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Department of Biology Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards

Applications for 2022-2023 Award Cycle will open in January 2022. Below are descriptions of scholarships available to majors within the Department of Biology.

APPLY FOR DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications are now open for the 2022-2023 Award Cycle

If you wish to donate to one of the Department of Biology Awards or Scholarships visit http://biology.usu.edu/giving/giving.

The Department of Biology administers numerous scholarships available for biology, public health, and composite teaching-biological science majors. Applications are accepted electronically. Links to instructions and online application forms are above. Depending on available funding, the following scholarships are available to biology undergraduates at the main campus and Statewide Campuses:

Biology Undergraduate Scholarships

Thomas L. Bahler Scholarship

Established in recognition of Thomas Bahler's long-time dedication and support to students in the Department of Biology, with special emphasis for students preparing for the health professions. This award is generally made to a prehealth student with a biology major.

Biology Ecology Undergraduate Scholarship

Established by a generous anonymous donor in 2020, the Biology Ecology Scholarship provides scholarships to Biology majors with an interest in Ecology related studies.  Scholarship awards are based on character, scholarly promise, research promise, and interest in Ecology related studies. Financial need, especially related to impacts of COVID-19 issues, may also be considered in awarding this scholarship. A minimum GPA of 2.5 or above is required and students need to be in good academic standing.

Gordon J. and Rella Christensen Scholarship

Established to assist deserving undergraduate students pursuing research opportunities in the Department of Biology. The award is based on scholarship, character, and professional promise and awarded to a student pursuing a career in dentistry. This scholarship is made possible by the generous annual donation of Drs. Gordon J. and Rella Christensen.

Christenson Memorial Scholarship

Established to honor the six Christenson brothers - Scott, Reed, L. Dean, Ralph, John, and Paul - all of whom attended Utah State University, the later five of whom all graduated in the Department of Biology.  Established to assist deserving undergraduate students pursuing a degree in the Department of Biology. The award is based on scholarship, character, and professional promise. The scholarship serves as a legacy to the Christenson brothers' commitment to education and as a source of perpetual support for generations of biology students.  

Department of Biology Scholarship

Established by many donors including alumni, emeriti, faculty, staff, and friends of the Department.  The scholarship is based on scholarly performance, research promise, financial need, or promoting diversity opportunities during the student’s academic career. 

David B. Drown Scholarship for Public Health

Established in honor of emeriti faculty member, Dr. David B. Drown by family, students, and colleagues. Awarded to students majoring in Public Health based on scholarship, character, need, and professional promise.

Eldon J. Gardner Research Scholarship

Established in memory of Eldon J. Gardner, former faculty member and discoverer of the Gardner Syndrome.   Awarded based on outstanding scholarship, character, research and professional promise.  Awarded to undergraduate biology students to assist in genetic research.

Joseph E. Greaves Endowed Scholarship

This award is made possible from a generous bequest from the estate of Joseph Greaves and was established to honor his contribution and legacy to USU. Dr. Greaves graduated from USU with a BS degree in 1904 when USU was the Agricultural Collage of Utah. he was then a faculty member here from 1911 until 1946 where he was affiliated with the Departments of Chemistry and Bacteriology. Dr. Greaves was recognized as one of the world's leading soil bacteriologists.  Recipients must be Department of Biology graduate students demonstrating consistent high academic achievement.  Joseph E. Greaves Graduate Scholars must be registered for a minimum of 3 credits and undergraduates for a minimum of 12 credits the term(s) the scholarship is awarded.  Funds are to aid the recipient in the pursuit of studies and may be used for funding summer field research, tuition, fees, and other expenses related to the recipient’s degree program.  Funds are awarded through the USU Scholarship system and will be applied to the Scholar’s account for the term(s) awarded. 

Weston R. and Jolayne Innes Scholarship

Made possible by an endowment established by alumni, Weston R. Innes, in 2013. The scholarship is awarded to a full-time student currently working on an undergraduate degree in Biology at Utah State University.

Gene and Ruth Miller Scholarship

Established by Gene Miller, former Department head of the Department of Biology, and his wife, Ruth.  The award is based on outstanding scholarship, research promise, and a demonstrated interest in plant biology.

James Mohr Scholarship

Established by Gene Miller, former Department head of the Department of Biology, and his wife, Ruth.  The award is based on outstanding scholarship, research promise, and a demonstrated interest in plant biology.

Ivan G. Palmblad Scholarship

Established by Ivan G. Palmblad, Professor Emeritus, for deserving undergraduate students interested in Ecology, Evolution, or Field Biology. The Palmblad Scholarships are awarded based on scholarship and research promise.  Recipients must be full-time biology majors.  Preference for a number of scholarships are directed towards students interested in Ecology, Evolution, or Field Biology. Others may be awarded to students in any research area.  Award is based on academic achievement, financial need, and personal integrity. Recipients must be at least a Sophomore in the Department of Biology. Grade point average, scholarly activities, such as undergraduate research or participation in pre-med related student activities are also considered.

