Scholarships

The Carrel Cowan-Ricks’ Scholarships supported by the Center for Field Sciences will support TWO undergraduate or graduate student members of the Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA) to participate in an archaeological field school. Recipients are strongly encouraged to attend field school offered by the Center for Field Sciences, but this scholarship may be applied to a field school of the recipient’s choice. The Carrel Cowan-Ricks’ Scholarship is intended for those with financial need. Each scholarship is valued at $2,000 USD.

Application Link: Carrel Cowan-Ricks’ Scholarships

Applicant Requirements

• Finalists will be interviewed by the President of SBA
• Must be a current and paid Member of the SBA
• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university in the United States or in a U.S. Territory
• This scholarship is intended for those with financial need 

Carrel Cowan-Ricks

Professor Carrell Cowan-Ricks was a groundbreaking Black woman archaeologist. Cowan-Ricks entered the Anthropology Ph.D. program at Wayne State during the early 1990s, becoming one of three African American women with a graduate degree in archaeology in the United States at the time. In 1991, Cowan-Ricks was hired by Clemson University to locate unmarked African American Burials at the Woodland Cemetery. However, in 1993, Cowan-Ricks was fired from Clemson University due to budget cuts. This scholarship is intended to honor the work and legacy of Cowan-Ricks and other under-recognized African American women in the field of archaeology. 

For more information about the life and legacy of Professor Carrell Cowan-Ricks, please see this article by Clemson University.

The deadline for applications for the Carrel Cowan-Ricks’ scholarships is MARCH 20th, 2025.

Please direct questions to the SBA Secretary at secretary@societyofblackarchaeologists.com

The George McJunkin Scholarship supported by the Institute for Field Research will support ONE undergraduate or graduate student member of the Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA) to participate in an archaeological field school. This scholarship may only be applied to a field school offered by the Institute for Field Research. The scholarship will cover the full cost of the application and IFR field school fees, minus transportation expenses.

Applicant Requirements

• Must be a current and paid Member of the SBA
• Must be at least 18 years old by the first day of the field school program.
• Must have demonstrated financial need.
• Must be accepted into an IFR field school.
• All applications must apply directly to a field school with IFR through their website using an SBA code

George McJunkin

George McJunkin was an African American cowboy, historian, and archaeologist. McJunkin was born enslaved in Texas before the end of the U.S. Civil War. After Emancipation, he became a cowboy and later discovered the Folsom Site–a site which fundamentally changed how archaeologists have understood the history of Indigenous Peoples on the North American continent. Although McJunkin died in 1922, his discovery of the Folsom Site and advocacy for its preservation remains one of the greatest contributions made to the field of archaeology. This scholarship is intended to honor the life and legacy of McJunkin and other under-recognized African Americans in the field of archaeology.

The deadline for applications is APRIL 1 2025. All interested applicants need to email the SBA Secretary at secretary@societyofblackarchaeologists.com to confirm current and paid SBA membership and to receive a code to apply through the IFR website.

Once you receive the code you can visit the IFR website to apply for the scholarship.

The SBA Conference Travel Award offers support for SBA members traveling to present research at scholarly conferences. Applicants who are presenting papers, posters, or other scholarly work about their archaeological research may use award funds to attend a conference of choice. The SBA will provide a total award of up to $500 USD. 

Applicant Requirements

• Must be a current and paid Member of the SBA
• Preference will be given to students and/or non-United States based members

Award funding is intended for conference and travel-related expenses, including conference registration, travel (e.g., airfare, vehicle rentals), and room/board. Awardees will be expected to submit a photo and short reflection describing their conference experience (200-500 words) for inclusion on the SBA website and to be shared across SBA’s social media platforms following conference attendance. If the applicant’s primary or preferred language of use is not English, the SBA will support the translation of requested application materials. Applications may be submitted in any language.

Proposals will be reviewed by the SBA Awards Committee. Questions about the review criteria and the award can be directed to treasurer@societyofblackarchaeologists.com.    

The deadline for applications is May 20th, 2025. Use THIS FORM for submissions: https://forms.gle/NQcBrGVjbo9GwFSr5 

The SBA Archaeological Field Research Award will support field, laboratory, and/or archival research conducted by scholars based at non-United States institutions. Projects may concern any location in the world and any time period in both terrestrial and maritime contexts. The SBA will provide a total award of up to $1,000 USD. 

Applicant Requirements

• Must be a current and paid Member of the SBA
• The applicant’s primary affiliation must be at a non-United States institution*

Awardees will be expected to submit a photo and project description for inclusion on the SBA website and to be shared across SBA’s social media platforms following receipt of the award, as well as a formal report at the conclusion of the award period. This report should include a brief summary, written for a general audience, that can be published on the SBA’s website. If the applicant’s primary or preferred language of use is not English, the SBA will support the translation of requested application materials. The application may be submitted in any language.

Proposals will be reviewed by the SBA Awards Committee. Questions about the review criteria and the award can be directed to treasurer@societyofblackarchaeologists.com.    

*Note, applicants may be United States citizens based at non-US institutions. However, this must be the applicant’s primary affiliation. Affiliation with a non-US based institution may not be pursued for the sole purpose of meeting the requirements of this award.  
The deadline for applications is September 20th, 2025. Use THIS FORM for submissions: https://forms.gle/2QvTFotKvviFPiUf9