Physics Scholarships

These scholarships are not renewable and for Physics majors unless otherwise noted. The physics department 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 UNR 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 UNR 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 UNR credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain full-time enrollment each semester.  Recipients must also maintain a minimum 2.0 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.

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 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

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 UNR credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain full-time enrollment each semester.  Recipients must also maintain a minimum 2.0 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.

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: Undergrad

  • Eligible candidates are nominated by the Physics department. 
  • Eligible candidates must have financial need. 
  • Recipients must earn a minimum of 24 UNR credits per academic year (fall and spring semesters) and maintain a minimum 3.00 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.

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

Award Criteria/Requirements: Grad

  • 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.