Illinois Soil Classifiers Association
STUDENT MEMBERS
HOW TO BECOME AN ISCA STUDENT MEMBERTo apply for a student membership of ISCA click the button below for more information and for a link to the application.Complete the application form for membership and submit your dues upon applying for membership. Student membership dues are $5 a year. Dues may be submitted via mail or PayPal/credit card on the ISCA website.
Applications for membership are separate from the ISCA Student Member Scholarship. The student must be an approved member of ISCA BEFORE applying for the Scholarship. It is advised to complete the application for Student Membership at the beginning of the academic year as the ISCA Executive Council will need to review the membership application before granting membership. Membership must be granted and dues paid in order to be eligible for the "Burton W Ray Scholarship Award in soil Science" and for the "ISCA Student Member Scholarship".
Applications for membership are separate from the ISCA Student Member Scholarship. The student must be an approved member of ISCA BEFORE applying for the Scholarship. It is advised to complete the application for Student Membership at the beginning of the academic year as the ISCA Executive Council will need to review the membership application before granting membership. Membership must be granted and dues paid in order to be eligible for the "Burton W Ray Scholarship Award in soil Science" and for the "ISCA Student Member Scholarship".
Burton W. Ray Scholarship Award in Soil Science
The Burton W. Ray Scholarship Award in Soil Science was developed in 1984 by the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association in honor of Burton Wiley Ray, a charter member of ISCA. Professor Ray, a graduate of the University of Illinois, began his career as a soil scientist in 1946 with the Soil Conservation Service and later with the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering. In 1948 he joined the Illinois Soil Survey as a Research Assistant of the Department of Agronomy at the University of Illinois. He was made Assistant Professor of Pedology in 1960 and Associate Professor of Pedology in 1970. Professor Ray was associated with the Illinois Soil Survey for more than 35 years and during that time served as soil survey leader in McHenry, Carroll, and Stephenson counties. In 1965 he spent part of a year on soil survey investigations in India. In later years he worked throughout the state of Illinois in soil correlation and soil survey quality control. Also during this period he conducted research on many Illinois soils which led to better management and conservation, and higher productivity of Illinois soils. He was author and co-author of many scientific papers and bulletins pertaining to the soils of Illinois. Professor Ray was a dedicated teacher. He enjoyed teaching, working with, and advising students. He taught the course Agronomy 301 – “Soil Survey – With Emphasis on Illinois Soils” for more than 13 years. Three times during his career he was given the “Outstanding Agronomy Instructor” award. He advised several graduate students in addition to his undergraduate teaching program. Burt Ray was a charter member of the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association. He was a tireless worker in the organization and he served in some official capacity from the inception of ISCA until his death in 1980. The Burton W. Ray Scholarship Award in Soil Science is given in his memory to an outstanding student in soil science. The winner of the award is the individual from an Illinois Collegiate Institution who has attained the highest score in the Region 3 Soil Judging Contest. The winner must be nominated by their current advisor or soil judging coach and receives a check for $1000 dollars. Their name is also engraved on a permanent plaque that is either displayed at the University of Illinois or at the university of the current winner.
ISCA Student Member Scholarship
A scholarship of $500 may be awarded yearly to one student member at the ISCAAnnual Meeting held in the spring. The ISCA Student Member Scholarship is awarded to encourage students to be involved in the community of soil scientists in the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association and to continue with their education in soil science. The scholarship winner will be selected by the ISCA Executive Council from properly submitted applications. The scholarship winner must be present at the ISCA Annual Meeting in order to receive this award, unless otherwise approved by the Executive Council. All applicants will be thoroughly assessed to make sure they meet the following requirements.
SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY
The Student Member must:
-Be a current and active Student Member of ISCA, with dues paid-Be enrolled full-time in an accredited collegiate Illinois institution (or adjacent state collegiate institution)-Major in soil science or related program
and on track to complete 15 credit hours of soil science required to be a soil scientist-Be enrolled in, or have already completed, a minimum of 3 credit hours of soil science-Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher-Be present at the ISCA Annual Meeting to accept the scholarship
-Applications must be received between December 1 through February 28
