Abygail Waggoner receives the Mikal L. Sousa Memorial ScholarshipAt Ball State, 80 percent of our students are eligible for financial aid. The Department of Chemistry offers many scholarships to help you pursue your bachelor’s degree.

For Incoming Freshmen

I-ASCEND Scholarships in Chemistry and Biology

The I-ASCEND program aims to provide scholarships to academically talented first-year students with demonstrated financial need majoring in chemistry and biology and those wishing enter the workforce or transfer to a graduate program upon BS degree completion. This program has been made possible by a grant entitled “Pathways to STEM Degrees through Integrated Academic Support, Career ENhancement, and Personal Development (I-ASCEND)” from the National Science Foundation to Ball State University. You may receive scholarship support for up to $10,000 per year based on your financial need as determined by the BSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. The scholarships are renewable for up to four years as long as you maintain a GPA >2.8 each semester, remain a full-time student and continue to have an unmet financial need.

The I-ASCEND scholarships will be awarded after you have qualified for and received other scholarships such as a Pell Grant, grants and scholarships from the State of Indiana, the Ball State University Foundation, Office of Admissions, private organizations and donors. We hope receiving the I-ASCEND scholarship on the top of other scholarships would eliminate or substantially reduce your need to work, so you can focus on your course work, graduate in a timely fashion and pursue your career goals. As a part of this program, you will receive 1-on-1 support from a faculty mentor as well as a peer mentor who can help you navigate college life. You will also have the opportunity to participate many activities such as study-tables, interactive seminars with top Indiana employers, undergraduate research, social events, story-telling using  photographs and workshops for career advice as well as personal/mental well-being. 

Award Amount

Up to $10,000 a year and renewable for up to four years.

Note: The scholarship amount is based on your unmet need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and can vary from year to year. 

Criteria

  • Must be US citizens, refugees or permanent residents.
  • High school GPA 2.83.
  • Be enrolled full-time at Ball State University.
  • Have demonstrated financial need – completed FAFSA.
  • Freshman majoring in chemistry or biology.

Benefits

  • Obtain 1-on-1 academic support and career guidance from a faculty mentor.
  • Get a peer mentor to help navigate college life.
  • Participate in study-tables with other I-ASCEND Scholars.
  • Engage in research with faculty and get paid.
  • Build connections with top Indiana employers.
  • Partake in career development and personal growth workshops.
  • Enjoy social activities such as movie nights, field trips and picnics.
  • Share stories and experiences through photographs

How to Apply

Step 1: Must have applied to Ball State University and completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Step 2: Students admitted to Ball State University will be contacted in February 2023 with a request to submit the following two items:  

  • One recommendation letter (preferably from a high school science teacher commenting on your aptitude for chemistry or biology discipline).
  • One-page essay (450-500 words, double spaced typed) addressing the following five questions:
    • (i) Why are you interested in chemistry or biology?
    • (ii) What career you want to pursue with a chemistry or biology degree?
    • (iii) Why are you interested in the I-ASCEND program - particularly, how the program will help you achieve your goals, other than providing scholarship support to offset financial burden?
    • (iv) Share any volunteer work, leadership experience, extracurricular activities, awards, recognitions employment history/skills
    • (v) Share any challenges/extenuating circumstances that you have faced and how that affected your education and personal development.

Step 3: Students who pass the initial review will b invited for an interview the selection committee, in-person or via Zoom. 

Application Review Date

The review of applications will begin on February for Fall 2023 cohort of I-ASCEND Scholars.

Program Contacts

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Sundeep Rayat or Dr. Gen Mager.

Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2211149. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

This scholarship was established with generous contributions from friends and alumni of the Department of Chemistry.

Award Amount

Typically, $500, but may change from year to year.

Criteria

You must:

  • be an incoming freshman
  • have ranked in the top 20 percent of your high school class
  • plan to major in chemistry and attend full-time

Preference is given to students who enroll in calculus their freshman year.

This award is renewable for up to four years, provided the student remains a chemistry major and maintains a 3.3-grade point average on a 4.0 scale in courses required for the chemistry major.

