In 1987, the American Entomological Society initiated the Calvert Award to be presented to a young person who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in insect-related study. The Award is named in honor of Dr. Philip P. Calvert who joined the Society as a teenager, later became its president, and was a member for 74 years. As Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and an Associate of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Dr. Calvert played an important role in stimulating an interest in insects among young people.

This year, the seventeenth Calvert Award was presented to D. J. Haney, an 8th grade student at William Allen Middle School in Moorestown, NJ. His project was entitled, “To bite or not to bite?” D. J’s project arose from his awareness of cases of West Nile Virus in his neighborhood and his desire to prevent mosquitoes from biting. His project was selected from among 16 insect-related science projects presented at the annual  Delaware Valley Science Fairs held on April 2 at the Expo Center in Fort Washington, PA.

D. J. Haney explains his insect-related project to Dr. William Day, past president of the American Entomological Society.

Daniel Zinshteyn, an 8th grade student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who attends Baldi Middle School, received a  fist runner up award for his project, "DEET: Are there hidden dangers.” For his project, Daniel studied the effect of DEET and Black Walnut extracts on fruit flies.

Daniel Zinshteyn, first runner up in the Calvert Award competition, receives his award from Dr. Susan Whitney, President of the American Entomological Society and Dr. Hal White, Chair of the AES Education Committee, who evaluated the projects.

Courtney Cope rounded out the awardees with her project entitled, "Horned Passalas beetles can pull their weight, can you?" Courney is an 8th grade student at Penn View Christian School in Souderton, Pennsylvania.

Courtney Cope, Second runner up in the Calvert Award competition, displays her project on the strength of beetles.

All three students were honored at the Calvert Award ceremonies held April 23 at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Susan Whitney, president of the American Entomological Society, presented them with certificates of accomplishment and memberships in the American Entomological Society. D. J. also received a $50 check, while Daniel and Courtney received $25 checks, and memberships in the Young Entomologists’ Society and the American Entomological Society. Jon Gelhaus, past president member of the Academy's Entomology Department, displayed portions of P. P. Calvert's collection of dragonflies and damselflies housed at the Academy.

Courtesy of Dr. Jon Gelhaus, small portion of Philip Calvert's collection of dragonflies and damselflies housed in the Entomology collections of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.