The William Grundy Haven Student Paper Competition in EMS

The aim of the competition is to encourage excellence in writing by students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The College is particularly interested in recognizing and rewarding those who strive to develop their ability to communicate well to an educated audience on subject matters that are of interest to the various departments and programs within the College. Winning papers may be showcased on the College website.

Entrance Requirements

• The student must be an undergraduate in good academic standing with at least 5th-semester standing in a major in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
  
• A faculty member in the College must sponsor the paper.

Paper Requirements

• The topic should be related to one of the disciplines represented in the College. Content should be readily understood by an intelligent reader with a limited background on the topic. Papers originally written from classes are eligible for the competition, although they should be rewritten per competition guidelines. Technical reports can be used as a basis for a paper, but need to be oriented towards a broad but educated audience.
  
• There should be a logical development on the paper's theme and a convincing overall argument.
• Information should be current and inclusive and sources must be appropriately cited.
  
• The paper should have the appearance of a professional product.
  
• Typed papers should be between 8 and 15 pages in length.

Submission Process

• The paper must be submitted to your department office on or before February 15.
  
• Include with your paper a separate sheet showing that you meet the entrance requirements listed above.
  
• Submissions will be ranked by faculty with each major. Up to three papers from each major then go to a general College committee for review and final judging.

Award Presentation

Awards will be presented at the College Wilson Awards Banquet in April.

First Place: $1000

Second Place: $750

Third Place: $500

Honorable Mention: $250

These award amounts are typical but not guaranteed.

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The William Grundy Haven Awards were established in 1950 by William A. Haven, '09, in memory of his son William Grundy Haven, who was a Penn State geology student when he volunteered for service in World War II. He was killed in action at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.