Students

SEM encourages students to participate in the activities of the society. The student members of today are the future leaders of the society tomorrow. Here are some of the ways in which students may participate in the society as well as some of the areas of support for student activities.

Student Membership

Students are encouraged to join SEM as full members of the Society but with significantly reduced rates for: Membership in the Society, Conference Registration, and Short Course Registration. Student members are encouraged to get involved in the workings of the Society and the many Technical Divisions.  

Competitions and Scholarships

Michael Sutton International Student Paper Competition
Organized every year as part of the SEM Annual Conference this competition gives students an opportunity to present their work and to learn from the experience of presenting their work. Click for full details

First Place - $300 Cash, Handbook on Experimental Mechanics (Hardbound), Second Edition, SEM Student Membership
Second Place - $200 Cash, SEM Student Membership
Third Place - $100 Cash, SEM Student Membership

Dominick J. Demichele Scholarship
Established in honor of the late Dick DeMichele, the scholarship is intended to help carry out Dick’s goal of encouraging and increasing student participation at IMAC. The scholarship is available to financially assist one student each year to attend IMAC in order to present a paper at the conference. Click for full details

Payment of all conference fees at the student rate, reimbursement of all reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending the IMAC conference where the presentation is made and a framed certificate bearing the name of the award, the name of the recipient, an appropriate citation, and the date of presentation. The recipient attends the award luncheon as the guest of the Society.
 
G. L. Cloud Scholarship
To celebrate professor Cloud’s many years of contributions to the field of experimental mechanics by recognizing a unique individual and his/her aspirations to pursue a graduate degree in experimental mechanics and to create new knowledge that leads to sustainable improvements in the human condition. Click for full details

Reimbursement of all (student-rate) SEM Annual conference fees paid by the recipient(s), reimbursement of all reasonable travel expenses incurred by the recipient(s) in attending the SEM Annual conference where the award will be granted, recognition of the recipient through presentation of a framed certificate and a check in the amount of $3,000 USD at the Conference Luncheon and Awards Ceremonies conducted in conjunction with the SEM Annual Conference.

Student Chapters

Student Chapters are a vehicle by which student members can organize activities and events for personal and professional development. SEM contributes some financial support for Student Chapters. Student chapters give students a chance to meet with their peers and discuss research interests and job opportunities. Also, many student chapters hold student symposia and other such events that give students a chance to build their presentation skills. These local events can lead to the national student paper competition held each year in conjunction with the SEM Annual Conference. Click for more details on Student Chapters