Scholarship Opportunities

  • Ph.D. student, Hannah Pankratz, accepts an award from Dr. William Harrison, Director of Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education.

  • Neal Turluck and Karem Abdelmohsen

    Graduate students, Neal Turluck and Karem Abdelmohsen, are presented with the Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society scholarship at the 2018 awards banquet.

  • Stephanie Buglione is presented an award

    Undergraduate student, Stephanie Buglione is presented with the John and Kelly Grace scholarship by Dr. Mohamed Sultan, Department Chair.

  • Tyler Norris receiving an award.

    M.S. student, Tyler Norris, accepts an award presented by Dr. Alan Kehew at the 2018 annual awards banquet.

There are many scholarships, grants, awards and fellowship opportunities available to undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Western Michigan University. Most of our departmental scholarships are made possible through endowments and gifts and are awarded as they become available. Graduate students are eligible to receive financial assistance in the form of teaching assistantships and research assistantships; these awards are limited in number and awarded on competitive basis. Additionally, the department awards travel grants to eligible students for attending seminars, presentations and research conferences.

Departmental scholarships and awards

Each spring, the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences offers a variety of scholarships and awards to its undergraduate and graduate students. The following scholarships will be awarded at the annual department banquet in April.

Printable Application - Application deadline: Friday, March 4, 2022. 

Available department scholarships

Advisory Council Field Camp Scholarship

A limited amount of funds from the Department Advisory Council and the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences is available to support student attendance at field camps this summer.

Alan Kehew Endowment

This fund supports travel costs for field work, conference travel or for enrollment in the hydrogeology field course for one graduate student working on glacial geology/geomorphology or hydrogeology.

Core of Four Endowment

The fund shall support an undergraduate student in completing undergraduate equivalent core courses in geology as a foundation for future employment. The eligible student shall be a Junior or 1st-year Senior with preferably a 2.5 or higher GPA. Must also have completed physical and historical geology courses or equivalent courses in the current catalog (when the scholarship is awarded) and at least two of the following geology courses: mineralogy, petrology; stratigraphy and sedimentation, invertebrate paleontology, structural geology, economic geology, geochemistry, geophysics or BA level writing or communications (writing and public speaking) course. Must also have documented volunteer services with city, church, education, disaster relief, etc. during the last 4 years.

Envirologic Technologies Scholarship

This scholarship has been established by Envirologic Technologies, Inc. of Kalamazoo, MI. To be eligible for the scholarship, you must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student pursuing studies in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.

Special consideration will be given to students who:

1) have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic or educational disadvantage or disabilities; or who are first generation in their family to attend college, or

2) are members of groups that are underrepresented at WMU Preference will be given to US citizens who demonstrate financial need and have a minimum of 3.0 gpa at time of application.

Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Scholarship

Eligibility:

• Graduate student must be a U.S. citizens or permanent resident.

• The scholarship will be awarded to a graduate student completing a thesis or dissertation that uses core materials in MGRRE and advised by a faculty member in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences. First preference will be given to a graduate student conducting core-related research using cores from the Michigan Basin.

• Completing a thesis or dissertation in the area of sedimentary geology or stratigraphy. The recipient's research project may focus on geochemical, geomechanical, petrological, diagenetic, stratigraphic, and/or geoengineering aspects of sedimentary geology/stratigraphy but should have potential applications to oil, gas or mineral exploration.

John and Kelly Grace Endowment for Geosciences

To support an undergraduate Geoscience student preferably in the following fields: science education, mineralogy, petrology, economic geology or crystallography. 

Laton-Lambright Field Camp Scholarship

This endowment shall be used to support undergraduate and/or graduate student scholarships for the WMU Hydrogeology Field Course. 

Lauren D. Hughes Environmental Scholarship

This scholarship was established in the Kalamazoo Community Foundation by the Hughes family to recognize and assist students whose course of study, and intended career, is in the area of water quality. This scholarship was created in the memory of Lauren Hughes, formerly Associate Director of the Western Michigan University GEM (Groundwater Education in Michigan) Regional Center.

Applicants should be currently enrolled, Junior-level undergraduates up through master’s-level graduate students. Students may be pursuing the study of water quality issues in any academic field (Geosciences, Geography, Biological Science, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, etc.). Applicants must demonstrate interest in water quality issues through prior activities and/or accomplishments.

Randall Kerhin Graduate Scholarship

The Randall Kerhin scholarship is for full-time graduate students with preference given to students with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Roger and LuAnne Steininger Geology Scholarship in honor of Dr. Lloyd Schmaltz

The scholarship fund shall support undergraduate Geological and Environmental Sciences majors with junior or senior status who demonstrate financial need. The preferred recipient(s) will be able to demonstrate they are serious about a career in geology with involvement in geological activities outside the classroom, such as field trips, club participation or volunteering.

Shirley J. Aiken Geosciences Scholarship

This fund shall support a junior or senior undergraduate Geological and Environmental Science major. Preference will be given to a geochemistry student interested in entering the mining and mineral industry and students with a background in volunteerism and giving back to the community. Multidiscipline majors such as both biology and geology, or chemistry and geology will be given a positive consideration.

William and Linda Harrison MGREE Scholarship

This endowment was established to honor William and Linda Harrison for their great contributions to establish and develop the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education (MGRRE) at WMU. The endowment will be used for the benefit of MGRRE students.

Scholarships Requiring additional application materials

Douglas Daniels Endowed Geosciences Scholarship and Award

Application and Eligibility Information

Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society Scholarship

Application Information and Eligibility

College of Arts and Sciences Scholarships

University scholarships

Undergraduate students

Graduate students

Graduate and undergraduate students

External scholarships

  • The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is accepting applications for the Ford Foundation Fellowships Programs for Achieving Excellence in College and University Teaching. Full eligibility information and online applications are available on their website.
  • The West Michigan Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association (WM-AWMA) is pleased to announce the availability of individual scholarships, each in the amount of $5000, to be awarded to selected students pursuing a career in environmental studies. Scholarship eligibility requirements and application instructions are listed on our website at wmawma.org/scholarships/. Applications must be submitted online before 12:00 midnight on Sunday, January 30, 2022.
  • The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM fields and in STEM education.  The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM and STEM education.  NSF especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, and veterans to apply. NSF also encourages undergraduate seniors to apply.
  • A wide variety of scholarships with varying deadlines are available for undergraduate and graduate geology students from partnering professional societies such as AAPG, AGI, AGU, AIPG, AWG, GSA, NABG, NGWA, SEG and many others.