General
Q. Is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship part of the Davidson Young Scholars program?
No. The Davidson Young Scholars program and the Davidson Fellows Scholarship are independent programs with different purposes and criteria for participation.
Eligibility
Q. Who is eligible to apply for the Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
To be eligible for the Davidson Fellows Scholarship, an applicant must:
- Be a U.S. citizen residing in the United States, or a Permanent Resident of the United States residing in the United States.
- Be under the age of 18 years as of October 1, 2009. Applicants born on or before October 1, 1991 are not eligible.
- Have completed a significant piece of work in one of the submission categories.
- Be able to demonstrate that the work is his or her own creation.
- Be able to attend, with at least one parent or guardian, the awards reception in Washington, D.C.
(Note: Travel and lodging expenses will be paid by the Institute.)
Q. Are group or team projects eligible?
No. Submissions must be the work of an individual.
Q. Are projects involving human or animal subjects/tissues eligible?
Applications involving human subjects, live vertebrates, or live invertebrates are not eligible. However, the Davidson Fellows Program will consider certain tissue-related projects, if and only if the applicant can demonstrate:
- The materials were collected for other purposes;
- AND the student is collaborating with a qualified lead scientist;
- AND the lead scientist provides to the Institute documented approval from a recognized Institutional Review Board or Scientific Review Committee.
Documentation must be submitted with the Preliminary Submission Overview Form, or the Outside the Box Screening Form, and will be reviewed by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, which, at its sole discretion, will determine eligibility. The Davidson Institute of Talent Development, in its sole discretion, also may require that other conditions be met before tissue-related projects will be considered further.
Age
Q. Is someone 18 or older eligible to apply for a Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
No. Individuals are NOT eligible to apply for Davidson Fellows if they have reached their 18th birthday on or before October 1, 2009.
Q. Is there a minimum age to apply to be a Davidson Fellow?
No. There is no minimum age for eligibility. Anyone who will be younger than 18 years old as of October 1, 2009 may apply.
Q. Is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship for high school seniors?
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship eligibility is based on age, not grade level.
Application
Q. How can I obtain a Davidson Fellows application?
Applications can be downloaded from our website here. If you have problems downloading the application, please send your mailing address and the category in which you will be applying to davidsonfellows@ditd.org.
Q. What is required to apply for a Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
Each category has different requirements. Every applicant must submit the prodigious work required elements outlined within their category of choice, plus three nominator forms and all of the Attachments (listed on p. 3 of the application), including three copies of a 15-minute DVD or VHS videotape. Applicants also must sign a statement of commitment that, if named a Davidson Fellow, the applicant and a parent or guardian will attend the award reception in Washington, D.C.
Q. What is the deadline for the 2008 Davidson Fellows Scholarship applications?
There are two deadlines for the Davidson Fellows Scholarships, depending on the category in which you are applying. Please visit the Davidson Fellows How to Apply page for details.
Q. Where do I submit my complete Davidson Fellows application?
We recommend that you use a delivery company that will allow you to track your application submission and confirm its delivery. The Davidson Institute will NOT be able to immediately confirm receipt of your submission. All confirmations will be sent via email. Send your application to:
Davidson Institute for Talent Development
Attn: Davidson Fellows Applications
9665 Gateway Drive, Suite B
Reno, Nevada 89521
phone - 775-852-3483 ext. 423
Q. May I fax or email my application?
No.
Q. What is a computer model as stated on the Science, Mathematics, Technology and Outside the Box applications?
The computer model can be as individual as each project in these categories. If the best way to illustrate your project--including your research and your findings--is through a computer model, then your project will dictate how you present your findings on the computer. Presenting findings with photos, diagrams, illustrations and/or a PowerPoint presentation can serve as your computer model. We suggest asking your mentor or supervising scientist to advise you on how best to present your project using a computer model.
Q. Does the application have to be typed?
The application form itself does not have to be typed, but we ask that you write legibly, especially if email addresses contain any numbers (#1 vs. the letter l, the number 0 versus the letter O), underlines or hyphens. All attachments specified in the application must be typed on separate pages and labeled according to specifications in the application.
Q. Does the work submitted as part of a Davidson Fellows application belong to the Davidson Institute?
Applications become the property of the Davidson Institute and no materials will be returned to the applicants. Any intellectual property contained within the Davidson Fellows applications remains the property of the applicant.
Q. Do I have to follow the exact instructions on the Davidson Fellows application?
Applicants must follow the stated directions. The instructions have been developed by past judges and are designed to allow the applicant the best opportunity to demonstrate his or her work. Failure to follow directions may result in disqualification.
Q. Can I apply in more than one category?
No. Applicants may apply in only one category. The categories are: Science, Technology, Mathematics, Music, Literature, Philosophy and Outside the Box. The Outside the Box category is defined as a project that is university graduate level work or comparable, and completed with the supervision of an expert or experts.
Q. Is it possible for applicants to submit three copies of a DVD instead of a VHS videotape?
Yes. Applicants may submit three copies of a DVD as long as the discs are clearly marked and all copies will play in both computer and home model DVD players. No other tape formats are accepted and failure to submit three copies of a VHS videotape or DVD will result in disqualification.
