Awards & Scholarships

Undergraduate Scholarships for Physics Majors

The Arthur B. and Alma G. Lewis Scholarship

(for incoming or current Freshmen; renewable)
The Lewis Scholarship provides $2000 to $4000 for the first or second academic year of undergraduate enrollment. It is renewable in subsequent years providing that reasonable progress is made toward the Bachelor of Science degree in physics; progress will be reviewed each year. The scholarship is available to incoming and current freshmen who have officially declared their intention with the University's Admissions Office or College of Liberal Arts to be a B. S. physics major. Selection is based primarily on scholastic achievement and financial need, although recommendations from high school or University faculty and counselors will also be considered. Finalists will be interviewed, and preference will be given to incoming freshmen. The scholarship source is income from an endowment left to the University by Dr. and Mrs. Lewis. The Department of Physics and Astronomy reserves the right to decide how many new Lewis Scholars will be named in any year.

Application forms: MS Word, PDF (Instructions)

The William Lee Kennon Scholarship

(for incoming or current Freshmen; renewable)
The Kennon Scholarship provides $500 per semester for the first, second or third semester of undergraduate enrollment. It is renewable in subsequent semesters providing reasonable progress is made toward a Bachelor’s degree in physics. The scholarship is available to incoming and current freshmen who have officially declared their intention with the University's Admissions Office or College of Liberal Arts to be a B. A. or B. S. physics major. Selection is based primarily on scholastic achievement, although financial need may also be considered. The scholarship source is income from a gift; the Department of Physics and Astronomy reserves the right to decide how many new Kennon Scholars will be named in any year.

Application forms: MS Word, PDF (Instructions)

The Wofford Reynolds and Opal Read Price Scholarship

(for current Sophomores, Juniors, and transfer students; renewable):
The Price Scholarship is intended to encourage students to pursue professional studies in physics. It provides $2000 to $4000 for each of the last two years of undergraduate enrollment. The scholarship is available only to students that have officially declared physics as their major and have made reasonable progress toward a Bachelor's degree in physics. Recipients must be Mississippi residents, U.S. citizens, and must be recommended by a faculty member at their current or former college or university. Selection is based on demonstrated scholastic achievement and leadership potential, along with financial need. Preference will be given to students from Jasper County, Mississippi. The scholarship source is income from a gift to the University from Mr. and Mrs. Price; the Department of Physics and Astronomy reserves the right to decide how many new Price Scholars will be named in any year.

Application forms: MS Word, PDF (Instructions)

Other Financial Support

Undergraduate students often receive financial support during the summer months to work with professors on cutting-edge research in one of the department's specialties. The research program includes activities in acoustics, solid state physics, high energy (elementary particle) physics, general relativity, and atmospheric physics.

National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Students are also eligible for various federal and state grant and loan programs. For more details, see the Office of Financial Aid website.

Filling Out Application Forms

Using Acrobat Reader:

NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader v. 4 or better installed on your computer to complete forms online and then print the completed form. Please note, however, that not all forms will function properly if you are not using the most recent version of the Reader software. If you are using Acrobat Reader, you will be able to fill out and print the forms on a local printer; however, Acrobat Reader does not allow you to save an online form with its filled-in information. Adobe Reader is available free of charge via the web:

Open the form from your local hard disk drive using your installed Adobe Acrobat Reader application.
Once the form is open in Reader, select the “Hand” tool and click on the first text field of the form. The field will be active and a blinking I-Beam cursor will be located in the field. Enter the information by typing directly in the text field.
After you have entered the information you want in the first text field, simply use the tab key to move to the next field, which will highlight. You may go back to a field by clicking on it with the cursor or by pressing “Shift + Tab” to move backward through the form one field at a time.
When you have completed the form, select “Print” from the File menu to print the form with all information entered.
Send the form via Fax or via regular mail.

Note: If you are using Mac OSX you can "Save as PDF" from the Print Window and then email us the New PDF.

Using MS Word:

Please open the form from your local hard disk drive and fill it out.
Send in the form via email or print it and send it via Fax or regular mail.

When the applications are completed please send them, along with any accompanying documents, to the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Back to the Undergraduate Programs.