I am writing to inform you of the Kendall-Rives Latin American Research Grant. This grant makes approximately $2,000 each year available to one or more Wooster sophomores or juniors to support a research project on some aspect of United States-Latin American Relations. Funds are to be used during the current academic year. Research projects must be conducted in a Latin American country in preparation for, or as part of, a senior Independent Study project. Projects may be conducted either under the auspices of an accredited academic program or independently without academic credit, but they must be approved in advance by the Dean of the Faculty.

Grants are awarded to academically outstanding Wooster students regardless of their major. Awards will be made by the Vice President for Academic Affairs on the advice of the student’s adviser and the Kendall-Rives Committee according to the following criteria:

1. The student’s academic achievements;

2. The student’s demonstrated ability to converse in either Spanish or Portuguese, defined minimally as having satisfactorily completed at least two years of college-level language study or its equivalent;

3. The quality of the student’s research proposal; and

4. The recommendation of both the student’s adviser and the Kendall-Rives Committee.

The award is made on the basis of merit rather than financial need. If the student receives financial aid from the College and if academic credits are earned for the work completed, this grant will be considered as an outside resource and therefore included in the calculation of the College’s financial aid award to meet financial need.

Successful applicants will be required to submit a report on their use of the funds and progress made on their projects. The report will be shared with the donors and will become a part of the College’s Kendall-Rives file.

If you are interested in learning more about the Kendall-Rives Latin American Research Grant, please contact Professor Mary Addis, Chair of the Kendall-Rives Committee. Applicants must submit to Professor Addis a detailed research proposal and a letter of recommendation from their academic adviser. The Kendall-Rives Committee consists of Mary Addis, Chair (Department of Spanish), Katie Holt (Department of History), and David McConnell (Department of Sociology and Anthropology).

The deadline for applications is Friday, October 28, 2005; candidates will be notified by Tuesday, December 1, 2005.