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The School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES) provides annual scholarships and awards to its outstanding undergraduates. SEES majors are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships.
Scholarship opportunities for continuing undergraduates
To apply for a fall scholarship, please submit the following materials directly to clas-sees@uiowa.edu by Nov. 1:
- A concise description of your academic and research accomplishments, a list of current scholarships, and a description of your career goals (2 pages maximum)
- Academic transcripts from all undergraduate institutions
The final decision for these scholarships will be made by the Undergraduate Committee and the Chair of the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability.
Matt Blanche Memorial Scholarship
This fund provides scholarship support for an undergraduate student who demonstrates need and is majoring in Earth & Environmental Science. The Undergraduate Committee shall select the recipient based on academic record and professional promise. The scholarship is nonrenewable and will be awarded to a different student each year.
Michael G. and Barbara L. Cook Scholarship
This fund supports one or more annual scholarships to deserving undergraduate students from the state of Iowa who are interested in a career in the petroleum and gas industry. This scholarship is renewable to any recipient, so long as the recipient continues to qualify under the specified criteria. If a recipient matching the stated preferences cannot be found, the award will be given to an individual(s) who most closely matches the stated preferences.
Aaron and Joyce Liesch Geology Scholarship
This fund provides up to two annual scholarships to deserving students who are in their third year of study in Earth & Environmental Science – Earth & Planetary Science track. It is awarded to students: (1) based on merit, (2) with the highest GPA, (3) who are not already fully funded by other scholarships and, (4) graduated from a high school in Iowa. The second scholarship recipient does not have to meet the fourth criteria (Iowa high school graduation). If no Iowans qualify, up to two scholarships may be given to non-Iowans. This scholarship is not renewable.
To apply for a spring scholarship, please submit the following materials directly to clas-sees@uiowa.edu by April 1:
- A concise description of your academic and research accomplishments, a list of current scholarships, and a description of your career goals (2 pages maximum)
- Unofficial academic transcripts from all undergraduate institutions
Gary Wilkins Scholarship Fund
This fund provides support for the following activities in the following order of priority: 1) a finishing graduate student who has, as his or her professional objective, a career in energy exploration in mind and may not have the means to maximize his or her education by reason of having to work, 2) graduate or undergraduate students on field trips or in the accomplishment of their individual field projects.
Chad E. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund
This fund is to support an annual award to a promising third-year or fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Geographical and Sustainability Sciences degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Preference will be given to those who demonstrate greater financial need than normal.
Nicholas L. Paape Memorial Fund
This fund is to be used to support one or more annual scholarships to deserving students in the Geographical and Sustainability Sciences major and pursuing the Geographic Information Science track. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors based on academic merit. This scholarship is renewable to any recipient, so long as the recipient continues to qualify under the specified criteria.
Awards for undergraduates
The following are competitive awards based on academic achievement and a strong commitment to school and undergraduate affairs. Students must be nominated by a faculty member. The final decision for these awards will be made by the Undergraduate Committee and the Chair of the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability.
Cedar Valley Rock & Mineral Society Award
This award is given to the top undergraduates in the geology Montana field courses, based on grades. Funding is kindly provided by the Cedar Valley Rock & Mineral Society.
Bill Vosper Award
This award is given to an Earth & Environmental Science – Earth & Planetary Science track major (junior or senior) with a minimum 3.00 GPA who has as strong record of contributing to the school through field trips, work, research, and/or undergraduate affairs.
Cornelia C. Cameron Award
This award is given to an Earth & Environmental Science – Environmental Geoscience track or Ecology track major (junior or senior) with a minimum 3.00 GPA who has as strong record of contributing to the school through field trips, work, research, and/or undergraduate affairs.
Waldo Edward and Martha Althaus Smith Award
This award is given to an outstanding Earth & Environmental Science undergraduate, typically a senior with an interest in a geophysics career, and is awarded every odd year, alternating with Physics and Astronomy.
Lowden Prize in Geology
This award is given to an Earth & Environmental Science major based on aptitude in field geology.
Geoscience Alumni Field Program Award
This fund supports an award to be given to the highest scoring undergraduate at the summer field camp.
Funding available to support undergraduate student research or travel
Financial support for undergraduate research and research-related travel is available. Funding for these awards comes from the following:
- John Swade Memorial Fund
- William M. Furnish and Brian F. Glenister Scholarship Fund
- John P. Littke Memorial Scholarship
- Aaron and Joyce Liesch Geoscience Fund
- Harold H. McCarty Memorial Fund
- Joan and Oscar Lara Memorial Fund
- Martha L. Corry Fund for Geography
- Andrea Hauer and David Perret Student Success Fund
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences scholarships
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also awards scholarships to students continuing coursework in a major within the college. Some scholarships are open to all liberal arts and sciences students and others are for select liberal arts and sciences majors.