Scholarships and Awards
How to Apply | Scholarships | Awards | Contact Information
The following is a partial list of awards and scholarships available to students in science and mathematics. The dollar amounts listed for each scholarship are representative, but they can vary from year to year. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more detailed information.
How to Apply
With the exception of the Killgore and Laumann Scholarships, 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.
Scholarships
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.
Ed Glassco Scholarship Endowment - TBD
This Scholarship was established in memory of Ed Glassco, who was a member of the Cal Poly mathematics faculty from 1968-2001. The scholarship is awarded to students pursuing a B.S. in Mathematics with a recommended 3.0 GPA with preference to students who are the first in their family to attend college.
Katrina J. Killgore Memorial Scholarship - $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. Applications are due January 11, 2013.
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 an undergraduate 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; you must demonstrate official financial need as determined by the FAFSA; and you must have filed FAFSA information sometime within the last year. 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 January 11, 2013.
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.
Robert Noyce Scholars Program - $12,000
The Robert Noyce Scholars program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded (DUE 0630419) program to provide scholarships to students who are committed to teaching mathematics in high need school districts upon the completion of the credential program at Cal Poly.
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.
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.
Awards
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.
Charles J. Hanks Excellence in Math Award - $500
This award goes to a math student who demonstrates excellence and outstanding ability.
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 Dr. Jonathan Shapiro, KME Advisor.
TC Reece Mathematics Award - $300
This award was established by Terry and Cami Reece and is awarded annually to an outstanding student majoring in Mathematics, who has contributed to the mathematical and cultural life of the Mathematics Department and the University.
Bryant Russell Memorial Award - $300
This award goes to an outstanding math student.
Ralph E. Weston Memorial Award - 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 Dr. Jonathan Shapiro for more information on the Putnam competition.
Department Awards
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.
Contact Information
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 Cami Reece. Dr. Patton can also be reached by phone at (805) 756-1680, and Cami Reece by phone at (805) 756-1227.