THE JAMES RANDI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION – CRITICAL THINKING SCHOLARSHIPS – 2009
The James Randi Educational Foundation
Critical Thinking Scholarship,2009-2010
Introduction
The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), will award up to $10,000 in academic scholarships this fall. The scholarships, in amounts of $5000, $2500, $1500, and $1000, may be awarded to deserving students in potentially any field of study, at the graduate or undergraduate level. A committee composed of a physicist, a social scientist, a physician, and a very senior member of the staff of Scientific American magazine will select the winners, with the awards being announced onor about September 1, 2009.
Criteria
The criteria for awarding the scholarships will include the applicant’s academic potential, background, and most importantly, their plan for building critical thinking skills into their chosen field of study, reflecting the goals and values of the James Randi Educational Foundation.
The James Randi Educational Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1996. Its aim is to promote critical thinking by reaching out to the public and media with reliable informationabout paranormal and supernatural ideas so widespread in our society today. Persons interested in applying for the scholarships should download and completely fill out an application located on the JREF website at this link.
Application
- Each applicant must complete the application form, a transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from your college or university, or High School (if not yet in college), as well as scores on SAT, ACT, AP, LSAT, MCAT or other placement tests.
- International applicants, or others without standardized test scores, should include as much information as possible in their applications about their academic records. Applicants will NOT be disqualified simply because they do not have current exam scores for such tests
- Applicants with academic transcripts and/or records from schools that do not use the US-standard A-F (4.0 – 0.0) scoring system must include an explanation of how their school’s particular grading system works. Explain clearly how your scores relate to the possible range of scores your school awards. For example, if you earned a grade of “E” for “excellent” please explain that clearly, as to a North American reviewer, the grade might be confused with a failing grade by the Scholarship Committee.
- Letters of recommendation are not required. If applicants wish to submit letters on their behalf, however, the letters should be sent directly from the writer, on appropriate letterhead, directly to the post office box noted below.
Please do NOT include additional materials beyond those stated. For example, do not include articles you have written, chapters from dissertations, etc.
Attach a typed, double-spaced essay (500 words maximum) clearly and directly addressing this
question:
How do you intend to apply critical thinking skills to your chosen area of study, and how does yourproposed study include the mission goals of the James Randi Educational Foundation?
Once completed, the application must be sent to:
JREF Scholarship Committee
Attn: Dr. Raymond Hall
Department of PhysicsCalifornia State University, Fresno
2345 E. San Ramon Ave. M/S MH 037
Fresno, CA 93740-8031
Applications must be received in hard copy form at the above address to be considered. Specific questions can be sent to the Scholarship Committee Chair, Dr. Raymond Hall.
Deadline
All applications MUST be received by August 1 2009.
Source http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-scholarships.html
