Geology Major Scholarships

Continuing Student Alumni Award

• Award: $300 per academic year (award cannot be won in consecutive semesters); Fall and spring semester award up to two (2) students; Not renewable.
• Criteria: Declared Geology Major; Full-time student (12 semester hours); Minimum semester GPA of 3.25 for previous semester (course load and difficulty will be considered).
• Application: Submit 1) the Continuing Student Alumni Award Application (pdf) and 2) a letter of recommendation from a Geology faculty member.

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Paul Wagner Memorial Scholarship

• Award: Determined by the department based on the fund balance.
• Criteria: Junior or senior class level Geology major; Minimum 3.0 GPA; Must be an outstanding student who has contributed to the field of Geology; Planned or past enrollment in the Geology Summer Camp; Not renewable.
• Application: Contact the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences.

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Richard Schafer Freshman Geology Scholarship

• Award: Determined by the department and annual interest earnings on the endowment.
• Criteria: Entering freshman as a Geology Major; Minimum composite ACT of 24 or minimum 3.2 high school GPA; Leadership and activities will be considered; not renewable.
• Application: Submit the Richard Schafer Community College Trasfer Geology Application (pdf) .

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Richard Schafer Community College Transfer Geology Scholarship

• Award: $300
• Criteria: Geology Major; Completed a minimum of 30 semester hours of college credit at the time of enrollment at WIU with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA; Completed four semester hours of geology/earth sciences at the time of enrollment at WIU with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA; Renewable (The award is for the first year of enrollment at WIU. The award is repeated for a second year of residence at WIU if the Geology major has maintained a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA at WIU. In addition, one new award will also be made each year to a qualified applicant).
• Application: Submit 1) the Richard Schafer Community College Trasfer Geology Application (pdf) and 2) a letter of recommendation from a geology/earth sciences faculty member from the two-year institution 3) all transcripts from previous institutions.

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Richard Schafer Geology Summer Field Camp Award

• Award: Determined by the department and annual interest earnings on the endowment.
• Criteria: Must be an outstanding student who has contributed to the field of Geology; Planned or past enrollment in the Geology Summer Camp; Not renewable.
• Application: Contact the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences.

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New Geology Major Scholarship

• Award: $500 for fall semester; continued $500 for spring semester if student remains a Geology major AND maintains a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
• Criteria: Be a newly declared Geology Major (non-entering freshman) within previous 12 months; Be a full-time student (12 s.h.); Have a successfully completed Geology 110 or Geology 112; Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0;
• Application: Submit 1) the New Geology Major Scholarship Application (pdf) and 2) a letter of recommendation from a geology faculty member.

GIS Majors

George Huseman GIS Scholarship

• Award: Award amount will be determined by annual interest earnings on the endowment.
• Criteria: First preference shall be given to entering freshmen from Brown County High School (BCHS) who plan to major in GIS. Applicants must have a minimum composite ACT score of 25; If no applicants from BCHS meet the criteria then the scholarship shall be open to entering freshmen from BCHS with minimum composite ACT score of 25, regardless of intended major; If there are no incoming freshmen eligible for this scholarship, then former graduated students currently enrolled at WIU, with a minimum GPA of 2.75, shall be eligible for this award. First preference will again be given to applicants majoring in GIS; Preference for multiple applicants in any category is given to best academic record; renewable.
• Application Requirements: Financial need is not a consideration. Contact the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences to apply.

Kenneth R. Martin Memorial Scholarship

• Award: Award amount of $500 will be awarded to the recipient.
• Criteria: Declared GIS major; completed 50 or more semester hours of college-level work; completed a minimum of 9 semester hours of coursework in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences; minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA; enrolled full time; renewable (renewed for a second year if the recipient maintains a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and remains enrolled full time as a major in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences).
• Application: Submit 1) the Kenneth R. Martin Memorial Scholarship Application (.docx) and 2) a letter of recommendation in support of application.

