Hello!
Well James C.,
The consensus seems to be that sponsors are acceptable to
the community of mollusc workers and collectors.
If I were you I would hold off naming the new Dove shell, "venusta",
and concentrate on getting a deep pocketed donor/sponsor to help you
out with college/grad school expenses - a worthwhile cause indeed.
Of course you would name the mollusc after him/her!
Later,
Emilio Jorge Power