How to Apply

If you are a high school senior interested in applying for the scholarship, you should mail an official transcript (one that includes your class rank) and a letter asking to be considered for the scholarship. We recommend you also send your SAT score report and have a brief letter of reference sent from a teacher.

Mail them to:

Robert Sammelson, Chairperson
Department of Chemistry
Ball State University
2000 W. University Ave.
Muncie, IN 47306

Or email: chemoffice@bsu.edu

Sandra K. and Robert J. Morris both graduated from Wapahani High School in Selma, Indiana, where they met and began dating. They were married in 1985 and have two children, Chelsea Anne and Jacob Charles.

Sandra graduated with a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Ball State University in 1984. In her career, she specialized in cardiology, medical-surgical nursing, and endoscopy. Over the years, while maintaining certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Sandra was the clinical coordinator at the Amelia T. Wood Health Center at Ball State University, was a critical care nurse in a hospital burn unit, served as an oncology nurse at Carle Hospital in Champaign, IL, and was an infusion nurse at Medical Consultants in Muncie, IN.

Robert graduated cum laude from Ball State University in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and departmental honors. After graduation, he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his doctorate (with honors) in inorganic chemistry in 1990. Following Illinois, Robert served as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1991, he joined the chemistry faculty at Ball State as an assistant professor and began teaching undergraduate and graduate chemistry courses. He established a research group in the area of organometallic chemistry, as well. Following promotion to full professor in 1999, Robert became the Chair of the Department of Chemistry in 2002. After serving in this role for five years, he was appointed Associate Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Ball State University.

Award Amount

Typically, $500, but may change from year to year.

Criteria

You must:

  • Be an incoming freshman or transfer student
  • Have a GPA minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Be pursuing a major in chemistry
  • Have a minimum SAT score of 1500 on a scale of 2400 or equivalent on a similar exam

The award is renewable for three years for a total of four years of eligibility provided the student remains a chemistry major and maintains a 3.0-grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

How to Apply

All incoming freshman and new transfer students will be considered for this award and no application is required.

The David C. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship was established in 1980 in memory of former Ball State student David C. McIntyre. This scholarship is made possible by generous gifts from David's parents, Dr. and Mrs. William McIntyre, and from faculty and friends.

David was tragically killed by a drunk driver in an automobile accident in Indianapolis in the summer of 1978. At the time of his death, David had just completed his freshman year in chemistry here. A member of the honors program and a pre-medicine major, David had demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for chemistry.

In addition to his fine academic record, David also worked with former chemistry professor Dr. Ralph D. Joyner in establishing the chemistry learning resources laboratory as a premier center for tutoring freshman chemistry students.

Award Amount

Typically, $1,000, but may change from year to year.

Criteria

  • complete the freshman chemistry sequence
  • display exceptional scholastic ability in chemistry
  • express interest in medicine as a career.

Interested students should be sure to take the American Chemical Society standardized exam in general chemistry offered at the end of general chemistry.

How to Apply

Dr. and Mrs. William McIntyre have directed that the Departmental Honors and Awards Committee selects the student or students who best meet these criteria.

No application is involved.

The Mikal L. Sousa Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Mikal Sousa. Lynn and Bea Sousa, along with their parents and family established this scholarship with their generous donations.

Established by Lynn Sousa, professor emeritus of the department of chemistry and former chair, and Mrs. Bea Sousa, retired teacher and current Inservice Coordinator for the Indiana Writing Project. The award is in memory of their daughter, Mikal, who died of leukemia in 1980 at the age of 5 and a half. She was the child, grandchild, and great-grandchild of many teachers and perhaps would have been one herself, since Mikal enjoyed learning, looked forward to starting school, and showed great potential.

Award Amount

Typically, $1,000-1,500, but may change from year to year.

Criteria

Recipient must be:

  • an accomplished chemistry major or chemistry teaching major who shows excellent promise
  • enrolled full-time
  • a sophomore, junior, or senior

Preference will be given to students with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

How to Apply

Departmental Honors and Awards Committee selects the student or students who best meet these criteria based on nominations from Chemistry faculty.

No application is involved.

