Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

BGHS self-nomination form (online) 

All student nominees must complete the BGHS online self-nomination form. On their self-nomination form, nominees must indicate the individuals providing letters of support for their application. All required application components and application materials must be attached to the nominee's online self-nomination form. 

Student nominees must attach a current curriculum vitae (C.V.) or résumé to their BGHS online self-nomination form which highlights relevant academic and professional experiences. Highlight any work/research experience, research achievements (including publications, thesis/dissertation, journal or conference papers and presentations), honors/awards, and professional organizations/affiliations. 

Student nominees must attach an unofficial copy of their Howard University transcript (capturing all Graduate School coursework taken to date) to their BGHS online self-nomination form before submitting it. 

Student nominees should include as part of their BGHS online self-nomination form a personal statement of no more than 1000 words describing how they embody Dr. Edward Alexander Bouchet's legacy through the five (5) core values of the BGHS: scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy. Additionally, nominees should share any experiences mentoring students or contributing to initiatives aimed at expanding access to higher education.

Specifically, address the following in your statement:

• Scholarship:  Detail your academic achievements, commitment to intellectual pursuits, and any research or scholarly activities that exemplify your dedication to creating new knowledge and to lifelong learning.
• Leadership: Discuss instances where you have taken on leadership roles, whether in academic, extracurricular, or community settings within and outside of Howard University. Highlight your ability to inspire and guide others in pursuit of their aspirations.
• Character: Reflect on your personal and professional values, ethical decision-making, and how your personality aligns with the principles and values upheld by Dr. Edward Alexander Bouchet.
• Service: Describe your involvement in service-oriented activities within and beyond the classroom and Howard University. Discuss your commitment to make a positive impact on your community.
• Advocacy: Share experiences where you have advocated for meaningful change or championed causes that align with Dr. Edward Alexander Bouchet's legacy. Highlight your commitment to social justice and equity.

Beyond demonstrating your commitment to scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy, your essay should provide a comprehensive view of how you embody Dr. Edward Alexander Bouchet's legacy through mentorship and initiatives promoting access to higher education.

• Mentoring Initiatives:  Discuss any experiences you've had mentoring students, sharing your knowledge, and supporting others in their academic, professional, and personal development and pursuits. You may elaborate on any initiatives you have participated in that aimed to expand access to higher education. This could include outreach programs, partnerships, or projects that contribute to making education more accessible, in the U.S. and/or abroad.

Student nominees must include as part of their BGHS online self-nomination form a short essay response of no more than 400 words describing their professional goals, highlighting their alignment with the BGHS mission, and outlining how they anticipate they will actively contribute to and benefit from the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (BGHS).

Specifically, address the following in your essay:

• Your current and future professional goals and the steps you are taking to achieve them. Highlight any specific milestones or projects towards your goal attainment. Discuss the impact you hope to make in your field and any broader contributions you hope to achieve.
• Discuss how your professional goals align with the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (BGHS) mission and values. Discuss specific aspects of the BGHS mission that resonate with your values and professional objectives or aspirations.
• Describe the contribution you hope to make to the BGHS community. This could include the ways you will demonstrate commitment to fostering a supportive and collaborative intellectual network, engaging with fellow BGHS peers and alumni, and actively participating in BGHS initiatives, events, and mentoring opportunities.
• Highlight your unique background and any skills, personal experiences, or perspectives that would enrich the BGHS academic community.

Student nominees must include as part of their BGHS online self-nomination form a short abstract of their dissertation research project (limit to 300 words). This abstract should include a discussion of the research purpose, background, methods, results (or preliminary results), and conclusions (or preliminary conclusions). 

Student nominees must include as part of their BGHS online self-nomination form a conference abstract (250-500 words, Times New Roman, 11pt font, single-spaced) by uploading the Abstract Submission Cover Sheet (this form is located within the online BGHS self-nomination form) for review. The uploaded Abstract Submission Cover Sheet must be signed by a faculty advisor who has reviewed your abstract. Abstracts without faculty signatures will not be reviewed. All nominees MUST submit an abstract to present at the annual conference at Yale in April. Your abstract will be reviewed by the Howard BGHS committee and feedback will be provided before your formal conference proposal submission to Yale. 

A limited number of research proposals will be accepted in each of the following divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering. Submissions must be relevant to one of the following topics:

• Science, Technology, Science Policy
• Chronic Diseases, Health
• Race Relations, Social Movements
• Literature, Arts, Culture
• U.S./International Policy, Law, Economics
• Career Paths, Transitioning

Abstracts should be 250-500 words, Times New Roman, 11pt font, single-spaced. Abstracts must include purpose, background, methods, results or findings (or preliminary results or findings), and conclusions (or preliminary conclusions).  Abstracts must also include the title of the presentation, author name(s), and institutional affiliation(s).  

Student nominees must attach a short biographical sketch (limit to 250 words, Times New Roman, 11pt font, single-spaced) to their BGHS online self-nomination form before submitting it. The format for the biographical sketch should include boldface for the student’s name and italic lettering for the field of study. The biographical sketch should be written in the third person and should only include a description of the student’s dissertation research, publications, and awards. The nominee should not have personal non-academic information, like hobbies and interests, unless specifically relevant to a nominee's contribution to the BGHS. 

Sample biographical sketch:

Nate Johnson
Chemistry
Optional: Inductee’s email address, website, and LinkedIn profile URL

Nate Johnson is a candidate for the Ph.D. in chemistry with a concentration in medicinal organic chemistry at Howard University. His research focuses on designing, synthesizing, and evaluating novel small molecules as anti-prostate cancer agents. Nate has been recognized as an Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Fellow, Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning Network STEM Education Scholar, and received the Preparing Future Faculty certificate of completion. He also received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Boston College, where he was a recipient of the Corcoran Scholarship. Nate learns and grows with every endeavor and believes in sharing a love of chemistry through his teaching. He has been an avid volunteer with the Community Science fest, a community-directed science literacy effort centered on providing hands-on experiences to DC-area students from pre-K to high school. Ultimately, Nate aspires to work at the intersection of business and science, with a passion for improving lives through science and new technology.

Student nominees should submit the following online nomination evaluation forms to the individuals they have indicated will provide written support. Evaluations must be received electronically by the deadline noted. Student nominees waive their right to view the evaluations/recommendations sent in on their behalf. Students are responsible for providing their references with enough information to support their application for the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society:

• Dissertation advisor nomination evaluation form (online), including a letter of support written and submitted by the nominee’s faculty dissertation advisor. The recommendation/letter of support should directly address how the applicant exemplifies each of the core values of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society: scholarship, character, leadership, service, and advocacy. 
• Faculty/mentor nomination evaluation form (online), including a letter of support written and submitted by a current Howard graduate faculty member, chair, or evaluator with knowledge of the nominee’s leadership, character, service, or advocacy qualities. The recommendation/letter of support should directly address how the applicant exemplifies each of the core values of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society: scholarship, character, leadership, service, and advocacy.