Last month, IFR hosted its annual celebration for the Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholars, a group of outstanding students who took their learning into the field this summer. Our 2025 cohort of scholars traveled to field schools in Ireland, Peru, North Macedonia, Ecuador, China, and Portugal, with our October celebration event marking the culmination of their journeys in this prestigious program. The scholars shared reflective videos of their field experiences and joined in lively discussions about their research and personal growth with IFR’s board, staff, and the scholarship’s generous funder, Vera Campbell.

Their words captured just how transformative these opportunities can be. “As a kid I fell in love with museums and knew that I wanted to become an archaeologist. This dig solidified that passion for me,” shared Spiros Thanopoulos, who excavated at IFR’s Stobi field school in North Macedonia. “This scholarship let me live out my dreams…and I can say for certain this was the best summer of my life.” Another scholar, Meredith Adambe, reflected on how her fieldwork at the Sligo Greenfort in Ireland reshaped her goals: “Traveling abroad truly expands your outlook, and doing so has revived a sense of freedom within me. I dream even bigger now.”

The Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholarship was created to expand access to field research for first-generation students and those from underrepresented backgrounds, helping to remove financial barriers that often limit who can participate in global fieldwork. By providing up to $5,000 toward the cost of an IFR field school and personalized mentorship from IFR Academic Board members and staff, the scholarship empowers students to gain hands-on experiences, connect across cultures, and envision futures in research or higher education that might have once felt out of reach.

Through this scholarship program, IFR and the Vera R. Campbell Foundation are working together to foster a more inclusive and representative field science community. We are thrilled to announce that the Vera Campbell Promise Scholarship will return for the 2026 field season. Learn more about the application process and complete an interest form to be notified when applications open for this incredible opportunity.