Scholarships
Fellowships and scholarships acknowledge outstanding Department of Chemistry students and provide assistance in their studies. These scholarships augment awards made to students supported by Western Michigan University, the Lee Honors College and the American Chemical Society. Scholarships are open to declared chemistry majors and are awarded on the basis of criteria listed for each specific scholarship.
Deadline
Chemistry Scholarship Applications for fall 2025/spring 2026 are due February 28, 2025. All applications are to be submitted through ScholarshipUniverse.
ScholarshipUniverse Instructions
Undergraduate scholarships
Dr. Susan Burns Scholarship
This scholarship was established by the Burns family as a memorial to faculty member Dr. Susan Burns, who passed away in 1999. Dr. Burns joined the WMU chemistry faculty in 1996 after serving as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the State University of New York-Syracuse, where she received her Ph.D. Dr. Burns conducted research on the interaction of natural organic matter (including humic acids) with pesticides in water. Her work significantly assisted Great Lakes researchers and regulators from the U.S. and Canada to better regulate pesticide use and disposal.
Eligibility requirements:
- female
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- financial need
Donate to the Dr. Susan Burns Scholarship
Frederick W. Stanley Memorial Chemistry Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 1996 by the family of Frederick Stanley. Stanley received his B.S. and M.S. degrees at WMU in chemistry.
Eligibility requirements:
- junior or senior
- 2.5 to 3.5 GPA
Donate to the Frederick W. Stanley Memorial Chemistry Scholarship
Lillian Meyer Scholarship
This scholarship was established in late 2005 by Ms. Christine Weisblat, wife of Dr. David Weisblat. It was instituted in honor of former department chair Dr. Lillian Meyer (1956-68).
Eligibility requirements:
- female
- junior or senior
- 3.0 minimum GPA
Donate to the Lillian Meyer Scholarship
Mohammad Hossein Yassaman Endowment for Chemistry
This scholarship was established in 2016 by Dr. Hashem and Suzanne Akhavan-Tafti, in honor of Dr. Hashem's dear friend, Mohammad Hossein Yassaman. Mohammad helped Dr. Hashem greatly during his school years in the U.S.
Eligibility requirements:
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- interested in development of renewable energy technologies
Donate to the Mohammad Hossein Yassaman Endowment for Chemistry
Marc W. Perkovic Memorial Scholarship
This annual scholarship was established in memory of Dr. Marc Perkovic, a valued faculty member who passed away in 2006.
Eligibility requirements:
- conducting research in some field of chemistry
- considering pursuit of advanced graduate training
Donate to the Marc W. Perkovic Memorial Scholarship
Lester Boyce Maile Endowed Scholarship
Eligibility requirements:
- 2.5 minimum GPA
- financial need
Donate to the Lester Boyce Maile Scholarship
Colonel Charles E. Bayliss Scholarship
This scholarship was established in memory of Colonel Charles E. Bayliss.
graduate Scholarships
Dr. Susan Burns Scholarship
This scholarship was established by the Burns family as a memorial to faculty member Dr. Susan Burns, who passed away in 1999. Dr. Burns joined the WMU chemistry faculty in 1996 after serving as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the State University of New York-Syracuse, where she received her Ph.D. Dr. Burns conducted research on the interaction of natural organic matter (including humic acids) with pesticides in water. Her work significantly assisted Great Lakes researchers and regulators from the U.S. and Canada to better regulate pesticide use and disposal.
Eligibility requirements:
- female
- 3.5 minimum GPA
- financial need
Donate to the Dr. Susan Burns Scholarship
Frederick W. Stanley Memorial Chemistry Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 1996 by the family of Frederick Stanley. Stanley received his B.S. and M.S. degrees at WMU in chemistry.
Eligibility requirements:
- 2.5 to 3.5 GPA
Donate to the Frederick W. Stanley Memorial Chemistry Scholarship
Lillian Meyer Scholarship
This scholarship was established in late 2005 by Ms. Christine Weisblat, wife of Dr. David Weisblat. It was instituted in honor of former department chair Dr. Lillian Meyer (1956-68).
Eligibility requirements:
- female
- 3.0 minimum GPA
Donate to the Lillian Meyer Scholarship
Mohammad Hossein Yassaman Endowment for Chemistry
This scholarship was established in 2016 by Dr. Hashem and Suzanne Akhavan-Tafti, in honor of Dr. Hashem's dear friend, Mohammad Hossein Yassaman. Mohammad helped Dr. Hashem greatly during his school years in the U.S.
Eligibility requirements:
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- interested in development of renewable energy technologies
Donate to the Mohammad Hossein Yassaman Endowment for Chemistry
Dr. Hashem and SuzAnne Akhavan-Tafti Chemistry Fund
This scholarship was established in 2014 by Dr. Hashem and Mrs. SuzAnne Akhavan-Tafti.
Eligibility requirements:
- historically underrepresented population
Donate to the Dr. Hashem and SuzAnne Akhavan-Tafti Chemistry Fund
Dr. Don Berndt Endowment for Chemistry
This scholarship was established in 2013 by Dr. Hashem and Mrs. Suzanne Akhavan-Tafti, in honor of Professor Emeritus Don Berndt.
Eligibility requirements:
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- serving the department as an effective teaching assistant in general or organic chemistry
Donate to the Dr. Don Berndt Endowment for Chemistry
Dr. Nagler Endowment for Chemistry
This scholarship was established in 2012 by Dr. Hashem and Suzanne Akhavan-Tafti, in honor of Professor Emeritus Robert Nagler. The fund will be used at the discretion of the chair of the Department of Chemistry to support a full-time chemistry graduate student with a GPA of 3.5 or higher from a historically underrepresented population.
Donate to the Dr. Nagler Endowment for Chemistry
Past recipients
Questions?
Contact Dr. Andre Venter.