At Ball State, 80 percent of our students are eligible for financial aid. The Department of Biology offers many scholarships to help you pursue your bachelor’s degree.
Except for the I-ASCEND Program, listed first below, these scholarships and awards are merit-based and nominated by faculty members.
For the other scholarships and awards, this is the application process:
The Student and Alumni Communication (SAC) Committee will accept nominations for awards for the 2023/2024 AY in three formats:
1. Faculty Nomination
- Faculty writes nomination letter and gathers supporting documentation
- Faculty submits nomination through Biology Department Student Awards Community Canvas Page
2. Student-Initiated Faculty Nomination
- Student approaches faculty member to be nominated.
- If the faculty member supports the nomination:
- Faculty writes nomination letter and gathers supporting documentation
- Faculty submits nomination through Community Canvas Page
3. Student Self-Nomination with Faculty Support
- Student writes self-nomination letter and gathers supporting documentation
- Student approaches a faculty member to support and submit their self-nomination
- If the faculty member supports the self-nomination, the faculty member submits the student's self-nomination through the Community Canvas Page
Faculty may nominate or support nominations for multiple students for the same award or the same student for multiple awards. Students may Self-Nominate for Multiple awards.
Formal Nomination letters should be in PDF format and should:
- explain why the student is deserving of the award
- touch on the student’s achievements and academic credentials that are relevant to the award and
- ensure that the student meets the nomination criteria for the award (such as minimum GPA or class status).
Please note that each award may have its own criteria (found below) that must be met for the student to be considered for the award.
The SAC committee will select award recipients after nominations close. Students selected to receive an award will be sent an official award letter via their Ball State University email.
I-ASCEND Scholarships in Chemistry and Biology
I-ASCEND program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) that supports students with high ability and high financial need with scholarships and provides them a support system needed to succeed. Scholarship amount can be up to $10,000/year and renewable for four years. For more information and to apply, visit the I-ASCEND website.
Undergraduate
Award Description: This award is for a biology student in the lab sciences in their last year who excels in leadership or scholarship related to a lab discipline
Award Criteria:
- The student has expressed the explicit intention of obtaining their degree within the academic year of the award.
- Minimum GPA of 3.25 AND one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated Leadership/Group Activity Related to a Laboratory Discipline
- Service/membership/leadership in campus or community organizations
- Demonstrated Scholarship/Research Related to a Laboratory Discipline
- Completion of an independent research project
- Recipient of undergraduate fellowship/grant
- Presentation of research at a professional meeting
- Submitted/published article in peer-reviewed scientific journal
- Other accomplishments or recognitions
Award Description: This award is for a biology student in the field sciences in their last year who excels in leadership or scholarship related to a field or conservation discipline
Award Criteria:
- The student has expressed the explicit intention of obtaining their degree within the academic year of the award.
- Minimum GPA of 3.25 AND one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated Leadership/Group Activity Related to a field or conservation discipline
- Involvement in campus activities (ex. officer in a student club or coordinator of an event)
- Participation in a community activity
- Demonstrated scholarship/research related to a field discipline
- Conducted undergraduate research (honors thesis, independent study)
- Presented research findings at a professional meeting (local, state, or national)
- Recipient of internal or external research grant
- Submitted/published article in peer-reviewed scientific journal
- Other accomplishments or recognitions
Award Description: This award is for a Science Education student in their last year who excels in teaching or leadership. All applications require a nomination letter from a science education faculty member addressing how their accomplishments go “above and beyond” the state and national science education standards.
Award Criteria:
- The student has expressed the explicit intention of obtaining their degree within the academic year of the award.
- Minimum GPA of 3.25 in science content and methods courses AND one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching
- Experience in after school or informal science education programs
- Outstanding field experience or student teaching evaluations
- Demonstrated excellence in leadership
- Experience in judging science fairs
- Attendance at state and national science education conferences
- Membership in professional science education organizations and honoraria
- Special recognition
- Invited presentations
- Other teacher-related rewards and certificates
Award Description: This award is for a biology student in their last year who excels in leadership or scholarship
Award Criteria:
- The student has expressed the explicit intention of obtaining their degree within the academic year of the award.
- Minimum GPA of 3.25 AND one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated Leadership/Group Activity
- Involvement in campus activities (e.g., an officer in a student club or coordinator of an event)
- Participated in a community activity
- Demonstrated Scholarship/Research
- Conducted undergraduate research (Honors Thesis, Independent Study)
- Presented research findings at a professional meeting (local, state, or national)
- Recipient of internal or external research grant
- Submitted/published article in peer-reviewed scientific journal
- Other accomplishments or recognitions
graduate
Award Description: This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments towards teaching and learning while serving as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Biology at Ball State University. Faculty or Students may nominate graduate students for this award.
Award Criteria:
- A graduate student (Master's or Doctoral) in the Department of Biology during the current academic year.
- A contracted Graduate Assistant for at least one full semester during the academic year.
- Nominations must include:
- Evidence of quality teaching, such as:
- student evaluations
- unsolicited student comments
- lesson plans
- other teaching artifacts
- Cover letter describing the candidate’s qualities that merit consideration
Award Description: This award is for a graduate student in Science Education who excels in teaching or leadership.
Award Criteria:
- The student has expressed the explicit intention of obtaining their degree within the academic year of the award.
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 AND one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching
- Letters of appreciation from students, parents, administrator
- Outstanding teacher evaluations
- Creation or implementation of unique science curricula
- Demonstrated excellence in leadership
- Elected to office in state or national science teaching organization
- Presentation(s) at local, state, or national science education meetings
- Work on local, state, or national committees
- Published article in science education journal
- Special recognition
- Outstanding teacher award
- Outstanding service award
Award Description: This award is for a Biology Graduate student in the Field Sciences in their last year who excels in leadership or scholarship related to a field or conservation discipline.
Award Criteria:
- The student has expressed the explicit intention of obtaining their degree within the academic year of the award.
- Minimum GPA of 3.50 AND one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated leadership/group activity related to a field or conservation discipline
- Professional or academic service/leadership/development
- Participation in community activities
- Demonstrated scholarship/research in a field discipline
- Recipient of external research grant
- Recipient of scholarship
- Presented research findings at one or more professional meetings (local, state, national, or international)
- Submitted/published article in peer-reviewed scientific journal
- Other accomplishments or recognitions
Award Description: This award is for a biology graduate student in the lab sciences in their last year who excels in leadership or scholarship related to a lab discipline.
Award Criteria:
- The student has expressed the explicit intention of obtaining their degree within the academic year of the award.
- Minimum GPA of 3.50 AND one or more of the following:
- Demonstrated Leadership/Group Activity Related to a Laboratory Discipline
- Measure of productivity or timeliness of completing work toward thesis
- Work ethic
- Faculty evaluations of GA assignments
- Demonstrated initiative/innovation
- Service/membership/leadership in organizations
- Demonstrated Scholarship/Research Related to a Laboratory Discipline
- Grantsmanship
- Presentation/participation at conference(s)
- Submitted/published article in peer-reviewed scientific journal
- Other accomplishments or recognitions
Cost & Financial Aid Information