Are you a current GY student looking for scholarships?
The
Office of Scholarship Services here at South Alabama are the people who can help you find scholarship and other
financial help options for your education here! Their new
JagSPOT portal allows students to search and find scholarships that may help pay for your
education.
The Department of Earth Sciences offers many awards for academic excellence in Geology.
For some awards (see description), students need not be declared geology majors. Most
of our awards are made on an annual basis and are derived through endowed funds managed
through the USA Foundation. For further information about the awards (including donations
to the endowment accounts) please contact Dr. Sytske Kimball (Department Chair) in the Department of Earth Sciences. No student is eligible to
receive more than one award per year. In addition, award criteria are currently under
revision and are subject to change from the descriptions listed below. Please contact
a geology faculty member for current criteria.
Freshman Awards
These awards, consisting of rock hammers, are made to freshman students with the best
academic performance in the GY 111/111L and GY 112/112L sequence of courses. One or
more prizes will be awarded per year. Students are generally nominated by those Geology
faculty members who teach the freshman level geology courses. Winners need not be
Geology majors.
James Denmark-Wayne Isphording Geology Award
The fund was established in July 1986 as a scholarship account for the Department
of Earth Sciences, named in honor of a Geology Major who was killed in an automobile
accident. The initial contribution was made by Alfred R. Denmark, a 1971 USA graduate
and brother of the student. His contribution as an alumnus was matched by the University.
In 2007, the Department of Earth Sciences in conjunction with the Denmark family renamed
the award the James Denmark-Wayne Isphording Award to acknowledge Professor Wayne
Isphording for 40 years of service to the Department and the University of South Alabama.
Prof. Isphording retired in May 2007. The cash award of approximately $250.00 to $300.00
per year is made to the student with the highest grades in GY 302 and GY 303. Students
are generally nominated for this award by faculty who teach those classes (Haywick
and Allison); however, students may nominate themselves for this award.
William E. Wiggs Award for Excellence in Paleontology
This cash award award (presently valued at $100.00) was first presented in the spring
of 2001. It is made to the geology major with the best overall academic performance
in Paleontology (GY 401). Students are nominated for this award by paleontologist
Murlene Clark; however, students may also nominate themselves. Winners need not be
Geology majors.
Sedimentology Book Prize
This award, first presented in the spring of 2001, is made to the student with the
best overall performance in sedimentary petrology (GY 402). Students are nominated
for this award by sedimentologist Doug Haywick; however, students may also nominate
themselves. The award consists of the American Geological Institute’s Glossary of
Geology reference book ($120.00). The award honors Elsie Haywick, an avid reader who
died in 2000. Winner need not be a Geology Major.
Elliott Hagler Award
This award was first presented in the Spring of 2004. It is in honor of Elliott Hagler,
a Geology graduate who was tragically killed in a traffic accident in 2002. The award
is made to the most deserving Geology Major in order to financially assist them in
attending the Department's summer field school (GY 480). The cash award in 2008 was
$500.00. The endowed fund was established following generous donations from friends
of Elliott and his parents.
John Faggard Geology Award
The fund was established in memory of Mr. John Faggard, a rock and gem collector who
was an important benefactor of the Department of Earth Sciences. He and his wife Ruth
donated hundreds of rock and mineral samples to the University, some of which are
on permanent display in the Life Sciences Building. The initial contribution was donated
in his memory by his wife Ruth in 1991. In 1994, this scholarship was combined with
the Denmark Scholarship in order to produce a single award. In 1996, a separate Faggard
Scholarship was established to award the student with the highest academic standing
in Geology courses who is within one year of graduation. The cash award in 2008 was
$1200.00. Students can be nominated for this award by any Geology faculty member,
however, students may also nominate themselves. The winning student will be decided
on the basis of voting by all Geology faculty. Only students majoring in geology at
the University of South Alabama are eligible for the Faggard Scholarship.
Desk and Derrick Award
The fund was established in 1996 following a major donation to the University of South
Alabama by the Desk and Derrick Club, a petroleum geology affiliated organization.
The cash award in 2008 was $500.00 and was made to the student(s) majoring in geology
with the highest academic standing in geology planning a career or graduate study
in petroleum geology or a related field. Students are nominated for this award by
Geology faculty who teach GY 304 and GY 402, courses relevant to the petroleum industry
(Haywick, Clark); however, students may also nominate themselves.
Mobile Rock and Gem Society Field School Award
This award was initiated by the members of the
Mobile Rock and Gem Society in 1999 as a mechanism by which to reward excellence in field work by Geology majors.
The 2008 award was $500.00. It is awarded to the student who is judged the best overall
field geologist by Dr. David Allison following the Department's GY 480 Field School
course.
George Lamb Award
The fund was established in 1994 in honor of Professor George Lamb, Emeritus Professor
of Geology for the University of South Alabama. Professor Lamb is a former Chair of
the Department of Geology and Geography and up until his retirement in 1993, was the
Assistant to the President of the University of South Alabama. This award consists
of a Brunton-style compass and is presented to the highest ranked Geology graduating
student. Additional consideration will be made for overall academic performance at
the University of South Alabama and service to the Department of Earth Sciences (including
service to the Geology Club).