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If you had $5,000 to put toward a dream, what would you do? Where would you go? How would you expect to be different when you came back? Each year the SMBHC hopes to make two $5,000 awards to support creative, courageous projects proposed by highly talented students who are willing to take some risks with their time and efforts and who propose ambitious, independent programs of study, research, or humanitarian effort.

Interested? Check out the criteria for eligibility and the guidelines. Then, move from dream to strategy, from vague plans for future contributions to specific designs for experiential learning. Think of this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove and to improve yourself. Propose something that students can ordinarily only dream about and then dismiss, with a “someday…”

Make us jealous.

Barksdale Award Guidelines

Annually, the SMBHC will grant up to two Barksdale Awards of $5,000 each. The SMBHC reserves the right to make one or no awards. The SMBHC deans are available for brainstorming and general questions.

Deadline: December 6, 2024 by 11:59pm CST

Recipients announced: Early spring semester 2025

Project timeline: Between May 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026

Eligible students must

• have been members of the Honors College for at least one academic year by the start of the proposed project;
• have completed at least two years at the undergraduate level (usually 60 credit hours) by the end of the academic year of application;
• plan at least one semester in residence after completion of the project;
• have a minimum GPA of 3.7;
• be in full compliance with CAC.

The project MAY but NEED NOT

• have an academic focus (on your major or for your capstone, for example);
• fit within a traditional academic semester;
• occur during the summer;
• supplement a traditional study abroad program with decidedly independent travel/research;
  focus on humanitarian or social justice concerns at a local, national, or global level;
• enhance or expand your independent scientific research already in progress.

The proposed project MUST be one that

• is clearly going to cost around $5,000 for project-related expenses;
• is clearly do-able on $5,000 (or you can say where you’ll get the rest of the money);
• will be completed by June 30, 2026.

The award will NOT fund

• tuition or fees for a program of study;
• internships undertaken for academic credit; (For such plans, apply instead for an Honors Fellowship)
• participation in experiences (e.g., missions, service) organized by someone else.

Undertaking projects of this sort may mean that you delay graduation by a semester or more. Please give serious consideration to what you cannot do if you are awarded this stipend, as well as to what you can.

All application materials, with the exception of the Letters of Recommendation, are submitted electronically via UM Box.

Upload Application Materials Here

You may submit materials as they are ready for submission rather than submit everything at once. Name your file with the item you’re submitting and your last name (e.g., Registration Form Smith). All files should be either PDF or Word documents.

Items 1-6 must be submitted via the UM Box link by December 6, 2024. Your two letters of recommendation must be received by Dr. Parsons no later than the same date.

To be considered for the Barksdale Award, eligible students must submit the following:

• Submit a document labeled Registration Form that includes the following information: Your name, email, phone number, current overall GPA, how many college credit hours you will have earned by the end of Fall 2024, your expected month and year of graduation, title of proposed project, and an abstract (one- to three-sentence description of what you propose to do).
• Submit a document titled Project Proposal. In an essay of no more than 1,000 words, tell us what you want to do and why you want to do it. Your essay should touch on the experiences and coursework that have prepared you for this project, and should demonstrate a thorough understanding of and enthusiasm for the obstacles and challenges you will face. Don’t forget to include your name.
• Submit a Budget Worksheet, a reasonable projection of project-related expenses.
• Submit a one-page Résumé.
• Submit an Unofficial UM Transcript. Fall grades will not appear in time for Barksdale Award submission, and an early submission of material is appreciated.
• Submit the Certifications sheet.
• Choose two professors to write Letters of Recommendation. Your recommenders should know you well enough to be able to discuss the qualities (of mind and character) and/or academic work that will support your successful completion of the project you propose. Choose professors with whom you’ve discussed your Barksdale Award proposal. Your two professors should email their recommendation letters to Dr. Jennifer Parsons at jparsons@olemiss.edu.

As an undergraduate, you have a chance to immerse yourself in life-changing experiences well beyond the boundaries of the University. We encourage you to take advantage of opportunities for study or research off-campus, and, to that end, the SMBHC offers fellowships to help cover the extra costs.

In awarding fellowships, we give priority to students who select programs that will push them intellectually and personally, e.g., studying abroad in a non-English-speaking country for a full year; participating in highly-competitive research programs under the mentorship of established scientists; or completing an internship that requires hands-on involvement in the day-to-day effort to make a difference in the world. Students sometimes propose their own rigorous design for experiential learning. We may award full or partial stipends, depending on the duration and nature of the proposed activity. Typically, we do not award fellowships for UM faculty-led study abroad experiences, unless a student is using the trip to do research for the thesis.

For a list of recent recipients, click here.

How to Apply for an Honors Fellowship

Students interested in studying abroad should contact the Study Abroad Office in Martindale or visit the Study Abroad website (Note: for junior-year travel abroad, students should begin the application process in the fall of their sophomore year). You may also apply for an Honors fellowship to help offset the costs of an internship.

To be considered for an Honors fellowship, you must submit the Honors College Student Fellowship Application in printable forms. Along with this form, you need to submit a current unofficial transcript, a brochure or other material describing the program, and a budget showing the projected cost. You must be in good standing with the Honors College and have at least a 3.50 GPA to receive a fellowship. To be given full consideration, submit your application by April 1st of the academic year prior to the term in which you plan to study.