Center for Student Excellence

The Center for Student Excellence at the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences is your one-stop shop to find help and resources as you prepare for a career of your dreams with a degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Let the Center for Student Excellence help you with guidance specific to your academic interest and future career goals. 

The Center assists all undergraduate students from freshmen through seniors — at all academic levels. The Center can help you stay better connected, network and enhance your School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences experience.

Student-led Research Symposium

SANS First Look Fair 2025

What the Center Can Do for You

Gain knowledge through talks, training and more

Career path guidance

2026 Summer Internship Opportunities for SANS Students

DASL Expo 2026 showcases student clubs

Students enjoyed a day of fun, food and student-centered activities a the annual Dean’s Award for Student Leadership (DASL) Expo held on the campus on April 21. The event, sponsored by the Center for Student Excellence, showcased student clubs from the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. The expo was preceded by the 1890 Land-Grant Walk, held to celebrate the second Morrill Act that established the university, and a planting of a Hackberry tree on the campus to mark Earth Day 2026. Photos by Todd Dudek/UMES Ag Communications.

Resources to Help Your Academic and Career Path

Departmental Scholarships

Natural Sciences

DNS Fund: This scholarship provides support for students enrolled in programs offered by the DNS. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2LYI9E1uQAateIfwheDKZtvZECUcI50y5KPhtH62rduXPQg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Wutoh Scholarship: This scholarship provides support for one DNS student who is an African National.  

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_rACCpcKWKu4jjDDKzfmLmYNtd6gxLxQRqYhpV8-pvHrLSQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Finish Line Scholarship: This scholarship is for full-time, UMES undergraduate students in the Department of Natural Sciences with a GPA of 2.5 and above.  Students within 30 credits of graduation and who have demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply for these funds and will be the primary recipients of these funds.  Special consideration will be given to senior students who transferred from a 2-year institution.  Juniors and sophomores, respectively, will be considered only if the need of senior students is met or there is an exceptional circumstance that warrants deviation. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeymMssODeGFFoaSVhAIw6Q5dFDkUsn1YTGdksTi1jUb7a14w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Gregg & Cooper Fund: This scholarship provides support for one DNS student, particularly an undergraduate biology student, enrolled full-time with a GPA of 2.0 or greater.  

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDQ02EsyRo9whfIfLn7LYUT8zsD_XOAz7yi_202s0AtA7E1A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Pepco/Exelon Training Program in Climate Resilience Fund: The purpose of the Pepco/Exelon Training Program in Climate Resilience Fund is to support and allow students in the DNS to explore energy management, alternative energy sources, and their increasing importance in a changing climate, especially on the Eastern Shore. Potential topics could include biomass, energy production, tidal energy resources, wind and solar energy, and sea level rise and the resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities.  This program will support field and lab student research, professional development including student travel to research sites and conferences as well as costs associated with the invitation of experts to the DNS over a two-year period.   

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfj244go9cqsGGASIey45zm1bbbdZSOY-tEaj1DaqqqvCTKkA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Seibold Scholarship: This scholarship provides support for one undergraduate or graduate DNS student enrolled in a fisheries or wildlife program with demonstrated financial need.   

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqB_9hXm9BtYHgpUNcsg1Z8-sy-jrS3l6xl4t-l4IbXA4pYg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Newland Scholarship: This scholarship provides support to a sophomore student majoring in biology in honor of Brielle Newland.  Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA and must be from Baltimore, MD.   

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOttvVPs1eWtzsQsNBQf7YTmoL5my_mle8ApowZPEnr7zy3w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Chemistry Teacher Scholarship: This scholarship provides support for a full-time undergraduate chemistry major with a demonstrated commitment to become a teacher and a GPA of at least 3.0.  Applicants must be a US citizen for permanent resident.  Preference will be given to students with a demonstrated financial need.  This scholarship is renewable.   

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9U1gnfxahuqv2sGaIP-BD1AvDBf96CBVtv2RlHbRteQjvCg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Sarbanes Fund: This is a merit-based scholarship opportunity that provides support for one DNS undergraduate or graduate student in the environmental sciences program with demonstrated financial need.   

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYQhXli8WlXmoOjdDMbEKvzLzjbR-afKPWu9KVqmJ7rujb3g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Human Ecology

Learn more about scholarships and financial aid opportunities at UMES

Contact Us

Call: 410-651-7101

Email: sanscse@umes.edu

Subscribe to our weekly newsletters: sanscse@umes.edu

Center Director: Dr. Kausiksankar Das, Ph.D.

Program Manager: Katrina Kelly

Coordinator of Recruitment, Retention and Experiential Learning Activities: Logan Quinn

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