Troy University grant writers were recognized during the 33rd annual Sponsored Programs Grant Writers Luncheon held Dec. 4 in the Trojan Center Ballrooms. Over the last year, faculty and staff secured over $42 million in grants, with additional grants still pending.
This year’s amount bested last year’s recording-breaking total.
“Think of how far we’ve come,” said Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. “We submitted $56 million in grant proposals last year and secured $39.7 million. This year, we topped that with $70 million submitted, and today we reflect on almost $43 million funded. Thirty-one years ago, we had just a quarter of a million funded. Think of the difference that has made in the world around us and in this institution. The best is yet to be.”
During the luncheon, three awards were given as well as recognizing the Trojans Talk Research podcast guests, including Dr. Jacqueline Jones, Dr. Alvin Diamond, Dr. Diane Orlofsky, Dr. Scott Nokes, Dr. Shellye Vardaman, Dr. Teresa Johnson, Dr. Judson Edwards, Dr. Robert Carden, Dr. Marie Kane, Dr. Avie Mederios, Dr. Hoa Dinh and Dr. Shannon Dadd.
New this year was the Chancellor’s Award for Academic Support award to Sarah McKenzie for her grant from the Institute of International Education for the American Passport Project in the amount of $3,250.
“I was stunned to get this award as my grant was small compared to so many, but with the help of Paula Carlson, Dr. Jay Valentine, Dr. Priya Menon and Dr. Chris Shaffer, four years of perseverance paid off,” McKenzie said. “I am excited to help 25 students get their first passports at no cost to them.”
The Chancellor’s Award for Grant Writing Excellence was awarded to Dr. Alvin Diamond and Dr. Samantha Earnest for their grant from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission for the Arboretum Hickory Loop Nature Trail project in the amount of $162,266.
“I am very humbled and appreciative to have received the Grant Writing Excellence Award,” Diamond said. “The funds from this grant will allow us to continue the work of restoring the arboretum and making it a showcase for Alabama’s most beautiful campus. Our successful grant proposal was due to contributions from many people, and I would especially like to thank the Office of Sponsored Programs for all of their assistance with this and the other grants we have received.”
The Chancellor’s Award for Research excellence was awarded to Dr. David Carlson, Dr. Tim Buckner, Dr. Avie Medeiros, Dr. Karen Ross and Chris Stagl for their grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the amount of $200,017 for their project titled “Mobile National Cemetery: United States Colored Troops.”
“We are deeply honored to have received the Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence,” Carlson said. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the research team in exploring the lives of the United States Colored Infantry veterans, whose stories have long been overlooked. We especially thank the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs for providing the resources for this research.”
