SCMEA offers four award categories. Only active members of SCMEA are eligible. The Scholarship Committee Chair and an ad-hoc committee of three to four SCMEA board members or officers, including at least one past president, decide the awardees. The Scholarship Chair appoints the ad-hoc committee. The SC Sea Grant Consortium supports and matches the number of scholarships awarded. These awards and scholarships include the Renkas Marine Education grant, Jacques Cousteau Memorial NMEA Travel Award, and the Fred James SCMEA Travel Awards. The awards are listed below. For additional award opportunities for marine science teachers, please check the Grants and Awards Page from The Bridge website.

SCMEA MARINE EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

• List of Past Recipients
• DESCRIPTION: This award recognizes the most outstanding marine educator in the state of South Carolina.
• NUMBER OF AWARDS AND AMOUNT: One award consisting of a $250 check, a five year membership in SCMEA, and a trophy is awarded each year.
• ELIGIBILITY: Only active members of SCMEA are eligible. Current SCMEA officers and current members of the SCMEA board are NOT eligible. Previous awardees cannot receive this award.
• APPLICATION INFORMATION: Applications (or actually nominations--this award is typically a surprise to the recipient) are due to the scholarship committee by August 20th. Nomination forms are available in the SCMEA fall newsletter and on the SCMEA web site. The recipient is notified of their award during the state awards ceremony at the annual SCMEA conference. Notification for nominators at Business Meeting of Annual Conference, nominators notified by September 6th.
• RESPONSIBLITIES: Since this is an award that is a surprise to the recipient, the responsibility resides with the person who nominated the awardee. It is the nominator's responsibility to get the awardee to the SCMEA state conference awards ceremony without revealing the honor that will be bestowed upon him/her.

RENKAS MARINE EDUCATION GRANTS

• DESCRIPTION: This award is to support educational programs for classroom teachers and other marine educators. The award is named in honor of Cindy Renkas and her children, Brock and Jenna. Cindy was the first SCMEA marine educator of the year and a former NMEA marine educator of the year. Brock and Jenna were very active in SCMEA from a very early age.
• NUMBER OF AWARDS AND AMOUNT: Up to six $250 awards are available each year.
• ELIGIBILITY: Only active members of SCMEA are eligible. Current SCMEA officers and current members of the SCMEA board are eligible. Previous awardees cannot receive this award two years in a row.
• APPLICATION INFORMATION: Applications are due to the scholarship committee by August 20. Application forms are available in the SCMEA fall newsletter and on the SCMEA web site. Notification by September 6.
• RESPONSIBLITIES: Upon completion, awardees must write an article within a year of receiving the award for the SCMEA newsletter (Seascripts) describing the project for the benefit of other educators. Copies of all receipts must be submitted with a financial report to the SCMEA treasurer. Attendance at the state conference awards ceremony is strongly encouraged.

JACQUES COUSTEAU MEMORIAL NMEA TRAVEL AWARD

• DESCRIPTION: This award provides travel expenses to the NMEA (National Marine Educators Association) conference.
• NUMBER OF AWARDS AND AMOUNT: One award up to $500 is given each year.
• ELIGIBILITY: Only active members of SCMEA are eligible. Scholarship awards are based on financial need of the applicant. Geographical location and order of receipt of the completed applications are not considered in the decision to award scholarships. Applicants must not be a SCMEA Officer, voting member of the Board of Directors, or an Institutional member, and must not have been awarded a scholarship for the last three NMEA Annual Conferences. Preference will be given to first time NMEA Conference attendees.
• APPLICATION INFORMATION: Applications are due to the scholarship committee by April 1. Application forms are available in the SCMEA winter newsletter and on the SCMEA web site. Notification by May 15.
• RESPONSIBLITIES: The awardee must initially pay for conference travel and will be reimbursed after receipts and proof of attendance are submitted to the SCMEA treasurer. The attendee must write an article for the SCMEA newsletter and/or make a presentation at the next SCMEA conference describing his/her experiences and sharing information acquired at the NMEA conference within a year of receiving the award. In addition, the awardee must attend the majority of the sessions and events at the national conference.

FRED JAMES SCMEA TRAVEL AWARDS

• DESCRIPTION: This award provides travel expenses to the SCMEA state conference.
• NUMBER OF AWARDS AND AMOUNT:   Up to six $100 awards are given each year.
• ELIGIBILITY: Only active members of SCMEA are eligible. Current SCMEA officers and current members of the SCMEA board are eligible. Previous awardees cannot receive this award.
• APPLICATION INFORMATION: Applications are due to the scholarship committee by August 20. Application forms are available in the SCMEA fall newsletter and on the SCMEA web site. Notification by September 6t.
• RESPONSIBILITIES: The checks are presented to the awardees at the state conference and attendance is required at the awards ceremony. In addition, the awardee must attend the majority of the sessions and events at the state conference.