Mary Horvath Stefanik Award for Professional Development

Pursuant to the request of the Donor, this Gift shall be used to create the Mary Horvath Stefanik Award for Professional Development (the “Fund”) to provide professional development support in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences within the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences. The Fund will be awarded to students with a program GPA of 3.0 or higher with full-time enrollment in a Kinesiology and Health Sciences graduate program within the College of Humanities and Sciences. Preference will be given to students in the Master of Sciences program with an available awarding opportunity to students in the Doctor of Philosophy program. In addition, preference will be given to students who have demonstrated interest in equality, diversity or social justice for women by participating in program and community activities, social groups, student clubs or organizations that support women pursuing careers within Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Award recipients will be selected annually by the chair of the Kinesiology and Health Sciences department, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. This award will support experiential learning and professional development outside of the classroom. This includes, but is not limited to, assistance with professional conference attendance in the form of registration fees or associated travel expenses, or the pursuit of professional association or certification fees. For students who intend to use this funding to attend a professional conference, preference will be given to students who are active participants at the conference in the form of contributing to a conference lecture, poster presentation or workshop.