The Rural Policy Research Institute established the Ted Bradshaw Fund to Support Student Engagement in CDS in 2007 to honor the memory of Ted Bradshaw and to provide support for undergraduate or graduate students for two purposes: (1) to travel to the CDS annual conference to present research; and/or, (2) to support community-based research. A recipient may receive only one award per degree. For example, a student may apply for the grant as an MS/MA student and again as a Ph.D. student/candidate. 

Travel award recipients must be undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing who have been accepted to present community-based research at the CDS annual conference.

Community-based research award recipients must be approved by their academic institution to conduct a community-based research project.

Application Criteria

Recommendations:  An award may be given for one of two purposes:

• • To provide travel support for undergraduate or graduate students who wish to participate in the CDS Annual Conference, with priority to students who present a paper or workshop at the conference; and, 

• • To provide a research award to students who present high caliber papers/workshops at the CDS conference.

Criteria: Awardsfrom the Ted Bradshaw Fund will at a minimum need to meet the following criteria: 

1. 1. Applicant is matriculating in a community development or related curriculum at an accredited college or university with undergraduate or graduate status; 

1. 1. Applicant can demonstrate a Grade Point Average of 3.0 minimum; 

1. 1. Applicant provides evidence of planned involvement in the CDS Annual Conference as supported by: 

1. 1. a letter of endorsement from a faculty member who can verify the applicant’s status and plans for involvement at the Conference; and, 

1. 1. the applicant’s commitment to participate in the entire Conference. 

4.   Applicant is expected to be or become a member of CDS in order to receive the award. 

An award recipient may only receive one award per degree. For example, a student may apply for the award as an undergraduate and again as a graduate student; OR An applicant may receive a scholarship only one time. 

Applicants will be judged on the degree to which the characteristics of the applicant and their work most reflect the legacy of Ted Bradshaw: 

• • Innovation:  where the paper or workshop focuses on truly innovative practice; 

• • Practice-driven research: the research involves working with communities and where the results will benefit communities;

• • High levels of intellectual curiosity: helping to push the CDS toward new ways of thinking about community development.

Eligible Activities: (a) travel award to support community development students who attend the CDS Annual Conference, with priority to students who present a paper or workshop at the conference; (b) a research award to students who present high caliber papers/workshops at the CDS conference. 

Past Recipients: