Applications for Davis-Bahcall Scholarship, summer science program now open

High school seniors and college freshmen can now apply for Davis-Bahcall Scholarships and the chance to study next summer at the Sanford Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory in Lead, Princeton University in New Jersey, and overseas if funding allows.

Applications are available on the South Dakota Department of Education’s website. Up to 12 South Dakota students will receive scholarships. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2013.

Select students will be invited to interview for the program at various locations in the state, and recipients will be announced by early March. Davis-Bahcall Scholarship recipients spend one month in the summer studying fields such as physics, engineering and geology, learning from distinguished professors from around the world.

In addition to the one-month summer study, scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to apply for pre-selected summer internships.

To be eligible for the scholarships, high school seniors or college freshmen must attend public or private high schools or postsecondary institutions in South Dakota. Home-school students also are eligible. Students must have a demonstrated interest in science and intend to pursue advanced degrees in math, science, engineering or technology.

The scholarships, which are funded by the 3M company and the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium, are named for renowned physicists Dr. Ray Davis and Dr. John Bahcall.

Contact the Department of Education’s Sam Shaw with any questions.