The endowment supporting this award was established in 1990 by the late Zoology Prof. Richard C. Snyder whose principal professional interests are comparative anatomy, vertebrate natural history and ecology, funtional morphology (esp. animal locomotion), herpetology and ornithology. He is honored for his many and sustained contributions to the teaching program in the Department, in large part due to his classes in functional morphology and in the natural history of vertebrates. Dick not only played an important role in elevating the regard for Biology's undergraduate program, but also served as the chief mentor to a number of distinguished graduate students.