Fellowship funding ensures that EAPS can maintain its edge in attracting the very best graduate students.

Department Head Rob van der Hilst is delighted, therefore, that EAPS is to add two new endowed fellowship funds to its previous roster of five: the Norman C. Rasmussen fund (see this issue) and the Callahan-Dee Fellowship Fund recently established by Patricia Callahan ’75, SM ’77 and David Dee. Rob’s ultimate vision is to be able to fund all of our graduate students during their first two years at MIT, to give our students maximum flexibility to unleash their natural curiosity and explore different research interests. With help from Eric Michelman ’76, SM ’78 we have also established the EAPS Graduate Student Support Fund where alums and friends can make annual gifts to support our students.

To honor all of our generous fellowship donors, EAPS is launching the Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Patrons’ Circle – a new recognition group for our leadership donors who have made a gift or pledge of over $70,000 to endowed or expendable fellowship funds. This will include those who have provided for graduate fellowships in their estate plans.  Patrons’ Circle members will be invited to a celebratory annual event every Spring, where donors, fellows and faculty can meet over dinner to share their research and to build friendships. The kick-off event will be held on Thursday April 9th at MIT.

If you would like to become a member of the EAPS Patrons’ Circle, consider making a gift or pledge of $70,000 or more to an EAPS fellowship or graduate student support fund, or establishing your own fund named in honor of a family member, faculty, student, or friend.