Awards and Grants Applications

MESTA sponsored awards and grants are made available to Michigan educators for the purpose of expanding Earth Science education or resources (note: members of the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) are also available for a Stoney Grant).  Continue reading to learn what we offer our members.

1.  Art Weinle Heart of MESTA Award  

This award is bestowed to a MESTA member who has 15 or more years of service to MESTA and the teaching of Earth and Space Sciences related courses.  Named for the long-time MESTA Board member Art Weinle, this is MESTA's highest award.  Art taught (Earth Science and Geology) at Grosse Pointe North High School for over 30 years.  After that, Art taught as an adjunct instructor for some community colleges in the area for years.  A long time member of MESTA, Art served as President, Membership Director, and was also in charge of our Rock Shop.

2.  Cranson Field Scholarship Award  

This award was established to support travel expenses for pre-service, K-12, and informal educators who are teaching Earth and Space Science content, and would like to participate in an Earth and Space Science related field study workshop or class (in the topics of astronomy, geology, meteorology, and oceanography).  Preference will be given to educators within their first five years of teaching Earth and Space Science content.  The award is named for Rod Cranson, a founding father of MESTA who helped to organize the first MESTA summer field conference.  Transportation expenses (airfare, car rental, etc.), lodging, and meals are covered by this award.  This award may NOT be applied toward tuition, credits, or associated college fees.  The amount of this award is up to $1000 per recipient.  Applications for this award are reviewed on a competitive basis.  The review committee is comprised of members of MESTA.  Persons selected to receive this award are required to either present a session at an Earth and Space Science conference, or submit an article to The Michigan Earth Scientist MESTA journal.  Applications are accepted throughout the year. 

You can download the application form here ===>  Cranson_Award_Application_Form_0.pdf

Questions about this award?  Contact Kevin Dehne at ktdehne@delta.edu

3.  Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award (OESTA)

This is an annual award presented to an individual Earth and Space Science educator who has been nominated by a MESTA member.  The winner of this reward receives $500 and a plaque.  The nomination deadline for this award is July 1.  You can download the nomination form here ===>  OESTA_Form_0.pdf

Questions about this award?  Contact Andrea Williams at andrea.williams@wbsd.org

4.  Stoney Grants  

The purpose of this grant is to support innovative student-centered Earth and Space Science ideas in traditional K-12 classrooms, as well as other education settings.  Informal educators include museum and nature center staff as well as college and university faculty are invited to apply for this grant.  Stoney grants are given to as many as nine Michigan educators (MESTA members) and one National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) member educator each year.  Grant applications are reviewed and awarded on a competitive basis.  Applications need to be geared to those activities not currently supported by existing funds, or which are not part of a school district's responsibility.  Stipends and transportation costs will not be funded.  Additionally, museum trips and planetarium visits will not be considered.  Ideally, the money will be used for something that, once purchased, can be used in an ongoing fashion from year to year.  Support will also be considered for programs that support student field experiences that provide an authentic and immersive experience with opportunities to record observations and data, and to collect specimens, when appropriate.  Funds requested may not exceed $500 and must be expended within the school year the application was approved - instructions for record keeping and reporting will accompany the check.  Approved grant applicants are responsible for submitting a final progress and expense report packet back to MESTA.  This grant is named for Harold Stonehouse, a member of MESTA, and the founder of NESTA.

Michigan (MESTA member) resident guidelines:

Grant applications must have educational content that promotes Earth and Space Science and must include Michigan Science Standards (MSS) that best fit your proposed project.  The MSS can be accessed at this link: https://bit.ly/2Xfe6CC. Grant awardees are expected to share the outcome of their project with other educators by either writing an article about their project for The Michigan Earth Scientist (MESTA journal) or The Earth Scientist (NESTA journal) OR by making a presentation about your project at a conference of MESTA, the Metro Detroit Science Teachers Association (MDSTA), or the Michigan Science Teachers Association (MSTA).

Non-Michigan (NESTA member) guidelines:

Grant applications must have educational content that promotes Earth and Space Science and must include National Science Standards that best fit your proposed project.  Grant awardees are expected to share the outcome of their project with other educators by either writing an article about their project for The Michigan Earth Scientist (MESTA journal) or The Earth Scientist (NESTA journal) OR by making a presentation about your project at a state or a national science teachers conference.

You can access the Michigan K-12 educator application form here ==>  K12 Stoney Grant Application. 

You can access the Michigan post-secondary/informal educator application form here ==> Post Secondary/Informal Educator Stoney Grant Application

You can access the National Earth Science Teachers Association  educator application form here ==>  NESTA Stoney Award Application

Questions about these grants?  Contact Peter Voice at peter.voice@wmich.edu

5.  Charles Anthony Salotti Earth Science Education Award  

This award is in recognition of excellence in informal Earth Science education and mentoring and is sponsored by A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum at Michigan Technological University.  This award is named for Dr. Charles A. Salotti who devoted his efforts to the development of the mining industry and especially to the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum.  The amount of this award is $500.  In addition to the money, the awardee will receive a lifetime membership to the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum.  Current and past Michigan educators (secondary schools, college, and university) and professional museum staff in the broad area of Earth Science who have demonstrated excellence in informal education (field trips, field based explorations/projects, creation of exhibitions, museum based exploration/projects, weekend workshops, or extramural clubs) and/or mentoring (students and/or teachers) are eligible for this award.  If you want to recognize someone for mentoring, the application must cite specific examples of the impact this teacher has had on students or other teachers. 

You can download the nomination form here ==> Salotti_Nomination_Form_0.pdf

          Questions about this award?  Contact Chuck Schepke at schepkec@gmail.com

6.  Cranson Student Scholarship Award  

          This scholarship supports participation in fieldwork or field courses for students in the Earth
          Sciences. The individuals supported are college students majoring in the Earth Sciences,
          including Geology, Environmental Science, Astronomy, Meteorology and Climatology or majors
          leading to careers in Earth Science education or integrated science education. The monetary
          award is up to $1,000 per recipient.

          Support for fieldwork or field courses includes any expenses that the student may acquire.
          These may include transportation costs to the field, lodging, meals, and any costs for field work
          materials. The scholarship may be used to cover tuition and course fees. This scholarship is
          named in honor of Rod Cranson, the founding father of the Michigan Earth Science Teachers
          Association. It is most appropriate because Rod firmly believed in the importance of fieldwork
          for students in the Earth Sciences. This scholarship was established with a donation from
          Sharon Cranson and the Cranson family in addition to support from MESTA.

          Application Process:

          The application is available online and may be submitted year-round. Additional information
          and requirements are outlined on the application. After submission, each application will be
          reviewed by a committee of MESTA Board Members with final approval by the Board. Up to
          five scholarships will be awarded each school calendar year.

          To download the application click here.
          If you have additional questions contact Kevin Dehne (ktdehne@delta.edu)