The Annual Rusty Simonds Award                                                 DEADLINE: JUNE 1 2009

Arthur P. (Rusty) Simonds, a member of the Political Science Department for over thirty years, was an inspiration and a beloved figure to many in the UMB community. To honor his memory, former colleagues, students, friends, and family established an endowed fund to support an annual award either to an outstanding UMB junior or senior who intends to pursue an advanced degree or, depending on the applicant pool, to an outstanding alumna or alumnus who intends to pursue an advanced degree or who is already in an advanced degree program. The amount of the Rusty Simonds Award for 2008-2009 is about $1100.00.

Eligibility: In addition to demonstrating a serious interest in political theory, history, or institutions, applicants must have completed a minimum of sixty credits -- ten of which must have been completed at UMB -- by June 2009. Applicants must also have completed at least two UMB Political Science courses by June 2009, although applicants from majors other than Political Science are invited to apply. Further, applicants who are current UMB students must be enrolled in at least three courses at UMB during the Spring 2009 semester.

Application Process: Students may be self-nominated, or they may be nominated by a UMB professor, staff member, or fellow student. Nominators other than the applicant should submit a short letter of recommendation after confirming that the applicant is willing to complete the application process.

Applicants themselves must provide:

1. A cover sheet with their name, student number, e-mail address, home or cell phone number, and home address.
2. An official copy of their current (including spring 2009 grades) UMB transcript and, if applicable, copies of transcripts from any colleges or universities they may have attended.
3. Their updated resume.
4. An application essay of 2-3 double-spaced pages (with regular margins and in 12-point font) describing their background, intellectual interests, community involvements or volunteer activities, career aspirations, and any other information they feel would be helpful to the selection committee. In their essay, applicants should be sure to explain the connection between their intellectual development, on the one hand, and their volunteer, civic, service, or political activities, on the other. The essay should enable the selection committee to understand what makes the applicant “tick.”

Deadline: All application materials for the Rusty Simonds Award must be submitted to Professor Maurice T. Cunningham W/5/69 no later than June 1, 2009.

Announcement of Award: The decision will be made by June 15, 2009. The recipient will be e-mailed, with a formal follow-up letter to be mailed later to her or his home address. For a winner who is a continuing UMB student, the award will be counted towards her or his Fall 2009 tuition bill; for a graduating senior or alumnus or alumna, a check will be sent directly to him or her by early September 2009.

For more information contact Prof. Maurice T. Cunningham at 617-287-6924 or maurice.cunningham@umb.edu