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2009 Christopher Columbus Foundation-U.S. Chamber of Commerce Life Sciences Awards

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports American industry dedicated to protecting human health through the testing, manufacturing and marketing of biomedical products. As scientific innovation of biomedical products begins at the lab bench, the Chamber began a partnership with the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation to sponsor a program to recognize, through four monetary awards, one adult scientist or researcher; one secondary school educator; and two secondary school students who are judged to exemplify excellence in the life sciences fields of biology and chemistry.

PURPOSE:

The Life Sciences Awards are designed to encourage and promote “cutting edge” innovation in the field of life sciences. Monetary awards will be presented to an adult scientist/researcher; a secondary school educator; and two secondary school students.

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION PROCESS:

This is a competition NOT a grant application. Individuals will compete and their accomplishments will be judged on how they exemplify excellence in life sciences.

The 2009 Life Sciences Awards Program consists of the following four awards:

$25,000 Chairmen’s Distinguished Life Sciences Award

The $25,000 Chairmen’s Distinguished Life Sciences Award will be presented to a scientist or researcher who is making or has recently made a significant and positive contribution toward the development of a “cutting edge” innovation in the field of life sciences. The Chairmen’s Award will provide incentive for continuing the research.

Criteria

  1. All Nominees must be living United States citizens.
  2. The Nomination must demonstrate a program of ongoing work with a specific outcome suggesting that an important achievement will result.
  3. The Nomination’s proposed achievement must benefit human health in a unique and effective manner, demonstrating originality from other work in the same or related field(s).
  4. The proposed achievement must correlate to a tangible outcome to advance human health.
  5. Any Nomination that does not meet the above stated criteria will be disqualified.

$10,000 Life Sciences Educator Award

The $10,000 Life Sciences Educator Award will be presented to a current secondary school educator, with at least five years of teaching experience, and who is making or has recently made a significant and positive contribution related to promoting the study of life sciences to his or her students.

Criteria

  1. All Nominees must be living United States citizens.
  2. The Nomination must demonstrate an ongoing teaching strategy that evidences proficiency in instructing students in the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Biology and/or Chemistry courses. Evidence of proficiency may be demonstrated through showing that a disproportionate percentage of his or her students achieve AP exam grades scoring in the “4” or “5” level of either the Biology and/or Chemistry curriculum.
  3. The Nomination must demonstrate an enterprising spirit in teaching and making available resources to students that promote excellence in the study of life science-related coursework.
  4. The Nomination must demonstrate outstanding teaching, guidance and mentoring of students for independent study projects.
  5. Any Nomination that does not meet the above stated criteria will be disqualified.

Biology Student Award

The $5,000 Biology Student Award will be presented to a current secondary school student who is making or has recently made a significant and positive contribution related to the study of biology.

Criteria

  1. All Nominees must be living United States citizens.
  2. Nominations are strongly encouraged from educators, faculty members and school administrators personally familiar with the student’s academic achievements in biology.
  3. Nominees must demonstrate ongoing work and/or provide proven evidence that distinguishes them in the study of biology.
  4. Any Nomination that does not meet the above stated criteria will be disqualified.

Chemistry Student Award

The $5,000 Chemistry Student Award will be presented to a current secondary school student who is making or has recently made a significant and positive contribution related to promoting the study of chemistry.

Criteria

  1. All Nominees must be living United States citizens.
  2. Nominations are strongly encouraged from educators, faculty members and school
    3. administrators personally familiar with the student’s academic achievements in chemistry.
  3. Nominees must demonstrate ongoing work and/or provide proven evidence that distinguishes them in the study of chemistry.
  4. Any Nomination that does not meet the above stated criteria will be disqualified.

NOMINATION MATERIALS:

  1. If a Nomination is selected as a semifinalist, the Nominator will be notified and asked to provide copies of supporting materials.
  2. All Nominations and materials submitted in connection with the Life Sciences Awards and any reproductions made therefrom, shall be solely, exclusively and entirely the property of the Foundation and shall not be returned.
  3. The Foundation shall have the sole and exclusive right to use, and permit others to use, the above stated Nomination and materials including the candidate’s name, likeness, and other biographical information and promotions, news releases and advertising in connection with either present or future Foundation programs or similar programs or awards. All materials submitted become the property of the Foundation without any compensation to the candidate, however, the Foundation does not claim ownership of the “intellectual property” submitted.

ADDITIONAL RULES:

Nominees must be permitted, by their employer or any other relevant authority, to accept a monetary award bestowed by the Foundation, a Federal government agency.

Awards may be taxable income to the recipient. All tax liabilities are the sole responsibility of the winner. All Federal, State and local laws and regulations apply.

Winners must attend the awards ceremony on April 30, 2009, in Washington, D.C., in order to receive the award. Anyone who cannot attend the award ceremony will automatically be disqualified.

Nominations are received online ONLY at: www.ccolumbusfoundationawards.org.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, January 12, 2009.

The Foundation reserves the right to cancel or change the Life Sciences Awards Program at any time at its full discretion.