8, 2023 by 11:59pm CST
Recipients announced: Early spring semester 2024
Project timeline: Between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025
Eligible students must
- have been members of the Honors College for at least one academic year by the start of the proposed project;
- have completed at least two years at the undergraduate level (usually 60 credit hours) by the end of the academic year of application;
- plan at least one semester in residence after completion of the project;
- have a minimum GPA of 3.7;
- be in full compliance with CAC.
The project MAY but NEED NOT
- have an academic focus (on your major or for your capstone, for example);
- fit within a traditional academic semester;
- occur during the summer;
- supplement a traditional study abroad program with decidedly independent travel/research;
- focus on humanitarian or social justice concerns at a local, national, or global level;
- enhance or expand your independent scientific research already in progress.
The proposed project MUST be one that
- is clearly going to cost around $5,000 for project-related expenses;
- is clearly do-able on $5,000 (or you can say where you’ll get the rest of the money);
- will be completed by June 30, 2025.
The award will NOT fund
- tuition or fees for a program of study;
- internships undertaken for academic credit;
(For such plans, apply instead for an Honors Fellowship) - participation in experiences (e.g., missions, service) organized by someone else.
Undertaking projects of this sort may mean that you delay graduation by a semester or more. Please give serious consideration to what you cannot do if you are awarded this stipend, as well as to what you can.
All application materials, with the exception of the Letters of Recommendation, are submitted electronically via UM Box.
Upload Application Materials Here.
You may submit materials as they are ready for submission rather than submit everything at once. Name your file with the item you’re submitting and your last name (e.g., Registration Form Smith). All files should be either PDF or Word documents.
Items 1-6 must be submitted via the UM Box link by December 8, 2023. Your two letters of recommendation must be received by Dr. Parsons no later than the same date.
To be considered for the Barksdale Award, eligible students must submit the following:
- Submit a document labeled Registration Form that includes the following information: Your name, email, phone number, current overall GPA, how many college credit hours you will have earned by the end of Fall 2023, your expected month and year of graduation, title of proposed project, and an abstract (one- to three-sentence description of what you propose to do).
- Submit a document titled Project Proposal. In an essay of no more than 1,000 words, tell us what you want to do and why you want to do it. Your essay should touch on the experiences and coursework that have prepared you for this project, and should demonstrate a thorough understanding of and enthusiasm for the obstacles and challenges you will face. Don’t forget to include your name.
- Submit a Budget Worksheet, a reasonable projection of project-related expenses.
- Submit a one-page Résumé.
- Submit an Unofficial UM Transcript. Fall grades will not appear in time for Barksdale Award submission, and an early submission of material is appreciated.
- Submit the Certifications sheet.
- Choose two professors to write Letters of Recommendation. Your recommenders should know you well enough to be able to discuss the qualities (of mind and character) and/or academic work that will support your successful completion of the project you propose. Choose professors with whom you’ve discussed your Barksdale Award proposal. Your two professors should email their recommendation letters to Dr. Jennifer Parsons at jparsons@olemiss.edu.