Goldwater Scholarships

Description of this scholarship

Myrtle K. Maier Scholarship

For a junior physics major with preference to a female student. Award based primarily on scholastic ability, need, potential for success and ambition toward securing an advanced degree. May be renewed for one year with satisfactory academic progress. No application is required; qualified students are automatically considered.

Value: Amount varies (one or two awards annually).

Edward B. Nelson Scholarship

To incoming first-year students majoring in physics and astronomy. The scholarship is named after Professor Edward B. Nelson, a long-time professor in the department from the 1940s to the 1980s. Professor Nelson made the first precision measurement of structure of the ground state of the hydrogen atom, a result of tremendous importance for fundamental physics and radio astronomy. Professor Nelson was also heavily involved in undergraduate teaching during his career at Iowa. The winners of this scholarship are chosen by a faculty committee from incoming students, on the basis of ACT score results and high school records. No application is required; all qualified applicants are automatically considered.

Value: $1,000 (one award).

William R. Savage Award

To a promising junior physics major who demonstrates academic excellence and shows promise of successful achievement in the field of physics. Award funds will be available for the student's senior year. Preference will be given to a student who has been an undergraduate research assistant, or who worked in experimental physics, or who participated in the Honors Program. Financial need is considered. Qualified students are automatically considered.

Value: Amount varies (one award).

George S. Schaeffer Scholarship

Description of the scholarship

Shoemaker-Strickler Memorial Scholarship

Description of the scholarship

Waldo Edward & Martha Althaus Smith Memorial Award

To a senior (or less commonly, a junior) for outstanding work in physics and astronomy. This award is to encourage, promote, and foster interest in geophysics specifically by directing the award to a student with excellence in the relevant sciences, who has expressly manifested an interest in pursuing a career in geophysics. This award alternates between the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Geoscience. It is awarded by the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the even years. Qualified students are automatically considered.

Value: Amount varies (one award).

The Strayer-Rairden Scholarship in Physics

The Strayer-Rairden scholarship provides a $1,000 award, renewable for up to three successive years following the initial award, to an entering first-year student from the state of Iowa. This person is selected by the Department of Physics and Astronomy as the state's best-qualified applicant who has declared physics or astronomy as their major. Applicants must take the Drake Physics Examination. Information on the registration process for this exam is available through the student's high school guidance counselor or science teacher. This scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit, not financial need.

As long as a scholarship winner maintains a 3.2 grade point average, and remains in the declared major specified above, the scholarship may be renewed for a total of four years or the completion of a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first.

Value: $1,000 (one award).

Contact: Heather Mineart, (319) 335-1688, or heather-mineart@uiowa.edu. Please specify if you would like to receive a copy electronically as a MS Word attachment or if you would prefer a hard copy be sent to you.

Description of the scholarship

Deadline: January 31.

Velma E. Stuit Scholarships

Description of the scholarship

James A. Van Allen Award

To a senior for outstanding work in physics or astronomy. Qualified students are automatically considered.

Value: Amount varies (Number varies).

Van Allen Research Grant

Personal stipends and ancillary expenses for undergraduate majors in physics and/or astronomy who undertake research projects under faculty guidance. Such grants are based on a brief written proposal, including budget, by the student and an endorsement by a mentoring member of the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Value: Amount varies (Number varies).

Contact: Aaron Votroubek in Room 211, Van Allen Hall (VAN) to view the list of potential projects available. The student will be able to review the list and work with the faculty mentor to develop the proposal. A short report is due to Aaron after the project is completed.

Deadline: Early May--contact Department of Physics and Astronomy for exact date each year.

John and Stacey Wahl Scholarship

Scholarship is for graduate or undergraduate students studying physics. Recipients should be married, with preference given to those students with children. May be renewed. No application is required; qualified students are automatically considered.

Value: $2,000 (two awards)

Charles Wert Scholarship

To incoming first-year students majoring in physics and astronomy. The scholarship is named after Professor Charles Wert of the University of Illinois, who received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Iowa in 1943 and 1948, respectively. Professor Wert joined the faculty of the University of Illinois in 1950 and was head of the Metallurgical Engineering Department from 1967 to 1987. He received the Albert White award for excellence in teaching from the American Society for Metals International. No application is required; all qualified applicants are automatically considered. This scholarship is renewal in subsequent years.

Value: $1,500