Mathematics Department

Mathematics Department
Awards and Scholarships

 

The following is a partial list of awards and scholarships available to students in science and mathematics. Amounts of scholarships vary. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more detailed information.

HOW TO APPLY

With the exception of the Laumann Scholarship, all applications should be made through the Financial Aid Office. One application is all that is necessary to be considered for all scholarships. Please note that most scholarships have the requirement of financial need as stipulated in FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The filing period is January 1 - March 2. Scholarship applications are available at the beginning of January and must be filed with the Financial Aid Office.

  • Accenture Outstanding Junior Math Award - $200
    Established by Accenture, this award acknowledges excellence displayed by a junior level math major. The awardee should demonstrate both superior leadership skills and the ability to work effectively with peers and faculty. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

  • Robert P. Balles Mathematics Scholarship - $2200 Minimum
    Robert P. Balles is a retired community college mathematics professor, retired businessman, and investor. His mission is to recognize and reward the most outstanding math majors entering their senior year at Cal Poly. The Robert P. Balles Mathematics Scholarship was established in 2005. The students selected will have achieved the highest cumulative GPA in mathematics coursework at the 200 level or above for their first three years of study.

  • Volmar A. and Viola I. Folsom Scholarship - Variable
    The Volmar and Viola Folsom Scholarship Endowment Fund was inaugurated in January 1987 to provide scholarship financial assistance to qualified undergraduate mathematics students (minimum 2.5 GPA). A varying number of students can qualify. The scholarship is renewable depending upon satisfactory academic progress toward graduation and reapplication.

  • Charles J. Hanks Excellence in Math Award - $500
    This award goes to a math student who demonstrates excellence and outstanding ability.

  • Charles J. Hanks Mathematics Scholarship - $2000
    This scholarship was established by Mrs. Marjorie Hanks, widow of the late Charles J. Hanks, former Mathematics Department chair. The scholarship is awarded to a mathematics major with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

  • W. Boyd Judd Award - $300
    The Judd Award for University Scholarship is given annually by Mrs. W. Boyd Judd and her daughter Anita Judd to the outstanding KME member on the basis of scholarship, service and financial need.

  • KME Founders Award - $200
    The Kappa Mu Epsilon Founders Award was established in 1985 as an outgrowth of a request made by Professor Chester Scott's wife after he died in March of that year. The award is presented annually to a member of KME who best exhibits the spirit, enthusiasm and dedication of the founders of the Chapter. For more information on KME, please see the entry under Mathematics Department Clubs and Events, or contact Jonathan Shapiro, KME Advisor.


  • Katrina J. Killgore Memorial - $1775
    The Katrina J. Killgore Memorial Scholarship is an endowment scholarship for Cal Poly mathematics majors set up by Mr. Roy Killgore, father of Katrina, a junior math major who died in 1987. It is the purpose of this scholarship to encourage and reward those who achieve a measure of success in overall scholastic improvement.

  • George C. Laumann Scholarship - $850
    The George C. Laumann Scholarship was established by Mrs. Una Laumann to honor her husband, Professor Laumann, for his distinguished 27 year teaching career at Cal Poly. The scholarship is awarded annually and is based on scholarship, service and financial need. Eligibility requirements are as follows: You must be a mathematics, physical science or engineering major; you must have completed your first year mathematics requirements with a minimum 3.0 GPA; you must have earned a minimum of $1,000 during the previous year; and you must demonstrate financial need. Requirements while on scholarship: you must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in major classes during the period of the award; and you must serve at least 50 hours during the period of the scholarship in a related situation such as a math lab, tutoring, part-time work or community service (with or without pay). Interested students should apply in November for the Laumann Scholarship through the Mathematics Department, not the Financial Aid Office. Applications are due late November/early December of each year.

  • Marie Porter Lehman Math Educator Scholarship - $525
    The Marie Porter Lehman Mathematics Educator Scholarship for 2006-07 is to be awarded to a student in a teaching credential program or masters degree program who is headed for a career as a mathematics teacher. The scholarship endowment was created by the family of Marie Porter Lehman who was a school teacher in this area with a special interest in mathematics and in teaching gifted students.
    Requirements for this scholarship include:
    • A minimum 3.0 GPA in elementary mathematics curriculum or single subject credential mathematics work
    • Class level: last year of an elementary or secondary teaching credential, or enrollment in the Master's Program in Education with an emphasis on mathematics instruction, or Master of Science program in mathematics with the intention of teaching mathematics at the college level.

  • George H. McMeen Scholarship - $1000
    This scholarship is awarded to a math major with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

  • Raytheon Company Scholarship - $1000
    The Raytheon Company established this scholarship to provide aid to a junior or senior math major with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrated financial need. The student must be a resident of California to qualify for the scholarship.

  • Bryant Russell Memorial Award - $300
    This award goes to an outstanding math student.

  • Ralph M. Warten Memorial Scholarship - Variable
    The Ralph M. Warten Memorial Scholarship was established in April 1988 by Grace Warten, following the death of her husband Dr. Ralph Warten, for the purpose of providing financial aid to qualified students whose majors are in the College of Science and Mathematics at Cal Poly. The number of scholarships is variable and is based on evidence of need or demonstrated worthiness, and scholastic achievement.

  • Ralph E. Weston Memorial Awards - variable
    This award is given for outstanding achievement in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition by a Cal Poly student. The Weston awards go to the Cal Poly student who attains the highest score among Cal Poly participants and to the contestant with the second highest ranking. The source of this money is an endowment given to the university by Ralph Weston, Jr. in memory of his father, a longtime Cal Poly professor. Please contact Jonathan Shapiro for more information on the Putnam competition.

 

In addition to the above awards and scholarships, each year the Mathematics Department's Student Awards and Scholarships Committee chooses an outstanding senior, selected on the basis of participation in clubs or societies, contribution to the image of the department, and scholastic achievement.

For general information and applications, please contact Cal Poly's Financial Aid Office (805-756-2927). For information relating to the Mathematics Department and its awards, please contact Dr. Linda Patton or Francesca Fairbrother. Dr. Patton can also be reached by phone at (805) 756-1680, and Francesca Fairbrother by phone at (805) 756-6535.