Awards & Scholarships
The Department presents several scholarships and awards at the end of each spring semester to outstanding students in a biological sciences major. More information about these awards is listed below. All applicants for scholarships must apply through the Office of Financial Aid’s electronic application system. The deadline for 2023-24 scholarship applications is Monday, April 17.
Jurors : The full-time biology faculty.
Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Scholarship
The Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Scholarship is awarded each spring to a senior biology major. This scholarship has a value of approximately $3,300, which is credited to the student’s UMW account to be used for tuition, room and board, or fees.
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| Bonnie Butler 2024-2025 Culbertson Stuart Scholarship Awardee |
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the student must
· be a UMW biology major
· have completed at least 24 credits in biology, 12 of which being UMW credits
· have an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater
· have a major GPA of 3.25 or greater
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include
· academic performance
· extracurricular experiences and activities related to the life sciences
· career objectives
Jurors : The full-time biology faculty.
Biology Scholarship
Up to two biology scholarships are available and awarded each spring to senior biology majors. Each scholarship has a value of approximately $3,000, which is credited to the student’s UMW account to be used for tuition, room and board, or fees.
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| Morgan Hicok 2024-25 Biology Scholarship Awardee | Meghan Ponton 2024-25 Biology Scholarship Awardee |
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the student must
· be a UMW biology major
· have successfully completed Biol 210, 340, and 341 by the end of their junior year
· have a minimum major GPA of 3.0
. be a rising senior (90+ credits in the fall)
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include
· academic performance
· extracurricular experiences and activities related to the life sciences
· Candidates shall not be required to have financial need, but this can be one of the factors considered
. Recipient shall have plans to continue his/her studies at the graduate level in biology.
Jurors: The full-time biology faculty.
Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 and James D. Rodgers Student Research Fellowship II.
The Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 and James D. Rodgers Student Research Fellowship II is awarded to two declared majors in one of the natural or physical sciences. This fellowship has a value of $2876 for research supplies and $719 for an individual stipend per recipient.
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| Madeline Phillips 2022-2023 Piscopo Fellowship Awardee |
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the students must have enough earned credits to be considered juniors at the end of the Spring 2025 semester and must have plans for summer research, either on or off the University of Mary Washington campus. Preference will be given to biology majors.
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include
· academic performance
· research potential and quality of plans for summer 2025 research
· career objectives
· special consideration is given to female students
Debra Stanley Leap Scholarship in Biology
The Debra Stanley Leap Scholarship in Biology is awarded to a declared biology major in good academic standing. It has a value of approximately $2,000.
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| Jane Sullivan 2021-2022 Leap Scholarship Awardee |
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the student must be:
· a UMW biology major
· a full time student in good academic standing
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include
· academic performance
· extracurricular experiences and activities related to the life sciences
Jurors: The full-time biology faculty.
Thyra Vedel Valade Conservation Leadership Scholarship
The Thyra Vedel Valade Conservation Leadership Scholarship is awarded each spring to outstanding junior or senior students who plan to continue their studies at the graduate level in wildlife or conservation biology or plan to secure a career in the field of conservation biology. This scholarship has a value of approximately $5,000, which is credited to the student’s UMW account to be used for tuition or applied toward the cost of UMW approved internships, programs, or study abroad opportunities targeting avian study and/or conservation.
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| Maddie Lichter 2021-2022 Valade Scholarship Awardee |
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the student must a UMW junior or senior in good academic standing.
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include:
· statement of career objectives, as they relate to conservation and wildlife biology.
· academic performance.
· extracurricular experiences and activities related to conservation or wildlife biology.
· preference will be given to students with a declared major in biology or environmental science.
· preference will be given to students who plan to pursue avian conservation or are interested in strengthening conservation ties between the United States and Latin America.
Jurors: Select full-time Biological Sciences and Earth and Environmental Sciences faculty.
The Peggy Ellis Gill ‘ 53 Scholarship in Science
This scholarship is awarded annually to a rising junior or senior who is majoring in one of the sciences. The award rotates among the natural sciences departments, and is made based upon academic achievements of eligible students as well as the results from the FAFSA.
Eligibility
Rising junior or senior who is majoring in one of the natural sciences and demonstrates financial need based on the results of the FAFSA.
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include
· academic achievement
· financial need, based on evaluation of the FAFSA
Jurors
The full-time faculty of one of the natural sciences departments.
Application
Students do not apply for this award. The Office of Financial Aid provides a list of eligible students to one of the natural science departments. The full time faculty of that department selects the recipient, who is then notified.
The William B. Castle Award
The daughters of William A. Castle established this endowed award fund in memory of their father. Dr. Castle was a professor emeritus of biology at Mary Washington College. He retired in 1969 after 28 years on the faculty.
The William B. Castle Award is a cash award of approximately $100, awarded each spring to an outstanding graduating biology major. Graduating biology majors are nominated to the full-time biology faculty for the award by a biology faculty member. Each nominating member is asked to summarize their respective nominee’s qualifications prior to a vote of the full-time biology faculty.
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| Thomas Bustamante 2020-21 Castle Awardee |
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the student must be a graduating biology major.
Criteria for Selection
The selection criterion is that the student must be considered an outstanding graduating biology major.
Jurors
The full-time biology faculty. Graduating biology majors are nominated to the full-time biology faculty for the award by a biology faculty member.
Application
Students do not apply for this award. Outstanding graduating biology majors are nominated to the full-time biology faculty for the award by a biology faculty member. Each nominating member is asked to summarize their respective nominee’s qualifications prior to a vote of the full-time biology faculty.