Jeff Swanagan Memorial Scholarship
DESCRIPTION
The late Jeff Swanagan was the Executive Director of the Columbus Zoo. His career was shaped by his experience as an educator, when he saw how deeply people were affected when they connected to the wonders of nature. Jeff had an unwavering belief that zoos and aquariums are about people as much as they are about animals. He knew that people visit zoos not just to see animals, but to spend time together. Jeff saw endless potential – both to touch the lives of people and to save the lives of animals. To capture this idea, he coined the phrase “touch the heart to teach the mind.” Simply getting people into the Zoo wasn’t enough – he wanted to inspire and engage them, to get them invested in each other, animals, and conservation. Jeff knew that without inspiring people, without touching their hearts, you cannot teach their minds nor hope to make the world a better place.
This scholarship is sponsored by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and offered in memory of Jeff Swanagan. The scholarship promotes Jeff Swanagan’s philosophy that you must “touch the heart to teach the mind.” This scholarship may be applied towards any of the AZA professional development courses.
REQUIREMENTS
Applicant must be an AZA individual member and employed at an AZA-accredited institution or AZA-certified facility. International members of AZA facilities are also welcome to apply. Those who received an AZA scholarship within the past three years will not be considered for this award. This scholarship is merit based.
Within four months of attending the AZA Professional Training course, the recipient will submit to AZA an article describing how participating in the course has helped them “touch the heart to teach the mind,” which will be published in an issue of CONNECT magazine.
DEADLINE
AZA must receive all completed application materials and letters of recommendation before Midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on Friday, July 14, 2017. Scholarship recipients will be notified in early September.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Email completed applications to
QUESTIONS
Contact AZA Professional Development at or 301.244.3340
RULES
Applicants may only submit one scholarship application per year. Applications are evaluated and recipients are chosen by the AZA Professional Development Committee. An individual cannot be awarded the same scholarship more than once. An individual is not eligible to receive any AZA scholarship more frequently than every three years.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Last Name:
First Name:
AZA Membership Number:
Professional Title:
Department:
Zoo/Aquarium/Institution:
Business Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Work Phone: ext: Fax:
E-mail:
Home Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Home Phone:
COURSE SELECTION
Please check only ONE course. If you do not receive the scholarship and plan to take the course anyway, please note this application does not represent a reserved space in an AZA course. To secure a space in a course you must register through https://www.aza.org/courses , and pay the tuition in full. If you receive the scholarship, your full tuition payment will be refunded.
https://www.aza.org/principles-of-aquarium-husbandry-design-and-leadership
Animal Training Applications in Zoo and Aquarium Settings / October 8 - 13, 2017
https://www.aza.org/animal-training-applications-zoo-aquarium-settings
Managing Animal Enrichment & Training Programs / October 8 - 13, 2017
https://www.aza.org/managing-animal-enrichment-and-training-programs
Principles of Elephant Management II * / October 24 - 27, 2017
https://www.aza.org/PEMII
**must have completed PEM I; priority will be given to Elephant Managers
Creating Successful Exhibits / November 13 - 18, 2017
https://www.aza.org/CSE
Population Management I / November 13 - 18, 2017
https://www.aza.org/PMI
Population Management II / November 13 - 18, 2017
https://www.aza.org/PMII
Principles of Program Animal Management / November 13 - 18, 2017
https://www.aza.org/PPAM
Avian Management, Biology and Conservation / February 12 - 17, 2018
https://www.aza.org/avian-management-biology-conservation
Conservation Education: Effective Program Design / February 12 - 17, 2018
https://www.aza.org/CED
Institutional Records Keeping / February 12 - 17, 2018
https://www.aza.org/institutional-records-keeping
Managing for Success: Career Development / February 12 - 17, 2018
https://www.aza.org/managing-for-success-career-development
Managing for Success: Organizational Development / February 12 - 17, 2018
https://www.aza.org/managing-for-success-organizational-development
Principles of Elephant Management I / February 12 - 17, 2018
https://www.aza.org/principles-of-elephant-management-i
*must be an elephant care professional at an AZA-Accredited elephant-holding institution
Animal Transport for Animal Care Professionals / March 6 – 9, 2018
https://www.aza.org/animal-transport-for-animal-care-professionals
Crocodilian Biology and Captive Management / March 16 – 23/24*, 2018
https://www.aza.org/crocodilian-biology-and-captive-management
**this course offers an optional “Crocodilian Capture and Restraint Training” session
Animal Welfare: Evidence-Based Management / May 6 – 11, 2018
https://www.aza.org/animal-welfare-evidence-based-management
EDUCATION
(Begin with most current)
School:
Location:
Dates Attended (MM/YYYY): -
Degree:
Major:
School:
Location:
Dates Attended (MM/YYYY): -
Degree:
Major:
School:
Location:
Dates Attended (MM/YYYY): -
Degree:
Major:
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Current Title:
Dates at Institution (MM/YYYY): -
Name of your immediate supervisor:
Supervisor’s Title:
Briefly describe the main duties of your present position:
PERSONAL STATEMENTS
How will your completing this AZA Professional Development course help you fulfill Jeff Swanagan's philosophy that you must “touch the heart to teach the mind?” (Max. 300 words)
Explain how your current work furthers your institution’s mission. (Max. 250 words)
Give an example of a recent experience or accomplishment that demonstrates your own philosophy on professional leadership. (Max. 250 words)
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
To demonstrate your professional involvement, please list the following:
· Collaborations you engage in within the institution, with other AZA institutions or partners, or with other local organizations
· Conferences, workshops, and seminars attended and/or presented at, including dates
· Professional affiliations (memberships or offices held)
· Committees on which you have served, including dates of service
· Professional honors you have received
· Dates and titles of articles or papers published
REFERENCES
Two letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the AZA Professional Development Program Coordinator. Please submit all letters via email to . The Professional Development Department and Awards Committee will keep these letters confidential. One author must be your immediate supervisor. It is suggested that one author be from outside your institution. Some other possible authors include, but are not limited to:
• Your director or CEO
• An AZA member or regional conservation partner
Current members of the Professional Development Committee may only be used as references if they are your immediate supervisor. Professional Development Committee members may not be used as secondary references.
I have requested that the two persons listed below (one of whom is my supervisor) submit confidential letters of support for this application directly to before Midnight on Friday, July 14, 2017 at 4:00pm (Eastern Standard Time).
Name:
Institution:
Title:
Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Work Phone: Ext:
Email:
Name:
Institution:
Title:
Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Work Phone: Ext:
Email:
SIGNATURE
I hereby verify that all of the above information is truthful and accurate.
Name:
Date Completed (MM/DD/YY):
Jeff Swanagan Memorial Scholarship2017