Robert M. and Mary Haythornthwaite Foundation

American Academy of Mechanics

Rules for Founder Prizes and Grants

Up to $10,000 For the Academic Year 2008-2009

(Deadline: July 1, 2008)

Necessary Qualifications, as of July 1, 2008

• Registered as a graduate student at a degree granting institution within North, South or Central America and having completed at least one academic year of full-time graduate study at that institution.
• Accepted as a Candidate for a Doctoral degree of that institution, the thesis topic has been approved by that institution and a Thesis Advisor has been appointed.

The Entry

Note: Most materials will be submitted by e-mail to haythornthwaite@hotmail.com using Adobe Acrobat files. Names of files should include the applicant's last name and the number from the list below (e.g., ApplicantName1.pdf; refers to the letter from the applicant). Materials required by mail are indicated below (MAIL).

1. A letter that lists the material being submitted. It should state the essay is entirely the unpublished work of the contestant and the copyright will belong to the Robert M. & Mary Haythornthwaite Foundation in the event he/she is awarded a prize. All the information needed to identify and contact the contestant, the Thesis advisor and the second referee should be included (Adobe Acrobat file).
2. The applicant's Curriculum Vitae (Adobe Acrobat file).
3. An original essay of no more than a thousand words under the title "Progress through Mechanics", where the title may be extended by means of a sub-title or following clause. The topic chosen may be in any field identified in the classification scheme of Applied Mechanics Reviews (A.S.M.E.) except the category 'General and Miscellaneous'. (See, for example, AMR, Vol. 53, No. 12, pp. A26-A29, December 2000) (Adobe Acrobat file).
4. A statement submitted by the Thesis Advisor, outlining the proposed use of the Grant (equipment purchases, information access, travel, etc., but not living expenses or fees), an expenditure budget that adds up to $9,000 or less, a justification in terms of the contestants situation, other support sources, etc., and a pledge that any balance of funds not used for the purposes listed in the expenditure budget will be returned to the foundation (Adobe Acrobat file).
5. A letter from an officer of the degree granting institution at which the contestant is registered, or certified copies of documents, confirming that the contestant is currently registered as a graduate student and has been accepted as Candidate for a Doctoral degree, and stating the approved title of the dissertation and the identity of the Thesis Advisor (Adobe Acrobat file).
6. A certified copy of the contestants graduate transcript(s) through the academic year 2007-2008 (MAIL).

All documents must be mailed or e-mailed on or before July 1, 2008. If any of the above documents are written in a language other than English, then an English translation should also be provided.

Support Letters

• A confidential letter of support from the Thesis Advisor, including a pledge to monitor grant expenditures, mailed by the Thesis Advisor directly on or before July 1, 2008 to the Adjudication Committee at the address below (MAIL).
• A confidential letter of support from a Member or Fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics who is not the Thesis Advisor, mailed by the writer directly on or before July 1, 2008 to the Adjudication Committee at the address below (MAIL).

Robert M. and Mary Haythornthwaite Foundation
715 Maiden Choice Lane, CR516
Catonsville, MD 21228-5976
Email: haythornthwaite@hotmail.com