Physics scholarships

All students should begin their search for financial aid and scholarships by visiting the University's Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

These scholarships are not renewable and for physics majors unless otherwise noted. The Department of Physics offers the following scholarships to current and prospective students:

Ben A. Edwards Scholarship, Established in 1998

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Eligible candidates are selected by the Physics department. 
• Recipients must earn a minimum of 24 University of Nevada, Reno credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain full-time enrollment each semester.  Recipients must also maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative UNR GPA for the duration of the award. A change in major will result in the loss of this scholarship.

Purpose of stipend: Tuition and books.

Frazier Scholarship, Established on June 30, 1995

Award Criteria/Requirements:  

• Eligible candidates are selected by the Physics department. 
• Eligible candidates must: be majoring in either Physics or Engineering Physics and may be either undergraduate or graduate students. 
• Recipients must earn a minimum of 24 undergraduate or 18 graduate University of Nevada, Reno credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain full-time enrollment each semester. 
• Recipients must also maintain a minimum of 2.0 undergraduate or 3.0 graduate cumulative UNR GPA for the duration of the award. A change in major will result in the loss of this scholarship.

Purpose of stipend:  Fees and books.

H & S Leifson Physics Scholarship, Established in February of 1980

History: This fund was established in 1980 by Hedvig and Sigmund Leifson for worthy students in Physics.

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Eligible candidates are selected by the Physics department. 
• Eligible candidates must: be of Junior or Senior status, show academic excellence and promise for contributions to the field of Physics. 
• Recipients must earn a minimum of 24 University of Nevada, Reno credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain full-time enrollment each semester. Recipients must also maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA for the duration of the award. A change in major will result in the loss of this scholarship.

Purpose of stipend: Fees and books.

Mackenzie Scholarship, Established on September 8, 1995

History: This fund was established in 1995 by William Brinsmead in memory of Alex, Edna, and Micol MacKenzie and to assist deserving graduate students pursuing degrees in Physics.

Award Criteria/Requirements: 

• Eligible candidates are selected by the Physics department. 
• Eligible candidates must: be full-time graduate students in either a Masters of Science or Ph.D. program in Physics at the University of Nevada, Reno.   *Applicants must be US citizens - no longer applicable. Preference is given to students that are especially encouraged to apply who are members of under-represented ethic minority groups. 
• Recipients must earn a minimum of 18 graduate University of Nevada, Reno credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain full-time enrollment each semester. Recipients must also maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA for the duration of the award. A change in major will result in the loss of this scholarship.

Purpose of stipend: Fees and books.

Joe E. Moose Scholarship, Established on December 7, 1963

History: This fund was established in 1959 by Joe E. Moose to assist students in pursuit of degrees in Physics. Scholarship shared with Biology.

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Eligible candidates are selected by the Physics department. 
• Eligible candidates must: be an academically outstanding student of Junior status. 
• Recipients must earn a minimum of 24 University of Nevada, Reno credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain full-time enrollment each semester. Recipients must also maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA for the duration of the award. A change in major will result in the loss of this scholarship.

Purpose of stipend: Fees and books.

Leonard Physics & English Scholarship

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Eligible candidates are nominated by the Physics department.
• Eligible candidates are Juniors, Seniors and Graduate Students.
• Awarded on past academic excellence and future academic promise.  Full time enrollment (24 UNR undergraduate/18 Graduate credits/year).  3.00 GPA Fall/Spring terms only.
• A change in major will forfeits this scholarship. 

One year scholarship.

Purpose of stipend: School supplies.

Muse Memorial Scholarship, Established on February 10, 2006

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Undergraduate student
• Eligible candidates are nominated by the Physics department. 
• Eligible candidates must have financial need. 
• Recipients must earn a minimum of 24 University of Nevada, Reno credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain a minimum 3.00 cumulative University of Nevada, Reno GPA for the duration of the award. A change in major will result in the loss of this scholarship.

Purpose of stipend: Fees and books.

Jerry and Betty Wilson Scholarship, Established during the 1984 - 1985 Academic Year

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Graduate student
• Eligible candidates are selected by the department that governs their academic plan of study. 
• Eligible candidates must: be graduate students, native-born citizens and in good academic standing. 
• Recipients must earn a minimum of (24) 18 UNR credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain full-time enrollment each semester.  Recipients must also maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative UNR GPA for the duration of the award.  A change in major will result in the loss of this scholarship.

Purpose of stipend: Fees and books.

John W. James Scholarship, Established on May 9, 2008

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Recipients shall be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Atmospheric Science or Geography with an emphasis in meteorology or climatology. Recipients shall have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to be considered for this award and shall maintain at least a 3.0 GPA during the year they receive this scholarship.
• Recipients shall be full-time undergraduate students each semester they received the scholarship and maintain full time status or full time graduate students each semester they received the scholarship and maintain full -time status.

Purpose of stipend: Fees and books.

Note: Nominations need to be forward to Geography since they have signature of authority on this scholarship.

Philip L. Altick Memorial Scholarship Endowment, Established on February 26, 2009

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Preference is for Undergraduate student.
• Recipients shall be pursuing a degree in Physics. This scholarship can be awarded to either undergraduate or graduate students with a preference given to undergraduate students.
• Recipients shall have a 3.0 grade point average to be considered for this award and shall maintain at least a 3.0 GPA during the year they receive this scholarship. Graduate students receiving the scholarship must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 regularly schedule credit hours during each semester they received the scholarship. If the recipient graduate student is teaching during one of the semesters of the award, then only 6 credit hours are required for enrollment.

Purpose of stipend: Fees and books.

Dr. George Barnes Physics Scholarship, Established on June 6, 2009

Award Criteria/Requirements:

• Recipients shall be of at least junior standing pursuing a degree in Physics and must have financial need. Recipients shall have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to be considered for this award and shall maintain at least a 3.0 GPA during the year they receive this scholarship.
• Eligible candidates are nominated by the Physics department. 
• Recipients shall be full-time students taking a minimum of 12 regularly scheduled credit hours each semester they receive the scholarship.
• Graduate students receiving the scholarship must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 regularly schedule credit hours during each semester they received the scholarship. If the recipient graduate student is teaching during one of the semesters of the award, then only 6 credit hours are required for enrollment.

Purpose of stipend: Fees and books.