Richard J. and Marion A. Shaw Scholarship

Established by Professor Emeritus Richard Shaw and his wife, Marion, to benefit future generations of students who demonstrate high academic achievement, professional promise, and personal integrity.  Awarded to students majoring in biology with an interest in plant biology.

John R. Simmons Scholarship

Established to recognize the service given by John R. Simmons, former department head and faculty member in the Department of Biology. Available to junior or senior students majoring in biology and showing scholastic achievement, personal integrity, and financial need.

Sedley and Pearl Stanford Memorial Scholarship

Established to honor the memory of Sedley and Pearl Stanford to assist undergraduate students seeking a degree in biology, preferably with the intention of a career in ornithology or entomology.

Jay R. West and Lorraine M. West Endowed Scholarship

This endowment is possible through a generous donation from Dr. and Mrs. West.  Jay R. West and Lorraine M. West Scholars should demonstrate academic achievement, financial need, and personal integrity.  To qualify for consideration, each applicant must be an undergraduate student working toward a degree of any major within the Department of Biology. Candidates shall be required to be either entering into or to be currently enrolled in his or her Junior or Senior student year.  Each eligible student should possess an overall cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater.

Biology Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients

2021

Bahler

Brennan Anderson
Steven Madsen
Alexander McRae
Anna Arnljots Tlatelpa

Biology

Heather Hall

Christensen

Austin John

Christenson Memorial

Nathaniel Bee
Kaleb Keller
Taelie Kennedy

Drown

Rachel Daines

Ecology

Heather Baker
Brigham Bernhardt
Brad Braner
Kaden Bunch
Parker Carroll
Dakota Finlinson
Bridger Gunter
Hailey Hatch
Siera Heiner
Emily Hull
Taylor Kenyon
Cameron Knox
Dana Kuntz
Jacob Larkin
Kristin Leutgeb
Addisson Lloyd
Camilla Moses
Blake Nielson
Jacob Oldham
Tatiana Perlaza-Moody
Abigail Pickett
Denali Sanders
Alexis Simper
Dillon Sorensen
Madison Spencer


Gardner

Catherine Kartchner

Greaves

Tanner Chapman

Innes

Spencer Haven

Miller

Greta Anderson
Autumn Zierenberg

Mohr

Emily Nelson
Sage Rainey
Thomas Smith

Palmblad

Gabriella Cale
Joshua Corry
Matthew Jennings
Danielle Kneller
Justin Murray
Michael Popa
McKenna Rich

Shaw

Timothy Miller
Megan Saloga

Simmons

Braden Geddes

Stanford

Nicole Cook

West

Brevin Ashby
Claire Boyer
Raychel Briseno
Ethan Knudsen
McKay Nelson
Kai Nethercott
Aaron Oberstadt
Djamilliah Paepke-Chile

2020

2019

Bahler

Steven Short
McKenna Edwards
Quincee Loftus

Biology

Nohe’A Pauni

Christensen

Megan Peterson

Christenson Memorial

Raustin Grandy
Natalie Hansen
Micah Kwallek 

Drown

Valerie Saunders
Jamie Johnson
Krista Quackenbush

Gardner

Justin Evans

Greaves

Tiere Kershisnik
Tyler Dahl

Innes

Dallen Stone

Li

Robert Hunt

Miller

Cole Carlson

Mohr

Andrew Nielson
Tucker Huppe

Palmblad

Cambry Dickson
Autumn Rees
Nicholas Sauer
Aubree Covington
Taylor Edwards
Alex Sutherland
Nick Beus

Shaw

Benjamin Steadman
Alexandra Lish

Simmons

Jonas Johnson
Cameron Murray

Stanford

Anna Figgins
Rachel Sagers

West

Miles Robertson
Spencer Diehl
Madison McIntyre
Tyler Stevens
Rebecca Strong

2018

Bahler

Hunter Bell
Kaedon Buchmiller
Joshua Worley

Biology

Isaiah McDonough

Christensen

Jake Garn

Christenson Memorial

Justin Oakeson
Ryan Birch

Drown

Whitney Skabelund
Mikayla Austin
Jonas Johnson

Emmet

Clayton Watts

Gardner

Alex Tolman

Innes

Hailee Ainsworth

Li

Braxton Beers

Miller

Chelsea Jenkins

Mohr

Chase Womack

Palmblad

Tyler Ayers
Matt Dewey
James Hansen
Autumn Rees
My Nguyen
David Turner

Shaw

Kiarra Miller
Cole Carson

Simmons

Jacob Anderson

Stanford

Rebecca Strong

West

Lexi Cooper
Chase Nelson
Megan Peterson
Alexandra Lish
Calvin Luu