GIS or Meteorology Majors

Arthur G. Tillman Memorial Scholarship

• Award: Usually $1,000, will be determined by the annual interest earnings on the endowment.
• Criteria: Declared GIS or Meteorology major; completed at least 30 semester hours of college credit at Western Illinois University, with an overall GPA pf 3.0 or better; completed at least 9 semester hours of GIS courses at Western Illinois University by the time of application, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better; renewable (must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better).
• Application Requirements: Must have at least one letter of recommendation from a faculty member. Contact the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences to apply.

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John J. Alford, Fred C. Caspall and Alden R. Longwell Scholarship

• Award: $4,000 to be applied to the student's university account, $2,000 for Fall semester and $2,000 for Spring semester, pending 10th day enrollment verification; renewable (recipient maintains a GPA of "B" or better).
• Criteria: Declared GIS or Meteorology major; completed at least 30 semester hours of college credit at WIU with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better; completed at least 9 semester hours of Geography courses at WIU by the time of application with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better;
• Application Requirements: Submit 1) the Alford, Caspall and Longwell Scholarship Application (.doc) 2) One letter of recommendation from a faculty member 3) an essay demonstrating financial need for this scholarship.

GIS, Geography, or Meteorology Majors

Ruth Russell Memorial Scholarship

• Award: Award amount will be determined by annual interest earnings on the endowment.
• Criteria: Declared major in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences; must be enrolled full time; completed 60 semester hours of college level work and be classified as a junior or senior; completed a minimum 9 semester hours of coursework in the Department of Geography; minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA; renewable (for a second year if the recipient maintains a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and remains enrolled full time as a major in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences).
• Application: Submit 1) the Ruth Russell Memorial Scholarship Application (.doc) and 2) a letter of recommendation in support of application.

Graduate Scholarships

Arlin Fentem and Ronald Nelson Student Scholarship

• Award: Award amount up to $1,000 ($500 to be dispersed each semester). This gift may be used to assist the student with any costs they determine appropriate. Renewable (recipient must maintain a 3.5 GPA, continues to be enrolled in the WIU Geography program and continues to make progress towards degree completion)
• Criteria: New student admitted unconditionally to the Master of Science - GIScience and Geoenvironment program OR current, full-time graduate student who has completed one semester (9 credit hours); minimum GPA of 3.5; preference will be given to students with financial need; preference will be given to students who desire to work in the field of Geography.
• Application Requirements: Submit the Fentem/Nelson Scholarship Application (.docx)

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Richard Longwell Graduate Scholarship

• Award: Award amount is determined by the annual interest earnings on the endowment; this award may be used to assist a student in the graduate program in Geography; the student will determine the appropriate use of the award; not renewable.
• Criteria: Full time graduate student (9 semester hours or more); completed a minimum of 9 semester hours; minimum 3.5 GPA; making progress towards degree completion.
• Application Requirements: Submit the Longwell Scholarship Application (.docx)

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Robert K. Fryzek Memorial Scholarship

• Award:Award amount based on the annual interest earnings on the endowment; renewable only if student is nominated the following year.
• Criteria: This scholarship is awarded to a graduate student in Geography with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrates leadership within the Department of Geography, university and community.
• Application Requirements: All Geography faculty and currently enrolled graduate students will be asked to nominate potential awardees. The award winner shall be selected by a vote of all currently enrolled graduate students and Geography faculty.

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Ronald Beveridge Memorial Scholarship

• Award:Award amount will be determined by the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences. Not renewable.
• Criteria: Currently enrolled full-time outstanding graduate student; completed a minimum of 9 semester hours; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7; exhibit leadership abilities; active participation in the department; at a minimum, have completed at least presentation of proposal (thesis or project).
• Application Requirements: Submit the Beveridge Scholarship Application (.docx) .

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Roscoe Linder Graduate Fellowship

• Award:A stipend will be awarded to the student recipient. In any year in which there are no qualified applicants or funds are not sufficient to pay the stipend, income may be accumulated. When accumulated income is sufficient to support the stipend, a recipient will be selected. A student may reapply and enter the applicant pool as long as all criteria are met.
• Criteria: Accepted into the Geography graduate program; enrolled full time (9-12 semester hours); employed a minimum of 15 hours in the GIS Center.
• Application Requirements: Contact the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences.