Biology Undergraduate Scholarships

Explore and apply for the different scholarships available to new and current biology students at Central Michigan University.

The Rick L. Barber Annual Biological Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate Biology Major to expand their education and professional experiences through experiences such as, research or internship opportunities.
Qualifications: Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Show financial need as identified in FAFSA.
Renewal Status: This award is non-renewable.
Scholarship/Donor Information: This endowment was established in 2022 by Richard L. Barber ‘77. Rick’s wish is firstly to help students offset the financial burden of a college education and secondly to provide awareness to undergraduate students to seek out research or internships opportunities in their chosen career field while enrolled at CMU. The award may be used for tuition, books, research logistic support and/or supplies in support of research. Preference given to students from northern Michigan, defined as north of Gaylord, including the Upper Peninsula.

The Roger and Kathryn Bland Biological Research Endowed Award

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior Biology Major who has demonstrated an interest in undergraduate biological research.
Qualifications: Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate past participation in a biological research project at the college or university level, a government agency, company or related organization; or current enrollment in a course in which active participation in undergraduate biological research is the primary purpose of the course.
Renewal Status: This award is non-renewable.
Scholarship/Donor Information: This endowment was established in 2019 by Dr. Roger and Mrs. Kathryn Bland. Roger is a retired faculty member from the Biology Department at CMU. The award may be used for tuition, books, research logistic support and/or supplies in support of research.

The Roy and Alice Burlington Undergraduate Research Biological Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to a CMU undergraduate, sophomore or higher biology major to support research in the Biology Department.
Qualifications: Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate past participation in a university sponsored biological research project; or current enrollment in a course in which active participation in undergraduate biological research is the primary purpose of the course.
Renewal Status: This award is not renewable.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Established in 2018 by Dr. Roy F. Burlington, professor emeritus, and his spouse, Alice Burlington. The award may be used for tuition, books, research logistic support and/or supplies in support of research.

Dr. Maurice H. Chapin Pre-Medicine Award

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to a CMU junior, or senior biology major planning to attend medical school (MD or DO only).
Qualifications: Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
Renewal Status: This award is renewable for up to two years of full-time continuous enrollment. The recipient must obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for scholarship renewal. The student must complete at least one biology course per semester as a full-time student resulting in a GPA of at least 3.25 in biology, chemistry, and physics courses.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Established in 2007 by Dr. Maurice H. Chapin, CMU class of 1951, a retired family practice physician in the Millington area.

Claudia B. Douglass Science Education Award

Purpose: To recognize an outstanding sophomore, junior, or senior pursuing a major in elementary or secondary Integrated Science (preferred) or secondary Biology.
Qualifications: Applicant must have at least a 3.5 overall GPA; 3.25 GPA average in all science classes (not including mathematics); 9 semester hours of science completed (including the semester of application); signed major in elementary or secondary Integrated Science (preferred) or secondary Biology; be a full-time student. The applicant must provide a personal statement describing his or her academic/career goals. The statement must also address why the applicant thinks science is important in the K-12 classroom and why he or she is a worthy recipient of the award; at least one letter of recommendation must describe the applicant's involvement with children/youth. This award is merit-based (not need-based) and requires outstanding extracurricular involvement with children (teaching is valued more than camp experiences).
Renewal Status: This award is renewable each year through the student's fifth academic year since matriculation as a freshman (therefore, the maximum award is for a total of four years). To be eligible for renewal, a student must continue in the elementary or secondary Integrated Science (preferred) or secondary Biology major, maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.25 and a GPA of 3.0 in science classes, take at least one science course of 3 credits or more per semester except during the student teaching semester, continue volunteer involvement with children/youth, and be a full-time student. If there is funding for only one award, a renewal will be made to a qualified student before another new award is made.
Scholarship/Donor Information: This scholarship was established in 2003 by Dr. Claudia Douglass, a member of the Department of Biology faculty and Chair of the Biology Department from 2004-2008. Dr. Douglass' research interests include biology education, cognitive style, and the development of science curricula. She is a state leader in developing more rigorous high school science standards and has facilitated the creation of a state-wide professional learning community of scientists and science educators.

