2009-10 Mills Request for Proposals

Throughout the past three decades, Mills Scholarships have been awarded by the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) with funds endowed by Mills Cox, former chair of the Texas Water Development Board. These scholarships help to fund graduate students in diverse disciplines pursuing research in water-related studies at Texas A&M University.

Mills Scholarships are an excellent opportunity for conducting research beneficial to the future of the state while attracting high-quality graduate students to your department. TWRI asks your department to encourage graduate students to apply. We anticipate funding approximately 15 students this year. Each one-year scholarship will be for $1,500, payable at the beginning of the 2009-10 academic year.

Students selected for these scholarships will be eligible to waive out-of-state tuition, which could be helpful in attracting promising graduate students. The intent of this permanently endowed fund is to help support scholarships for graduate students with demonstrated interest in fields of study that have the potential to help Texas solve future water problems.

Each student or faculty/graduate advisor should submit a two-page application, designating the research subject and its importance to Texas, the financial benefit to the student, the student’s qualifications, and name of faculty advisor, along with an endorsement letter from the department head or faculty member.

Students awarded scholarships will be asked to cooperate with TWRI in publicizing their research (photos, articles, etc.) and will be asked to submit a progress report to TWRI at the completion of the scholarship.

The deadline for the application is June 18, 2009, and awards will be announced by July 17, 2009.

For additional information on the Mills Scholarship program, contact Cecilia Wagner at 979.458.1138 or cecilia@tamu.edu.

Application Form

Your proposal to the TWRI Mills Scholarship Program will include an application package and a letter of recommendation. This information is due to TWRI by June 18, 2009.

Application Package: The application package must be e-mailed as an electronic document (Microsoft Word) to Cecilia Wagner. The application package is limited to 2 pages (this does not include the letter of recommendation – item 8). The application package must include items 1 through 7. Application Package information beyond 2 pages will not be considered in the review process.

  1. Name of Student and TAMU Student ID Number.
  2. Contact Information (Address, E-mail and Phone number) for the Student.
  3. Name and Contact Information (Address, E-mail and Phone number) for Faculty Advisor or Committee Chair.
  4. Description of the student’s proposed research, emphasizing how it will address a water resources-related concern (particularly how, if possible, it will benefit Texas).
  5. Academic Qualifications of the Student, including undergraduate and graduate GPR, GRE scores, courses taken and grades. A transcript is not required, rather a simple relative course listing is adequate.
  6. Proposed use of funds resulting from this Scholarship (for example, to pay tuition, conduct research, etc.). There are no matching requirements for TWRI Mills Scholarships.
  7. Intended career path the student anticipates pursuing.

Letter of Recommendation:

  1. The signed letter of recommendation on letterhead from a TAMU faculty advisor or chair must be submitted by fax, email or hand delivered to TWRI. Please send it to the attention of Cecilia Wagner. Fax to (979) 845-8554, e-mail to cecilia@tamu.edu or hand deliver to 1500 Research Parkway, Centeq Building, Suite 240A.