Student Resources
Central States Chapter Student Research Grant Requirements
CSACSM offers two research grants per year at the undergraduate, masters, and PhD level (six grants total).
Award Amounts:
Undergraduate: up to $500
Masters: up to $1,000
PhD: up to $1,500
- The applicant is a current student (undergraduate, masters, or doctoral) at a university in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, or Oklahoma during the proposed time of data collection.
- The student is majoring in an ACSM related field (e.g., clinical/applied or basic exercise science or sports medicine)
- The student is a current CSACSM member (as of time of the grant submission)
- The student’s mentor has been a CSACSM member for at least 1 year prior to the grant submission (mentors who have been a CSACSM member <1 year and relocated to the region within the past 12 months ARE eligible).
- The student can attend and present their research progress at the 2026 CSACSM Regional Meeting held in Tulsa, OK in early Late February/March 2026.
- Two letters of recommendation (one being from the applicant’s mentor) evaluating the applicant’s potential to develop as a researcher/scholar.
- A one-page abstract with the specific subheadings OVERVIEW, PURPOSE, METHODS, ANALYSIS detailing the project.
- A grant proposal with the specific subheadings: OVERVIEW, INNOVATION, SPECIFIC AIMS, APPROACH, SIGNIFICANCE.This section should not exceed 5 pages
- Both the abstract and grant proposal must be written using Microsoft Word and follow these formatting guidelines: Times New Roman 12-point font, 1-inch margins, single spaced
- A detailed budget for the project and an explanation what the grant will cover from the overall budget (if the budget exceeds the grant).
- References for the grant proposal.
Proposal submissions is now OPEN. Applications are due July 1, 2026.
Application requirements for 2027 can be downloaded here:2027_CSACSM_Student_Research_Grant_Information_v2
Central States Past-President's Scholarship
Purpose
The Central States American College of Sports Medicine (CSACSM) Past-President’s Scholarship provides financial support in the amount of $750 to future leaders in exercise science or related field. This scholarship is to be used to support academic excellence and professional involvement.
Eligibility
The CSACSM Past-President’s Scholarship will be awarded to a current student of an Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, or related field from an institution of higher education in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, or Oklahoma. All applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate, masters, or doctoral program within the CSACSM Chapter at the time of the award.
- Applicants must have demonstrated leadership qualities such as community engagement, CSACSM committee participation, active professional society participation, university committee/organization active involvement, etc.
- Applicants and faculty member providing a letter of recommendation must be a current CSACSM member at time of application submission.
- Applicants must have a minimum of 3.5 GPA.
Application requirements for 2027 can be downloaded here: Past-President’s Scholarship Criteria (1)
Coverletter: Central States Student Scholarships – Call for Applicants Past-President’s scholarship
Past-President’s Scholarship applications are due by Monday, June 30, 2026. Applicants will be notified of decision funding by Friday, July 31, 2026.
- Complete Application Packets should be e-mailed to: Taylor Dinyer-McNeely – Tdinyer-mcneely@missouristate.edu
2026 Central States Chapter Student Award Recipients
Undergraduate Outstanding Research Award
Thanh Nguyen, University of Kansas
Mentor: Dr. Yu Song
Master’s Outstanding Research Award
Kyler Baldwin, Oklahoma State University
Mentor: Dr. Matt Bird
Doctoral Outstanding Research Award
Shawn Wierick, University of Arkansas
2026 CSACSM Award Winners
Student Podcast
Student Podcast Episode 1
Conversation with Aaron Caldwell, University of Arkansas PhD candidate
Student Podcast Episode 2
Conversation with Dr. Nicholas Greene, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas
Student Podcast Episode 3
Conversation with Dr. Tim Lightfoot, Omar Smith Endowed Professor of Kinesiology and Director of the Huffines Institute, Texas A&M University
Student Podcast Episode 4
Conversation with PhD student Whitley Atkins about working in a tech start up firm