Robert G. Fell Memorial Scholarship

Purpose: To recognize an outstanding freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior student (full-time or part-time) majoring in Biology, with preference given to a person with a disability.
Qualifications: Preference is given to a person with a disability applying for the scholarship to those with financial need. Although there is no minimum GPA required, the recipient must be in good academic standing.
Renewal Status: This award is renewable upon reapplication.
Scholarship/Donor Information: The Robert G. Fell Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of this former faculty member of the CMU Biology Department. Robert Fell was hired in 1965 and taught courses in invertebrate zoology until his death in 1983.

Michigan Garden Club, Inc. Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding full-time biology undergraduate junior or senior or graduate student with interests in any of a variety of botanical or land management subjects.
Qualifications: Applicant must demonstrate financial need, have taken a general botany course or completed the Foundational courses, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA overall with a minimum 3.25 GPA in biology courses, and a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. At least one additional plant course must be taken.
Renewal Status: This award is renewable upon reapplication.
Scholarship/Donor Information: This scholarship is sponsored by the Garden Clubs of Michigan to encourage the study of horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, botany, forestry, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental control, city planning, land management and other related subjects.

Dr. W.E. and Idonea Lewis Hersee Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to a CMU junior or senior majoring in biology and planning to go to medical school (MD or DO only).
Qualifications: Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.5
Renewal Status: The scholarship is renewable for each year of a degree program, maximum of three times. To be eligible for renewal, the recipient must maintain an overall 3.25 GPA or better, and complete at least one biology course per semester as a full-time student with a 3.25 GPA or better in all biology, chemistry, and physics courses.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Sandra and Dennis Olson established this scholarship in 2005 in honor of Sandra's parents, Dr. W.E. Hersee and Idonea Lewis Hersee, both CMU class of 1931. The need for financial aid can be a consideration for this scholarship.

Olive Hutchinson-Kries Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded annually to an academically outstanding sophomore, junior, or senior biology major.
Qualifications: Applicant must have completed at least 30 CMU credit hours (not restricted to biology) and have a 3.5 GPA or better.
Renewal Status: This award is renewable upon reapplication.
Scholarship/Donor Information: The Olive Hutchinson-Kries scholarship is dedicated to her memory as a botanist and esteemed member of the Biology Department from 1936-1960. This fund was established in 1976 after her passing in 1973, and is awarded to an outstanding Biology major.

Frank and Virjean Johnson Endowed Scholarship

Purpose: Every other year, this scholarship is awarded to an outstanding sophomore, junior or senior majoring in Chemistry, Biology, or Physics, and in alternate years, the scholarship is awarded to an outstanding sophomore, junior or senior in science education.
Qualifications: Applicants must have at least a 3.5 GPA.
Renewal Status: This award is renewable upon reapplication. To be eligible for renewal, the recipient must maintain an overall 3.5 GPA.
Scholarship/Donor Information: This scholarship was established in 2000 by Dr. Frank D. Johnson, 1950, former director of Continuing Medical Education at Central Michigan Community Hospital and his wife, M. Virjean, 1951, a former elementary school teacher.

Arthur Loren Kontio Outstanding Young Biologist Award

Purpose: This award is to recognize an outstanding freshman, sophomore or junior (within their first four semesters) majoring in biology. It is based solely upon letters of nomination from the Biology Department faculty.
Qualifications: Applicant must be nominated by a faculty member. *This scholarship is by nomination only.
Renewal Status: This award is not renewable.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Loren Kontio established this award upon his retirement in 1993 to recognize the outstanding achievement of young biologists at Central Michigan University. Loren Kontio was drawn from the Upper Peninsula to CMU by the strength of its aquatic biology program. He was a graduate student, a graduate teaching assistant, and then a faculty member at CMU teaching here for over 30 years. Mr. Kontio remembers the students who encouraged and challenged him as a faculty member and wanted to offer this prize as encouragement and praise to those outstanding students.

