As described by the school's Web site, the Alpha Delta Phi awards are "designed to support senior essay writing, special topics and other comparable independent projects." The awards also grant preferential consideration to students of literature, creative writing, theater, dance and film. David P. Patchel Memorial Fund awards are endowed more specifically and are dedicated to the support of projects "having to do with the moving image," but they may include written work and production projects.
Beyond the constraints of such qualifications, however, the grants exist to support as wide a range of activities as students might devise. These activities can range from the purchase of books, to the rental of equipment, to international travel, to the offset of interview costs.
When asked about their motivation to apply for the grants, most students explained simply that the funds represented the most viable source of aid. "I applied for the [Alpha Delta Phi] award because it was the award with the largest grants possible," said black studies major Hanna Lee '06, who hopes to conduct field research on pre- and post-apartheid education in Cape Town, South Africa. "It was a huge relief finding out that I received the money to go to South Africa. I knew if I didn't go, I would have a significant portion of my thesis missing, resulting in a weaker and less convincing thesis," said.
Many students qualified their search for aid by noting that academic departments seldom possess the resources required for such financial support. Alexandra Hadley '06, whose honors thesis concerns the rising influence of conservative Asian American voting blocs, explained, "I applied specifically for the Alpha Delta Phi award because there are no other large grant monies available to seniors writing theses in the American studies department. The department itself has very limited funding available for things like photocopies."
Timothy Hahn '06, the aspiring director of a production of Anna Deveare Smith's "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992" agreed. "The department provides money for the set, costumes and publicity," he said. "But I knew early on that I could use some extra grant money for the video work I would be doing with the play."
Though both awards are intended primarily for endeavors in the humanities and social sciences, both funds will support senior projects and theses that are as diverse as they are numerous. Among this year's recipients are: Adam Lewkowitz '06, who intends to use his grant to travel to Phoenix and interview immigrants regarding racial stigma and its affect on assimilation; Scott Niichel '06, whose thesis on avant-garde artist Natalia Goncharova and her representation of the Russian peasantry will bring him to St. Petersburg and Moscow where he hopes to study the works in person; and fine arts major Mia Anderson '06, who will use the funds to subsidize the cost of materials required for her thesis in oil painting.
Other recipients include: Martina Meijer '06, who requested funds in support of her investigation of globalization; Rebecca Blum '06, whose thesis concerns "a series of site-specific on-campus installations involving sculpture and sound;" and Michael Kohl '06, who plans to hire a core of professional musicians to perform his thesis in jazz composition.
As vital to their endeavors as the awards may have been, students commented that they felt entirely at ease with the application process and that this was simply another step towards the fulfillment of their theses. Anderson was among many students who indicated that the Alpha Delta Phi and David P. Patchel awards were practically commonplace. "I wasn't aware that the award was as big of a deal as it seems. I was simply applying for funding for my thesis," she said.
Extending this sentiment to the whole of the College's various aid outlets-which include a myriad of other awards such as the Nicholas Curtis Heaney Memorial Fund, Doelling Undergraduate Research Fund, The Linden Fund and the Wolansky Family Research Fund-Kohl noted that the school's facilitation of student projects is hardly a rarity. "I was pleased to be granted the full $1,000 that I requested, but I must admit that I wasn't surprised," he said. "I've always found Amherst to be helpful to students in this kind of need. It worked and I'm glad ... Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to composing."
Likewise, Daniel Tsang '06, who is currently studying the Chinese student-worker movement in France in the 1920's, was appreciative of Amherst's having "taken an interest in [his] project."
Hadley agreed with Tsang's sentiment. "The award is also a show of support for my particular project, which is greatly appreciated and even reassuring," she said.
President Anthony Marx cited the grants as indicative of the College's commitment to its students. "Obviously lots of students are doing amazing research already, and we're supporting that in various ways," said Marx. "We're interested in students' ideas about how we can encourage or enable their experience. You can do research here independently or with a faculty member that simply isn't possible elsewhere, and that's a great strength of Amherst."
The funds provided by the committee were much appreciated. A major in American studies and history, Ian Shin '06 plans to use his allotted funds to travel to Philadelphia this coming Thanksgiving break in order to investigate race's effect on the formation of Chinese museum dioramas between 1797 and 1842.
Shin also noted that the awards provide a great source of help for students. "The budget was really beyond my means," said Shin. "I think it's wonderful that the school provides monetary support for independent and senior thesis projects because it allows every student at Amherst to really pursue their academic passions."
Lewkowitz echoed Shin's sentiment, stating that the award eased concerns about costs. "Alpha Delta Phi was a way to write my thesis without going broke in the process," he said.
For seniors in need of such financial assistance, the application process is simple. Students need only submit a written exposition of their project, grant and budget proposals, a contract in guarantee of personal accountability and a letter of support from one's advisor. As award recipient Meijer observed, "If you apply with a detailed and punctual proposal, the College is quite generous."
The Alpha Delta Phi and David P. Patchel funds accept grant applications twice a year. Applicants for fall 2005 had to submit requests by Oct. 3. Students interested in apply for spring may apply by this upcoming Feb. 1.