Honoring the legacy of America’s first female television meteorologist
The June Bacon-Bercey Scholarship in Atmospheric Sciences for Women supports women students with a demonstrated interest in atmospheric sciences and intersections with meteorology. Originally offered between 1978 and 1990 and reestablished through support from AGU’s community of donors, the family of June Bacon-Bercey, and AccuWeather, the scholarship recognizes outstanding accomplishments for a scientist at their career-stage.
CRITERIA AND REQUIREMENTS
The Atmospheric Sciences Section Award Committee endeavors to award the scholarship to the best candidate from the annual application pool based on the following criteria:
- Eligible candidates must identify as women and have intentions of pursuing a career in the atmospheric sciences and/or intersections with meteorology.
- Eligible candidates must identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC), or LGBTQ+, or as a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Active AGU membership is not a requirement and applicants do not have to hold primary membership in AGU’s Atmospheric Sciences Section but must be engaged in the study of atmospheric sciences and/or intersections with meteorology.
- Eligible candidates must be pursuing a degree related to atmospheric sciences and/or intersections with meteorology and currently enrolled as:
- a first-year graduate student in a program leading to an advanced degree in the atmospheric sciences and/or intersections with meteorology,
- an undergraduate in a bachelor’s program leading to a degree in the atmospheric sciences and has been accepted for graduate study in the field, or
- a student at a 2-year institution and has been accepted into a bachelor’s degree program in the atmospheric sciences.
DISBURSEMENTS DETAILS
One $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually. The Scholarship is intended to relieve the financial burden associated with studies, including but not limited to, tuition, books and supplies, and living expenses. In addition to the cash award, the winner receives an award certificate at the Atmospheric Sciences Section reception during the Fall Meeting and is recognized in Eos magazine.
At the close of their scholarship year, recipients must submit a one-page report on the impact of their scholarship to AGU’s Student Grants and Scholarship Coordinator. The report is shared with the Atmospheric Sciences Section President and Council.
In addition to the monetary prize, recipients also receive the following provided by AccuWeather:
- equipment (such as a laptop computer)
- the opportunity for networking and mentorship with an AccuWeather employee appropriate for the recipient’s field and career direction. This networking and mentorship will be administered via AGU’s existing mentoring platform Mentoring365.