About the SAA Awards
The Society for American Archaeology Awards recognize and honor knowledge and professional achievements at all career levels--from student and early career archaeologists to those who have made lasting contributions to the Society and the profession. The Call for Nominations opens in the fall of each year.
The 2025 Call for Award Nominations is open.
Deadlines and nomination information vary by award
The Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grants is open for applications.
Prior to any award recommendation being finalized and publicly announced, anyone recommended for an award, scholarship, or grant will be required to certify the following:
(a) I am not and have not ever been the subject of a discrimination or harassment lawsuit or related administrative complaint that resulted in an adverse finding; and(b) I do not have and have not had a current or pending disciplinary action such as suspension or termination of registration, resulting from a Register of Professional Archaeologists’ grievance investigation.
Professional Awards
Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grants
Nomination/Submission Deadline: 15 Nov 2024
Award Description
The application link is available under Nomination/Submission Materials Required.
The Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grant (MAG) was established by the generosity of her family to support the participation of members in the Annual Meeting who might not otherwise be able to attend. The MAG committee will award funds up $500 to support access and travel to the in-person Annual Meeting in the following categories:
- Travel (airfare, car rental, gas, etc.)
- Lodging (hotel within SAA room block)
- Food (meals during the meeting and while traveling to/from it)
- Incidentals (public and private transportation, including but not limited to train, subway, bus, taxi, Uber/Lyft, etc.; visa application costs and travel costs associated with obtaining a visa; poster printing fees)
- Childcare
- Meeting registration fees
Who Is Eligible to Submit Nominations or Apply for the Award
- student (undergraduate or graduate);
- first-generation college student;
- international member*;
- Indigenous, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations person;
- first-time presenter at the SAA Annual Meeting.
Application deadlines occur annually twice a year. One round each in the summer and fall prior to the annual meeting. Applicants for the summer round will receive notification in September. Funds will be distributed to successful applicants by February 15 annually.
Applicants awarded a DNMAG during the first round of awards may not apply for another DNMAG until the following calendar year (successful applicants for the 2024 Annual Meeting may not apply again until 2025 for the 2026 annual meeting). The SAA will ask grant recipients unable to follow through with their intended participation in the in-person annual meeting to refund the funds awarded. Recipients failing to return the unused funds will be ineligible to apply for other future SAA support, including but not limited to the meeting access grants.
Members who applied unsuccessfully for a grant during the summer round of awards will have their application rolled over to the fall deadline and automatically included in the second award round.
Nomination/Submission Materials Required
The application for the fall round of the 2025 meeting access grants is now available here: https://forms.gle/Yaumw1NeeZLVTS2m8
All applicants will receive an email confirmation that their application was received.
Other Special Requirements
Nature of Award (e.g. monetary, medal, symposium)
Current Committee Charge
Committee Composition
Term Length
Award Cycle
Committee Chair and End of Term
Committee Chair Contact Information
Committee Members and Ends of Terms
Selection or Evaluation Criteria
- student (undergraduate or graduate);
- first-generation college student;
- international member*;
- Indigenous, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations person;
- first-time presenter at the SAA Annual Meeting.
Committee Deliberation Process (e.g. dates, venue)
88th Annual Meeting (Portland 2023)
Travel Awards
Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grants
Nomination/Submission Deadline: 15 Nov 2024
Award Description
The application link is available under Nomination/Submission Materials Required.
The Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grant (MAG) was established by the generosity of her family to support the participation of members in the Annual Meeting who might not otherwise be able to attend. The MAG committee will award funds up $500 to support access and travel to the in-person Annual Meeting in the following categories:
- Travel (airfare, car rental, gas, etc.)
- Lodging (hotel within SAA room block)
- Food (meals during the meeting and while traveling to/from it)
- Incidentals (public and private transportation, including but not limited to train, subway, bus, taxi, Uber/Lyft, etc.; visa application costs and travel costs associated with obtaining a visa; poster printing fees)
- Childcare
- Meeting registration fees
Who Is Eligible to Submit Nominations or Apply for the Award
- student (undergraduate or graduate);
- first-generation college student;
- international member*;
- Indigenous, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations person;
- first-time presenter at the SAA Annual Meeting.
Application deadlines occur annually twice a year. One round each in the summer and fall prior to the annual meeting. Applicants for the summer round will receive notification in September. Funds will be distributed to successful applicants by February 15 annually.
Applicants awarded a DNMAG during the first round of awards may not apply for another DNMAG until the following calendar year (successful applicants for the 2024 Annual Meeting may not apply again until 2025 for the 2026 annual meeting). The SAA will ask grant recipients unable to follow through with their intended participation in the in-person annual meeting to refund the funds awarded. Recipients failing to return the unused funds will be ineligible to apply for other future SAA support, including but not limited to the meeting access grants.
Members who applied unsuccessfully for a grant during the summer round of awards will have their application rolled over to the fall deadline and automatically included in the second award round.
Nomination/Submission Materials Required
The application for the fall round of the 2025 meeting access grants is now available here: https://forms.gle/Yaumw1NeeZLVTS2m8
All applicants will receive an email confirmation that their application was received.
Other Special Requirements
Nature of Award (e.g. monetary, medal, symposium)
Current Committee Charge
Committee Composition
Term Length
Award Cycle
Committee Chair and End of Term
Committee Chair Contact Information
Committee Members and Ends of Terms
Selection or Evaluation Criteria
- student (undergraduate or graduate);
- first-generation college student;
- international member*;
- Indigenous, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations person;
- first-time presenter at the SAA Annual Meeting.
