Scholarships and Awards
The School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability at Western Michigan University supports its students in a variety of ways, such as providing supplies, travel, and summer stipends for undergraduate and graduate students to complete scholarly projects with a faculty mentor or maintaining state-of-the-art laboratories that help enhance the teaching and learning of our students and provide them with the skills and tools needed to succeed as professionals.
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Lucia C. Harrison Endowed Memorial Geography Scholarship
This scholarship supports outstanding juniors and seniors who are majoring in community and regional planning, geography, the teaching of geography, and tourism and travel. Learn more about this award.
Mary Upjohn Meader Incoming Freshman Award
This scholarship supports outstanding freshman who are majoring in geography, tourism and travel, or community and regional planning. Learn more about this award.
Mary Upjohn Meader Transfer Student Award
This scholarship supports students transferring from a 2- or 4-year higher education institution to WMU as a Geography or Tourism & Travel major. Learn more about this award.
Mary Upjohn Meader Study Abroad Award
This award supports study abroad endeavors for undergraduate students majoring in geography, tourism and travel, or community and regional planning, or for a geography graduate student. Learn more about this award.
Dr. Oscar H. Horst Endowment for Geography Award
This endowment award has been established to support undergraduate students who study abroad. Learn more about this award.
Edward Allan Pozo Endowment For Study Abroad
This helps fund a limited number of qualified GIST undergraduate students to study abroad. Learn more about this award.
Other scholarships
You may also be eligible for scholarships offered through The Office of Financial Aid.
GRADUATE
Lucia Harrison Geography Graduate Student Research Grant
The Lucia Harrison Geography Graduate Student Research Grant will pay up to $1,000 for expenses related to thesis research. The grant can only be awarded to a student once but can be held concurrently with other funding sources. An application form and proposal must be completed with the assistance of the thesis committee. Contact the Graduate Advisor for more information.
Lucia Harrison Geography Graduate Tuition Scholarship
The Lucia Harrison Geography Graduate Tuition Scholarship is given to all geography graduate students who are awarded a teaching assistantship in the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability. The scholarship pays for additional tuition and fees every semester that the student is on assistantship.
Mary Upjohn Meader Study Abroad Award
This award supports study abroad endeavors for undergraduate students majoring in geography, tourism and travel, or community and regional planning, or for a geography graduate student. Learn more about this award.
Milton E. and Ruth M. Scherer Fellowship Application
Applicants for this two-year fellowship must demonstrate outstanding academic achievements and shall exemplify the values of Milton and Ruth Scherer by demonstrating a strong commitment to completing a master’s degree program in geography with a research focus on Asia (Southwest, South, Southeast and East Asia). Learn more about this award.
Student achievement awards
We recognize the success and hard work of our students with a series of awards each Spring. Students are invited and encouraged to nominate a fellow student for the Environmental Service Award and the Michael Swords Sustainable Living award (please see below for details).
Presidential Scholar
Each year every academic unit is invited by the Faculty Senate to select an outstanding senior undergraduate for this award, which is considered to be the highest recognition for academic achievement that an undergraduate at WMU can receive. The awards are presented at a special convocation held in late March annually. Recipients do not receive a monetary award from the University, so the Institute provides the Presidential Scholar with the same monetary award as our other awardees.
Academic Excellence Awards
This award is given to a student in each of our three majors: environmental and sustainability studies, freshwater science and sustainability, and sustainable brewing. The award is given to students with senior standing and is based solely on academic achievements. The Institute’s Presidential Scholar awardee for that year is not eligible.
Environmental Service Award and Michael Swords Sustainable Living Award
This award is presented to a student in the Institute (major or minor) of senior standing who has demonstrated, through personal action, a willingness and ability to work for an environmentally better future. Nominations for this award are solicited from students who are currently pursuing a major or minor in the Institute. The final selection will be made by the Institute’s faculty and staff.
You can nominate a fellow student (or yourself) for these awards below. You will be asked to write a paragraph explaining why you think your nominee should receive the award. Nominations will be accepted until March 1.