HOLLAND - David DeWitt, a Hope College freshman from Sioux Falls, S.D., has received an award through the "Undergraduate Research Grants for the Environment" (URGE) program of the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, a biological field station located south of Hastings.

The biological field station is made up of a consortium of 11 Michigan colleges and universities, which in addition to Hope include: Albion College, Alma College, Aquinas College, Calvin College, Central Michigan University, Cornerstone University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Olivet College and Western Michigan University. An advisory board made up of two representatives from each school oversees the consortium.

The URGE program provides a $3,000 stipend for students conducting summer research at the Institute, along with up to a facility mentor stipend of up to $3,000 that can be used for equipment purchases, general expenses, travel, or training needed for conducting the research project. Additionally, each grant award allows for up to $4,000 in room and board expenses for the student and faculty mentor. Students will begin arriving at the Institute in early May and will be staying through August.

Twelve grants were funded for this, the first year of the URGE award program, with approximately $75,000 in student and faculty stipends awarded. Another $48,000 in housing and meal expenses will be provided to summer researchers. DeWitt will make a comparison of cursorial spider communities among deciduous forests in southern Michigan. The study will serve as foundation data upon which subsequent ecological studies can be built.

DeWitt, a biology major, sees this project as a great way to explore researching as a possible career. His faculty advisor will be Dr. Thomas Bultman, who is a professor of biology and chair of the department at Hope.

The Institute is funded through a foundation created by Bill and Jessie Pierce in 1988. Although Bill and Jessie passed away in 1998, just as ground was being broken, the Institute's Board of Trustees and staff are thrilled to see their original dream become a reality through a program such as URGE.

"In the four short years the Institute has been open, we have begun to build a top notch community outreach program that provides visitors the opportunity to experience and learn from nature through a variety of classes, workshops, conferences and hikes," said Michelle Skedgell, executive director of the Institute. "We are very excited to see the biological field station program begin to take off with the creation of the partnership with local colleges and universities. Together, I believe we will be creating a very unique learning experience for students and faculty. From providing research opportunities to creating field courses to be offered at the Institute, we want students to see Pierce Cedar Creek Institute as an extension of their current campus."

Although this is the first year that URGE grants were awarded, this is not the first year that student research was conducted. Over the past three summers, students from Alma, Central, Grand Valley, Albion and Michigan State University conducted research projects on topics including white-tailed deer, ovenbirds and freshwater turtles.

In the past, students were provided only the use of the facilities along with a small equipment grant. This is the first time that students will receive a stipend.

"We recognize the financial burdens that are placed on college students and that they need to work during the summer to save money for tuition. By providing them with a grant, hopefully it will provide the opportunity for more students to participate in the program," Skedgell said. "Their involvement in the program will not only be beneficial to their undergraduate studies, but we also hope that it will help them in their graduate studies or in their careers."

Consortium members can also use the Institute's facilities and property for a variety of activities from one-day field trip to a weeklong course. Housing is available. The Institute plans to expand undergraduate opportunities next summer by offering curriculum of courses to be conducted either in whole or part at the Institute.

Additional information about Pierce Cedar Creek Institute may be obtained by visiting www.cedarcreekinstitute.org. Students wishing to learn more about the URGE program should contact their professors and/or advisors.

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