Diversity Travel Awards for Students

The California Geographical Society invites students to apply for a travel award to assist in the cost of attending the Annual Conference. The travel awards provide a minimum of $50 (up to $100 depending on the number of awards given) to recipients to offset costs associated with attending the annual meeting. The award provides an opportunity for a student to gain experience from attending a statewide conference.  It is not necessary that the student present a paper or poster at the conference, though it is certainly encouraged!  

The Diversity Student Travel Grant:

The CGS is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion within the discipline and our organization, and is pleased to announce travel grants for historically underrepresented students to aid with travel expenses associated with attending the Annual Conference.  This grant aims to support undergraduate and graduate students from a diverse background such as first generation, veterans, and/or students of color, among others. 

To apply for the Diversity Student Travel Award, by April 10 please submit the following information to Dr. Michael Pretes via email at mjpretes@una.edu:

1) A brief paragraph describing your experience as a historically underrepresented student

2) A copy of your completed conference registration form (screenshots are fine)

3) Your name, email, and institution

4) Contact information (Name and email) of a geography instructor who can verify enrollment*. 

We do ask that all grant recipients share their experience at the conference by submitting a short reflection piece on their conference experience, to be included in the CGS Bulletin and/or the CGS website. This is expected to be emailed two weeks after the conference to Dr. Ryan Miller at rgmiller@calpoly.edu.

Complete application packets must be emailed on or before April 10, 2025 and should be sent to: Dr. Michael Pretes via email at mjpretes@una.edu

*Please note that the ‘reference’ geography instructor can verify that the student is in a current geography course in either an email or by a signature on the student’s paragraph statement outlining their interest in geography.