By: Natascha Toft Roelsgaard
The benefits of academic conferences are vast and many. They offer opportunities to build valuable connections with other scholars, discover emerging trends and topics in the field, and serve as a safe space to share and receive feedback on research projects—and who doesn’t love a chance to explore a new city?
Attending academic conferences is also an important stepping stone for graduate students, expanding their professional network, fine-tuning research ideas, and improving presentation skills. But attending can be costly. That’s why the AJHA auction, our annual fundraiser to support student travel, is so important. Last year, the auction, led by Jon Marshall, raised more than $2,700; this year, the committee hopes to raise $3,000.
All money raised helps fund the Michael S. Sweeney Graduate Student Travel Stipend, which supports students whose papers have been accepted by reducing the cost of attending the conference.
Claire Rounkles, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Missouri and past stipend recipient, said that such financial support is vital for first-generation students like herself to attend. With the Sweeney Travel Stipend, Rounkles has attended several AJHA conferences, presented research papers and works in progress, and served on a panel.
“As a broke graduate student, receiving financial aid to attend the annual conference has helped me in more ways than I can mention. The opportunity the conference provides students to engage with scholars and to learn how to present is invaluable,” Rounkles said. “Besides the opportunity to advance my research, I have also fostered connections that have helped me in the job hunt. Any effort to continue the Sweeney Travel Stipend will help future scholars and advance the legacy Mike Sweeney held of promoting students to be the best they can be.”
To support student conference travel, you can donate an item or bid on one—or do both. Use this form to donate items or packages. It will ask you to briefly describe your item, upload a photo, and suggest a starting bid. Not sure what to donate? We are looking for historical books, magazines, newspapers, journalism history-related trinkets and tokens, such as coffee mugs, t-shirts, cameras, messenger bags, and glasses. Maybe you have a package of local goods or university merch you are willing to part ways with, and our members always get excited when wine and spirits are in the mix.
All donated items will be uploaded to Give Butter, which is the same app we used last year. While some items will be live auctioned during the conference, most bidding will happen on the app. So, keep your eyes peeled and bid early and often!
Natascha Toft Roelsgaard is an assistant professor of journalism at Muskingum University in Ohio. She serves on the AJHA Auction committee.
