USAS is proud to support ongoing scholarship in the field of aquaculture research through student awards. These awards acknowledge excellence across a broad array of subject areas and projects, including abstracts, aquatic equipment, videos, papers, and oral presentations.

In partnership with USAS, many of these awards are underwritten by the generosity of corporate, private, and educational sponsorships. You will find the most recent award winners here with past awardees here.

There are two types of awards: travel awards and presentation awards.

• Travel awards are intended to provide support for students to attend and present at the conference. These awards are awarded based on the abstract and the particular criteria for any of the different travel awards. Recipients of travel awards are notified prior to the conference.

• Presentation awards are intended to recognize and reward students for their oral and/or poster presentations and are judged at the conference based on a standard rubric provided to the judges. Recipients of presentation awards are notified after the conference, once the judges have had an opportunity to confer.

BECOME A STUDENT MEMBER OF USAS

SUBMIT A STUDENT ABSTRACT FOR OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE

STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS

USAS BEST ABSTRACT TRAVEL AWARDS

The USAS Best Abstract/Travel Award helps support conference travel expenses for deserving USAS student members making a presentation at the USAS annual conference. Student Abstracts are judged on the following criteria: Accuracy and conciseness of title, format, organization, innovativeness of the study, scientific value, broad interest to the aquaculture community, and ability to be understood by those not in the same specific field.

Unless specifically noted, you must be a current USAS student member when you submit an abstract to be eligible for these awards.

Three winners will be awarded: a check in the amount of $600, registration reimbursement (a $270 value), and a certificate of recognition. The top three will be given the opportunity to present a summary of their work at the meeting (typically in the plenary session) to compete for the Spotlight Awards (see Presentation Awards below).

• 2024 Awardees

  • First Place, John Canto, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

  • Second Place, Chaya Gaberria, Washington State University

  • Third Place, Heather King, Auburn University

  • Honorable Mentions, Kara Chuang, University of Maine; Ron Hans, Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium

USAS STUDENT SUB-UNIT TRAVEL AWARDS

To support the USAS Student Sub-Units, USAS provides one complimentary registration to each sub-unit, which select an awardee based on their own criteria.

• 2024 Awardees

  • Auburn University Student Sub-Unit, Adela Araujo

  • The College of the Florida Keys Aquaculture Society, Daniel Widell

  • Kentucky State University, Ashton Schardt

  • Lake Superior State University, Anissa Overly

  • University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Michele Thompson

  • University of Florida, Olivia Markham

  • Virginia Institute of Marine Science Aquaculture Collective, Katherine G. Whittle

USAS/AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY-FISH CULTURE SECTION BEST STUDENT ABSTRACT AWARD

This award is designed to help support conference travel expenses for a deserving USAS/joint AFS-FCS student member presenting at the conference. A winner is awarded $800 and registration reimbursement. To be eligible for this award you must be both a current USAS and FCS student member when you submit an abstract.

• 2024 Winner, Olivia Markham, University of Florida

SOY AQUACULTURE ALLIANCE, GEORGE MARTIN MEMORIAL AWARD

This award supports conference travel expenses for a deserving USAS student member presenting a paper related to innovation in aquaculture at the conference. Students will be judged based on their essay and the research reflected in their abstract. Students with innovative technology or nutrition-oriented projects are strongly urged to apply.

To be eligible for this award student must be a current USAS student member when abstract is submitted. A completed application must be sent to the current Vice President (see current officers here). Recipient MUST attend the Student Reception at the annual conference in order to receive the award.

Winner will be awarded a check for the amount of $1,000, registration reimbursement ($270 value), and a certificate of recognition. Application forms will be posted here when available prior to the annual conference.

• 2024 Winner, Blaine A. Suehs, Texas A&M University

AQUATIC EQUIPMENT AND DESIGN, INC. TRAVEL AWARD

This award supports conference travel expenses for a deserving USAS graduate student member presenting research conducted in recirculating aquaculture systems. Students will be judged based on their essay and the research reflected in their abstract. Students with innovative technology or nutrition-oriented projects are strongly urged to apply.

To be eligible for this award, student must be a current USAS student member when abstract is submitted. A completed application must be sent to the current Vice President (see current officers here). Recipient MUST attend the Aquaculture America 2024 Student Reception in order to receive the award. Recipient MUST attend the Student Reception at the annual conference in order to receive the award.

Winner will be awarded a check for the amount of $1,500, registration reimbursement ($270 value), and a certificate of recognition. Application forms will be posted here when available prior to the annual conference.

• Application:

  • Name

  • Mail and email address and phone number

  • Graduate university attending

  • Support letter from university professor and their contact info

  • A copy of abstract for annual conference

  • A 500 word essay on the role of RAS systems in aquaculture

  • Additional required forms (posted here when available prior to the annual conference)

• 2024 Winner, Tahera Attarwala, Delaware State University

STUDENT PRESENTATION AWARDS

USAS BEST ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS

The USAS Best Presentation AwardS are given to recognize USAS student members for excellence in presentation at the annual conference. Student members of USAS giving oral and poster presentations will be eligible for the Best Oral Presentation (one $1000 first place award, one $800 second place award, and one $500 third place award, and fourth place award as a honorarium for free registration) and Best Poster Presentation (one $1000 first place award, one $800 second place award, and one $500 third place award, and fourth place award as a honorarium for free registration) Awards.

Students will be judged during the conference and winners will be announced after the conference. To be eligible for this award you must be a current USAS student member when you submit an abstract. Presentations are judged on the following criteria: Scientific and research value, management and application potential, scope, oral presentation of study and results, audio-visual presentation, clarity and conciseness, accuracy of title, stimulation of intelligent discussion and handling of questions.

2024 Oral Presentation Awardees

2024 Poster Presentation Awardees

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT AWARDS

USAS Best Abstract Travel awardees who give a short 5-minute (8 slide) version of the student's 15-minute oral presentation to a wider audience during the conference (usually at the plenary session) are eligible for the Spotlight Award. The presentations are evaluated on scientific value, scope, clarity and conciseness, and the abstract and title. First, second, and third places are awarded monetary prizes of $500, $200 and $200, respectively.

• 2024 Awardees

  • First Place, Heather King, Auburn University

  • Second Place, John Canto, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

  • Third Place, Chaya Gaberria, Washington State University

NOAA SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM BEST STUDENT PAPER AWARD