Committee Deliberation Process (e.g. dates, venue)
88th Annual Meeting (Portland 2023)
Student Awards
Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grants
Nomination/Submission Deadline: 15 Nov 2024
Award Description
The application link is available under Nomination/Submission Materials Required.
The Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grant (MAG) was established by the generosity of her family to support the participation of members in the Annual Meeting who might not otherwise be able to attend. The MAG committee will award funds up $500 to support access and travel to the in-person Annual Meeting in the following categories:
- Travel (airfare, car rental, gas, etc.)
- Lodging (hotel within SAA room block)
- Food (meals during the meeting and while traveling to/from it)
- Incidentals (public and private transportation, including but not limited to train, subway, bus, taxi, Uber/Lyft, etc.; visa application costs and travel costs associated with obtaining a visa; poster printing fees)
- Childcare
- Meeting registration fees
Who Is Eligible to Submit Nominations or Apply for the Award
- student (undergraduate or graduate);
- first-generation college student;
- international member*;
- Indigenous, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations person;
- first-time presenter at the SAA Annual Meeting.
Application deadlines occur annually twice a year. One round each in the summer and fall prior to the annual meeting. Applicants for the summer round will receive notification in September. Funds will be distributed to successful applicants by February 15 annually.
Applicants awarded a DNMAG during the first round of awards may not apply for another DNMAG until the following calendar year (successful applicants for the 2024 Annual Meeting may not apply again until 2025 for the 2026 annual meeting). The SAA will ask grant recipients unable to follow through with their intended participation in the in-person annual meeting to refund the funds awarded. Recipients failing to return the unused funds will be ineligible to apply for other future SAA support, including but not limited to the meeting access grants.
Members who applied unsuccessfully for a grant during the summer round of awards will have their application rolled over to the fall deadline and automatically included in the second award round.
Nomination/Submission Materials Required
The application for the fall round of the 2025 meeting access grants is now available here: https://forms.gle/Yaumw1NeeZLVTS2m8
All applicants will receive an email confirmation that their application was received.
Other Special Requirements
Nature of Award (e.g. monetary, medal, symposium)
Current Committee Charge
Committee Composition
Term Length
Award Cycle
Committee Chair and End of Term
Committee Chair Contact Information
Committee Members and Ends of Terms
Selection or Evaluation Criteria
- student (undergraduate or graduate);
- first-generation college student;
- international member*;
- Indigenous, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations person;
- first-time presenter at the SAA Annual Meeting.
Committee Deliberation Process (e.g. dates, venue)
88th Annual Meeting (Portland 2023)
Student Fellowship Awards
Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grants
Nomination/Submission Deadline: 15 Nov 2024
Award Description
The application link is available under Nomination/Submission Materials Required.
The Deborah L. Nichols Meeting Access Grant (MAG) was established by the generosity of her family to support the participation of members in the Annual Meeting who might not otherwise be able to attend. The MAG committee will award funds up $500 to support access and travel to the in-person Annual Meeting in the following categories:
- Travel (airfare, car rental, gas, etc.)
- Lodging (hotel within SAA room block)
- Food (meals during the meeting and while traveling to/from it)
- Incidentals (public and private transportation, including but not limited to train, subway, bus, taxi, Uber/Lyft, etc.; visa application costs and travel costs associated with obtaining a visa; poster printing fees)
- Childcare
- Meeting registration fees
Who Is Eligible to Submit Nominations or Apply for the Award
- student (undergraduate or graduate);
- first-generation college student;
- international member*;
- Indigenous, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations person;
- first-time presenter at the SAA Annual Meeting.
Application deadlines occur annually twice a year. One round each in the summer and fall prior to the annual meeting. Applicants for the summer round will receive notification in September. Funds will be distributed to successful applicants by February 15 annually.
Applicants awarded a DNMAG during the first round of awards may not apply for another DNMAG until the following calendar year (successful applicants for the 2024 Annual Meeting may not apply again until 2025 for the 2026 annual meeting). The SAA will ask grant recipients unable to follow through with their intended participation in the in-person annual meeting to refund the funds awarded. Recipients failing to return the unused funds will be ineligible to apply for other future SAA support, including but not limited to the meeting access grants.
Members who applied unsuccessfully for a grant during the summer round of awards will have their application rolled over to the fall deadline and automatically included in the second award round.
Nomination/Submission Materials Required
The application for the fall round of the 2025 meeting access grants is now available here: https://forms.gle/Yaumw1NeeZLVTS2m8
All applicants will receive an email confirmation that their application was received.
Other Special Requirements
Nature of Award (e.g. monetary, medal, symposium)
Current Committee Charge
Committee Composition
Term Length
Award Cycle
Committee Chair and End of Term
Committee Chair Contact Information
Committee Members and Ends of Terms
Selection or Evaluation Criteria
- student (undergraduate or graduate);
- first-generation college student;
- international member*;
- Indigenous, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations person;
- first-time presenter at the SAA Annual Meeting.
Committee Deliberation Process (e.g. dates, venue)
88th Annual Meeting (Portland 2023)
Scholarships: for undergraduate and graduate student scholarships, see the Cheryl L. Wase Memorial Scholarship, Matthew Tobin Cappetta Archaeological Scholarship, Student Excellence in Archaeology Scholarships, and Native American Scholarships.