In March 1986 the Executive Council of the American Entomological Society formed an Education Committee. The objectives of this committee were to explore ways in which the Society could promote interests in insects among young people and to involve more young people in the activities of the Society. In April 1987 the Executive Council approved a proposal to offer an annual award to a young person who displays unusual accomplishments and interest in the area of entomology or insect-related study.

The award to an outstanding young entomologist of the Delaware Valley is called the Calvert Award in honor of Dr. Philip P. Calvert. Calvert displayed unusual accomplishments as a young entomologist and illustrator in Philadelphia a century ago. He had a 74-year association with the Society and held the office of president from 1900-1915. At the age of 18 he contributed to the first issue of Entomological News and continued on as Associate Editor and Editor through 1943. As a member of the Society, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia, and as a professor of biology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philip P. Calvert was committed to entomological education. It is therefore appropriate that the award to an outstanding young entomologist commemorates one of the outstanding entomologists of the early 20th century. A short biography of Calvert as a young entomologist was published in Ent. News 95(4): 155-162 (1984)

Eligibility