Undergraduate Awards and Scholarships
Departmental and Student Society Undergraduate Awards
A number of scholarships are available to earth sciences majors through the Department of Earth Sciences. The recipients of the Glenn W. Frank Geology Scholarship, Donald C. Gifford Scholarship, and the Outstanding Earth Sciences Major awards are selected (without application) by the earth sciences faculty.
Donations to any of the scholarship accounts are gratefully accepted. They may be sent to Department of Earth Sciences, Kent State University, Kent OH 44242, or make a donation online on our secure website. Donations will be deposited into the appropriate Foundation Account where they will augment the funds used to award the scholarships. For more information about donating please contact Joseph D. Ortiz, Chair.
For information about external awards see the Kent State University Student Financial Aid website.
Details regarding scholarships and awards are given below:
Rodney Feldmann Memorial Scholarship for Earth Sciences
Dr. Rodney Feldmann passed away on May 1, 2024. He was an eminent scholar, teacher, mentor, and a wonderful and kind individual.
Dr. Feldmann will be missed by all, but his enormous impact on KSU Geology will endure through a memorial scholarship fund that will support undergraduate and graduate students in Earth Sciences to conduct field work or attend scientific conferences. If you would like to donate to the Rodney Feldmann Memorial Scholarship for Earth Sciences, click here for further instructions, or send checks directly to the Department of Earth Sciences (221 McGilvrey Hall, 325 S. Lincoln St., Kent, OH 44242) and note Feldmann Scholarship in the memo.
Glenn W. Frank Geology Scholarship
A monetary award presented annually to one or two junior earth sciences majors who demonstrate excellent potential for a successful professional career in earth sciences. (no application required)
Donald C. Gifford Scholarship
A monetary award presented annually to one or two junior earth sciences majors who demonstrate excellent potential for a successful professional career in earth sciences with an emphasis in the fields of Paleontology, Stratigraphy, or Geophysics. (no application required)
John Allan Clark Scholarship
A monetary award presented to an academically superior Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences, or Geography senior major possessing a professional career interest in natural resource management. Download PDF Application Form
Outstanding Geology Major Award
A certificate presented to an academically superior earth sciences major who, in the current academic year, obtains the Bachelor of Science degree in geology and who is judged by the faculty to be the outstanding major. (no application required)
Sigma Gamma Epsilon W. A. Tarr Award
A certificate presented to an academically superior earth sciences graduating senior who has made significant contributions to the department of Earth Sciences through Sigma Gamma Epsilon. (no application required)
Sigma Gamma Epsilon Geology Undergraduate Student Research Scholarship
A monetary award presented to KSU undergraduate earth sciences majors who need funding for a research project, and are a current member of SGE. Download the Application Form
Bauer Experiential Learning Scholarship
A monetary award to cover costs associated with experiential learning field activities (including travel for research, attending a GSA or other type of educational fieldtrip, etc). Awards may be up to $1000 per student. Eligibility requirements are a 3.3+ GPA in Earth Sciences, full time ESCI student, 64+ credit hours (junior standing), and completion of ESCI 23063 (Earth Materials I) and ESCI 31070 (Earth Materials II). Application forms should be typed and are accepted year-round. Download the application form here.
Field Camp Scholarships
Several sources of scholarship support are available for Summer Field Camp participants. These are monetary awards presented to meritorious KSU undergraduate geology majors registered for the upcoming Summer Field Camp course to offset room and board costs. Awards range from $100 to $1000. Multiple awards for each scholarship may be given each year depending on available funds. To apply, provide your name, local address and telephone number, along with a brief statement of your immediate and long-range career goals by email to Kelly Thomasson, kthomass@kent.edu, by March 15.
- Richard A. Heimlich Scholarship(s)
- Joe and Karen Struckel Scholarship(s)
- Emerald Environmental Scholarship(s)
- Dr. Nancy Ritter Zolidis, B.A. 1970 Endowed Scholarship in Geology
- Sigma Gamma Epsilon Glenn Frank Field Camp Scholarship
- Kent State Geological Society Field Camp Scholarship
External Awards and Scholarships
In an effort to encourage advanced education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) the Ohio Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) offers financial support through competitively awarded scholarship opportunities.
Geological Society of America GeoCorps
Association of Women Geoscientists
Association of Engineering and Environmental Geologists (AEG)
Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Foundation Scholarships encourage the study of geophysics and related geosciences.
Mineralogical Society of America's Grants for Student Research In Mineralogy And Petrology are funded by an endowment created by contributions from the MSA membership. The grant comprises two awards of up to $5,000 each for research in mineralogy and petrology. Students, including graduate and undergraduate students, are encouraged to apply.
Regional sections of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers periodically offer local scholarship opportunities.
Geological Society of America Section Research Grants
FAFSA grants
Application occurs when you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Choose Ohio First Scholarship
State scholarship program established to recruit and keep talented students in Ohio who are pursuing degree programs in medicine, mathematics, science, engineering, and technology. Students must intend to enroll or currently enrolled in eligible degree programs, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and score at least a 27 Math ACT score or 620 Math SAT score. The awards are available to students enrolled at participating post-secondary institutions in Ohio. The award amounts vary from about $1,500 to $5,200 per recipient, per academic year. Recipients of the scholarship must maintain at minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA and participate in hands-on activities that provide real-life practical experience such as internships, research, or service learning.
Ohio Academic Scholarship
A merit-based program that offers financial assistance to high school graduates who demonstrate academic excellence. Students must enroll full-time in an undergraduate program at public colleges or universities in Ohio. The program offers up to $2,205 per academic year for up to four years of education. Additionally, the program offers incentives for students who choose to stay in the state of Ohio. Every year, at least one scholarship is granted to a student from a participating chartered high school that submits an electronic application by the deadline. High school GPA and scores from standardized tests determine eligibility for the scholarship.
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
Offers funds to residents of Ohio who are enrolled in undergraduate programs leading to an associate’s or first bachelor’s degree at public universities and private colleges and universities in Ohio. To qualify for the grant, students must demonstrate significant financial need and would be unable to pursue higher education without financial assistance. The amount of awards varies on enrollment status (full-time or half-time) and type of institution, but the maximum amount for full-time students is $428 per semester. Recipients are able to receive up to 10 semesters of state need-based assistance.
Ohio Third Frontier Internship Program
Program that strives to create a group of gifted employees for businesses in Ohio. It connects students in Ohio with rewarding internship opportunities with private businesses in Ohio. The program seeks students enrolled in degree programs that feature high-tech curricula such as physical sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, and engineering. Applicants must be at least in their sophomore year of an undergraduate program or enrolled in graduate school and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Students in Ohio who are enrolled in a two-year technical institution or community college or four-year college or university may be able to receive up to $6,000 over a period of 12 months. The program also offers up to 50 percent reimbursement of a recipient’s wages, with a maximum of $3,000 for period of 12 months.