Dr. David S. and Bernice A. (Nelson) Lirones Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior majoring in biology and pursuing studies in pre-medicine (MD) or pre-osteopathy (DO) only. If no students meet the selected criteria for pre-medicine, then a student majoring in education and desiring to teach in the sciences may be selected.
Qualifications: Applicant must be a junior or senior standing with a 3.0 GPA or better in one of the preferred programs. The student must have a signed major in biology and complete at least one biology course per semester as a full-time student (12 credits/semester), and have at least a 3.25 GPA in biology, chemistry, and physics courses.
Renewal Status: This scholarship may be renewed upon reapplication if a 3.0 GPA has been maintained.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Established in 1960 (converted to an endowed fund in 1988) to honor the donor's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lirones and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Nelson. David earning his Bachelor of Arts in Biology at CMU in 1949. He continued his higher education becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and practiced family medicine for over 35 years in Flint, MI until he passed away in 2007 at age 83. Bernice earning her Bachelor of Science from CMU in 1947. She continued her higher education at the University of Michigan earning a Master of Arts and became an elementary teacher.

Kimberly Sue Mills Memorial Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded annually to a junior or senior student majoring in biology.
Qualifications: Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to an advocate for the advancement of women in biology.
Renewal Status: This award can be renewed once if applicant meets original requirements upon reapplication.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Family and friends established this scholarship in memory of Kimberly Sue Mills, a former CMU undergraduate biology student, who died during her graduate studies at the University of Montana Biology Station in 1981.

Pre-Medicine and Osteopathic Society Endowed Award

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding junior who is an active member of the Society.
Qualifications: Eligible students are juniors with a minimum 3.25 GPA. Must be past initiation and an active Society member for at least three semesters. The student must present copies of certificates of active membership to prove involvement.
Renewal Status: Not renewable.
Scholarship/Donor Information: The Pre-Medicine and Osteopathic Society sponsor this scholarship beginning 2013.

George R. Wheeler Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded to a CMU sophomore, junior or senior biology major pursuing studies in outdoor environmental education, ecology, or conservation.
Qualifications: Although there is no minimum grade point requirement, the recipient must be in good academic standing.
Renewal Status: This scholarship is renewable upon reapplication.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Established in honor of Mr. Wheeler, head of the Department of Conservation and Agriculture from 1947 to 1960 at Central Michigan Normal School, now CMU. He will long be remembered for his pioneering work in conservation education.

Daniel E. and Mildred G. Wujek Scholarship

Purpose: This award is for a botany or aquatic biology graduate student to support research.
Qualifications: Applicant must be in botany or aquatic biology with a GPA of at least a 3.0. Preference is given to a botany student. Each applicant must provide a detailed research prospectus with the application.
Renewal Status: This scholarship is renewable upon reapplication.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Established by Daniel E. and Mildred G. Wujek, both CMU alumni. Dr. Dan Wujek was a graduate student and then a faculty member in the Biology Department until he retired in 2004. The award may be used for tuition, books, food and housing at a biological station, research logistic support and/or supplies in support of research.

Dr. Kimber and Judy DeWitt Family Scholarship

Purpose: This scholarship is awarded annually to a junior or senior student majoring in biology.
Qualifications: Applicant must show financial need and have a GPA of 3.0 or better. Preference will be given to students from a historically underrepresented community.
Renewal Status: This scholarship is renewable upon reapplication.
Scholarship/Donor Information: Established by Kimber ’79 Biology and Judy ‘92 Accounting and an MBA in ’08. The Donors desire to support students studying Biology. CMU was instrumental in allowing Kimber to follow an educational path that led him to dental school and, ultimately, a career in orthodontics. He will be forever grateful to CMU and the faculty members who prepared him for that journey. This scholarship is a way of saying "Thank you," giving back to CMU and providing the same opportunity to a deserving student.