This scholarship has been established in the memories of Newell Choice Cook Sr., and Newell Choice Cook Jr., by the generous donations of Kathleen L. Cook, Nancy C. Behforouz, and Mohammad Behforouz. The purpose of the scholarship is to help promote and reward excellence among students studying in the fields of microbiology and organic chemistry at Ball State and carry on the spirit of scholarship and learning that embodies the lives and legacies of Newell C. Cook Sr., and Jr.

The award will go to one recipient majoring in microbiology within the Department of Biology and one recipient majoring in chemistry and doing research in organic synthesis.

Award Amount

Typically, $1,000, but may change from year to year.

Criteria

Recipients must:

  • be advanced undergraduate students with 60 or more credits
  • have a GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or a similar standing on a different scale
  • show evidence of promise in their chosen careers

Candidates shall be nominated by faculty members of their respective departments.

How to Apply

Departmental Honors and Awards Committee selects the student or students who best meet these criteria based on nominations from Chemistry faculty.

No application is involved.

The purpose of the Fund is to support, reward, and promote academic excellence by offering a scholarship to a Ball State University undergraduate student in the Department of Chemistry in accordance with the stated preferences:

a.  One or more 3rd or 4th year undergraduate students with a major in the Department of Chemistry;

b.  Minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale;

c.  Recipient has plans to pursue his/her PhD degree after graduation from Ball State University; and

d.  Special criteria for the Chemistry awardee:  The awardee will be selected from the students who have been doing research in experimental organic chemistry and plan to pursue his/her PhD degree in experimental organic chemistry, preferably in organic synthesis.

The Ralph D. Joyner Award for Positive Attitude was established in 1994 in honor of the former chemistry professor. Joyner continuously served the department from his arrival in 1965, past his retirement in 1988, and until his death in 1995.

During his tenure here, Joyner was a force for positive change within the department and the university at large. Some of his contributions include: obtaining and administering the first National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to Ball State faculty (in conjunction with other scientists); serving as departmental chairperson and on various departmental committees and serving as a member of the University Academic Senate, Graduate Committee for Ball State, and the committee to select a new dean for the College of Sciences and Humanities. Joyner was also instrumental in the hiring of the first female faculty member in the Department of Chemistry.

In addition, Joyner was the author and co-author of numerous scientific papers and was a member of the American Chemical Society and Indiana Academy of Science.

Award Amount

A certificate, suitable for framing, and a small token of appreciation.

Criteria

The award is given each year to the student majoring in chemistry who most embodies the example set by Joyner through his positive outlook.

The Departmental Honors and Awards Committee selects the student or students who have most helped make the department a pleasant and interesting place in which to study and learn.

How to Apply

Departmental Honors and Awards Committee selects the student or students who best meet these criteria based on nominations from Chemistry faculty.

No application is involved.

The Excellent Performance in General Chemistry Award is given each year to a small group of students. Recipients are often runner-ups for the David C. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship.

Award Amount

Student awardees are presented with a certificate at the annual Fall Tea ceremony.

Criteria

Recipients must:

  • have completed the general chemistry sequence
  • displayed an exceptional scholastic ability in chemistry

This award is open to students in any major.

Interested students should be sure to take the American Chemical Society standardized exam in general chemistry offered at the end of general chemistry.

How to Apply

The Departmental Honors and Awards Committee selects the students who best meet the above criteria.

No application is involved.

This scholarship was established by a former Ball State student, Dr. Robert G. Reed and his wife, Carlene in honor of Professor Emeritus, Dr. Park Wiseman who was a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry from 1947 to 1982 and taught organic chemistry. He also was chair of the department from 1965 to 1969.

He was instrumental in setting up the 43-hour chemistry major program and getting its accreditation by the American Chemical Society. Perhaps just as important, he set the tone in the department that remains positive and focuses on helping students learn. Dr. Wiseman became emeritus faculty in 1982. Reed started the scholarship because Park had a positive influence on him.

Award Amount

Typically, $1,000, but may change from year to year.

Criteria

Recipients must:

  • be a sophomore or higher
  • major in chemistry

Financial need is considered for the scholarship.

How to Apply

Departmental Honors and Awards Committee selects the student or students who best meet these criteria based on nominations from Chemistry faculty.

No application is involved.

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