Scholarships and Awards
The Department presents several scholarships and awards annually to outstanding Biology Majors. In addition, qualified majors can graduate with honors. More information about these awards is listed below.
Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Scholarship
The Rebecca Culbertson Stuart Scholarship is awarded each spring to a senior biology major. This scholarship has a value of approximately $3,000, which is credited to the student's UMW account to be used for tuition, room and board, or fees.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the student must
· be a UMW biology major
· have completed at least 24 credits in biology, 12 of which being UMW credits
· have an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater
· have a major GPA of 3.25 or greater
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include
· academic performance
· extracurricular experiences and activities related to the life sciences
· career objectives
Jurors
The full-time biology faculty.
Application
The Department solicits applications around spring break each year. The application must be returned to the biology department chair, Werner Wieland, Jepson 327. The application deadline is Monday, April 11, 2011. The scholarship awardee is notified by the end of the spring semester.
Download application form (pdf).
Biology Scholarship
Up to two biology scholarships are available and awarded each spring to senior biology majors. Each scholarship has a value of approximately $3,000, which is credited to the student's UMW account to be used for tuition, room and board, or fees.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the student must
· be a UMW biology major
· have successfully completed Biol 210, 211, and 341 by the end of their junior year
· have a minimum major GPA of 3.0
. be a rising senior (90+ credits in the fall)
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include
· academic performance
· extracurricular experiences and activities related to the life sciences
· Candidates shall not be required to have financial need, but this can be one of the factors considered
. Receipient shall have plans to continue his/her studies at the graduate level in biology.
Jurors
The full-time biology faculty.
Application
The Department solicits applications around spring break each year. The application must be returned to the biology department chair, Werner Wieland, 327 Jepson. The application deadline is Monday, April 11, 2011. The scholarship awardee is notified by the end of the spring semester.
Download application form (pdf).
The William B. Castle Award
The daughters of William A. Castle established this endowed award fund in memory of their father. Dr. Castle was a professor emeritus of biology at Mary Washington College. He retired in 1969 after 28 years on the faculty.
The William B. Castle Award is a cash award of approximately $100, awarded each spring to an outstanding graduating biology major. Graduating biology majors are nominated to the full-time biology faculty for the award by a biology faculty member. Each nominating member is asked to summarize their respective nominee's qualifications prior to a vote of the full-time biology faculty.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the student must be a graduating biology major.
Criteria for Selection
The selection criterion is that the student must be considered an outstanding graduating biology major.
Jurors
The full-time biology faculty. Graduating biology majors are nominated to the full-time biology faculty for the award by a biology faculty member.
Application
Students do not apply for this award. Outstanding graduating biology majors are nominated to the full-time biology faculty for the award by a biology faculty member. Each nominating member is asked to summarize their respective nominee's qualifications prior to a vote of the full-time biology faculty.
The Peggy Ellis Gill ' 53 Scholarship in Science
This scholarship is awarded annually to a rising junior or senior who is majoring in one of the sciences. The award rotates among the natural sciences departments, and is made based upon academic achievements of eleigible students as well as the results from the FAFSA.
Eligibility
Rising junior or senior who is majoring in one of the natural sciences and demonstrates financial need based on the results of the FAFSA.
Criteria for Selection
The selection criteria include
· academic achievement
· financial need, based on the reults of the FAFSA
Jurors
The full-time faculty of one of the natural sciences departments.
Application
Students do not apply for this award. The Office of Financial Aid provides a list of eligible students to one of the natural science departments. The full time faculty of that department selects the awardee, who is then notified.
Graduating with Honors in Biology
A document describing details will be linked here soon.