Scholarships

ASHLEY SCHIFF PRESERVE SCHOLARSHIP

Dr. Ashley Schiff was a dedicated and popular Associate Professor of Political Science and an avowed naturalist in the early days of Stony Brook University. In the fall of 1969, he died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 37. A 26-acre woodland located on campus, lined with oak and maple trees, was dedicated in his memory by the former U.S. Interior Secretary Stewart Udall and SUNY Stony Brook President John S. Toll in 1970.

A rich variety of plants and animals can be found in the forest. A number of these plants are vulnerable native species under threat from development in many parts of the state. Animals such as garter snakes, Virginia opossums, and box turtles are known to live there. More information about Dr. Schiff, as well as the creation of the preserve can be found at www.ashleyschiff.org.

The Ashley Schiff Preserve Scholarship (ASPS) honors Stony Brook University undergraduate and graduate students who exhibit exceptional academic achievement and a dedication to environmental preservation. This commitment may be demonstrated through academic studies, research, music, or art. Established in 2006 by the Friends of the Ashley Schiff Preserve (FASP) with support from Avalon Park & Preserve, Inc., the scholarship awards up to $1,000 annually in memory of Dr. Ashley Schiff.

Scholarship Qualifications for Applicants

Must be a full-time Stony Brook University student during the year the scholarship is in effect.
Must be a Junior, Senior, or Graduate student with a strong interest in the natural environment.
Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Must demonstrate leadership, potential, and promise.

In addition, the ASPS Selection Committee seeks applicants who demonstrate:

A passion and capacity to exercise leadership and respond to social and environmental challenges.
A commitment to values of diversity and justice within the environmental field.
The desire to remain an active member of the Friends of Ashley Schiff Preserve (FASP) after the conclusion of their education at Stony Brook University.

Note: Please keep in mind that the scholarship is not limited to a research paper or research project. Art, music, creative writing, and political science projects are highly encouraged.

Scholarship Selection

Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025-2026 award are due by Friday, November 14, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their status by December 5, 2025, if they are chosen.
Selection Process: Selection for funding will be made by the scholarship subcommittee of the Friends Advisory Committee, and the student (s) will be notified by the committee chair if their proposal is accepted.
Presentation Requirement: Scholarship recipients will be required to give a 5-10 minute presentation of their project to the Advisory Board of the Friends of the Ashley Schiff Preserve in Spring 2026.
Friendraiser Event: Scholarship recipients are encouraged to attend the annual FASP Friendraiser in November 2026, where they will be honored for their completed project. They should provide a single PowerPoint slide outlining their project for presentation at the November 2026 Friendraiser.
Award Payment: The scholarship will be paid in one installment upon the successful completion of the project.
Academic Standing: Recipients must maintain a GPA above 3.0 and be a student during the Spring 2026 semester. The award recipient must be in student status in order for the award to be paid out.

Scholarship Application Process (Three Parts)

Submit a cover letter and a 1-2 page prospectus that clearly describes your project and how the Ashley Schiff Preserve will be used in support of this project or research. What will be the end product of your project or research? (usually a report, a manuscript, a thesis, or a work of art or music).
(Please note that current credit-bearing research and internships are eligible for this scholarship).
Obtain at least one letter of reference from a sponsoring professor, mentor, or research supervisor in support of your application.
Attach your current SBU transcript. If you are awarded the scholarship, it will be necessary for you to be enrolled in a for-credit research or intership course and have secured a faculty mentor. Such courses, with variable credit, are offered through many departments.

If you are interested in applying, please fill out this form: Friends of the Ashley Schiff Preserve-scholarship call 2025-2026.

Current Recipients

Chao-Chih Chen and Katherine Miller, 2024 Scholarship Recipient

“Takashi Yoshimatsu: Four Pieces in Bird Shape”

Past Recipients

Jeanai La Vita, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

“Aurora Borealis”

Kamryn Cardali, 2022 Scholarship Recipient

“Conservation/Next Boxes for Avian Species”

Ocean Karim and Kellianne Ticcony, 2022 Scholarship Recipient

Project “Forever Wild”

Jeanai LaVita, 2022 Scholarship Recipient

Performance, recording, and production of a video of “Ich wandelte unter den Baumen”

Tajrian Sarwar, 2022 Scholarship Recipient

“Honey Fungus Assessment”

Elijah Berger, 2021 Scholarship Recipient

“Investigating the Geological History of the Ashley Schiff Preserve.”

Isabella Betancourt, 2021 Scholarship Recipient

“Translating the Friends of the Ashley Schiff Website and Outreach Material.”

Annemarie Waugh, 2020 Scholarship Recipient

Developer’s Midnight Fantasy (click here to see more)

Hogyeum Evan Joo, 2018 Scholarship Recipient

“Awareness Assessment of Ashley Schiff Park Preserve, Stony Brook University: Comparison between 2015 and 2019.”

Jay Loomis, 2017 Scholarship Recipient

A musical film piece entitled, “Ashley Schiff Preserve Seasons and Soundscapes.”

Ashley Schiff Seasons 1: Summer Fall 2018

Ashley Schiff Seasons 2: Winter 2018

Ashley Schiff Seasons 3: Spring Summer 2019

Ashley Schiff Preserve Seasons & Soundscapes Summer Fall 2017

Ashley Schiff Preserve Seasons & Soundscapes Spring Summer 2018

Brett Keeler and Harrison Watters, 2017 Scholarship Recipients

“Human and Animal Traffic through Ashley Schiff Preserve”

Continuing ongoing research, this study was conducted to estimate the daily amount
of human and animal traffic through the Ashley Schiff Park Preserve on Stony Brook
University campus. Utilizing four Simon’s Whitetail motion-activated cameras with
infrared night-vision, we collected time-stamped pictures capturing anything that
entered the park at the four hiking trail entrances. At these locations, human
entrance into the park was recorded in regard to group size and activity (walking,
biking, running). Two additional cameras were set up deeper into the woods to
collect more pictures of Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) after past results
predicted the park could be a refuge for deer populations. Increased park usage was
found to occur during the spring and fall semesters, and a decline in use during the
campus winter and summer intersessions. This study into the patterns and values
of visitors into the park preserve may serve well as a reference for park
management and future studies.