Projects/Significant Piece of Work
Q. What is a significant piece of work as defined by the Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
To qualify for consideration as a Davidson Fellow, an applicant must contribute a work that is recognized as an outstanding accomplishment by experts in the field and has the potential to benefit society. A qualified work may be an exceptionally creative application of existing knowledge; a new idea with high impact; a unique application; an innovative solution with broad-range implications; an important advancement that can be replicated and built upon; an interdisciplinary discovery with the potential to effect positive change; or other demonstration of extraordinary accomplishment.
Q. Is a community service project acceptable work for a Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
No. At this time the Davidson Fellows Program categories for submission do not include community service projects. You may want to investigate the Presidential Freedom Scholarship or visit the scholarship website, www.FastWeb.com. Another web page you may want to visit is the USA Weekend - Make a Difference website if your project is volunteer work.
Q. What is the Outside the Box category for the Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
The Outside the Box category is defined as a project that is university graduate level work or comparable, and completed with the supervision of an expert or experts.
Q. Is an athletic accomplishment acceptable work for a Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
No. At this time the Davidson Fellows Program categories for submission do not include athletic accomplishments.
Q. Are dance, drama/performance art, photography, painting, film, fine arts or visual arts eligible to be considered for a Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
No. At this time the Davidson Fellows Program categories for submission do not include dance, drama/performance art, film, photography, fine arts or visual arts. You may want to investigate the New York Foundation for the Arts free national database of funding sources for artists.
Q. If my work has already won national or state recognition in another competition, or has been published, may I still use it to apply for a Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
Yes. In fact, you may want to mention previous awards or publications relating to your Davidson Fellows project as part of the Attachments content (p. 3 of the application).
Nominators
Q. Are all three nominators required and may one person serve as two of my nominators?
All three nominators are required and must be three different individuals. You may not have one person serve as two nominators. Family members may NOT serve as nominators. The nominators must be:
- Mentor/Supervising Scientist
- Professional in the field
- Teacher/Tutor/School Administrator
Q. What if I have three teachers serve as my nominators?
It is required that the nominators fit the specified categories.
Q. How can I find a professional in the field to serve as my nominator?
You can find professionals in your field by contacting local college or university professors or by contacting your local Better Business Bureau. We suggest that if you share your project with a professional with whom you do not have a personal relationship that you consider consulting an attorney for advice about protecting your intellectual property.
Selection
Q. What is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship selection based upon?
The selection of Davidson Fellows is based on the following:
- The scope and quality of the work submitted;
- The level of significance of the work submitted, as deemed by experts in the domain area (or a related domain area);
- The applicant’s depth of knowledge and understanding of the work and the related domain area.
Q. What is the selection process for Davidson Fellows Scholarship applicants?
Each application is examined for completeness and accuracy. Qualified entries are sorted and evaluated by category and reviewed by an independent team of judges comprised of professionals with expertise in related domain areas. The judges may, at their sole discretion, consult with additional experts to assist in evaluating the merits of any of the submissions. Based on the criteria specified, the independent team of judges selects the most extraordinary applicants to be named Davidson Fellows and determines the level of scholarship to be awarded: $50,000, $25,000 or $10,000. All applicants are notified on or before July 15 each year.
Q. What is the Honorable Mention recognition?
The Davidson Fellows Honorable Mention is intended to recognize applicants who have displayed notable potential in their field of study and strongly encourage them to continue pursuing their efforts and talents. Not every applicant receives an Honorable Mention; they are featured on the Davidson Institute's website.
Scholarship Restrictions
Q. Are there restrictions on the Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
Each scholarship may be used only for qualified tuition and related expenses, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code §117(b) and related regulations. The Davidson Institute shall determine the time and conditions of payment of scholarships at its sole discretion. The Davidson Institute may specify the documentation required to assure the Davidson Institute that the recipient is following an appropriate course of study. If the recipient withdraws from school or the recipient's progress is unsatisfactory, and the recipient makes no alternate arrangements to pursue courses at the same or another educational institution, then, at its sole discretion, the Davidson Institute may terminate the scholarship. Scholarship money will be available for 10 years from the date of the award. After 10 years, unused monies will be forfeited.
Q. Is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship applicable at any school, college or university? Is there a list of certain schools that accept this award?
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship must be used to further the recipient's education through attendance at an accredited institution of learning. The list of accredited institutions can be found at the Regional Accreditation Board based on the school's geographic area. The six regions are:
- MSA-Middle States Association
- NASC-Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges
- NCA-North Central Association of Colleges & Schools
- NEASC-New England Association of Schools & Colleges
- SACS-Southern Association of Colleges & Schools
- WASC-Western Association of Schools & Colleges
Q. Do scholarship recipients have to major in the same subject category in which they applied for the Davidson Fellows Scholarship?
No. Applicants can major in any field of study.
Future Davidson Fellows
Q. Is the Davidson Fellows Scholarship Program offered annually?
Yes.
Q. Can I apply for the Davidson Fellows Scholarship more than once?
Applicants who are not named as Davidson Fellows may reapply, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and submit a different or expanded significant piece of work for judging. Individuals who have been named Davidson Fellows are not eligible to reapply.