Scholarships

HGS Foundation (Undergraduate Students)

General: The Houston Geological Society Foundation was established in 1984 with the intent of providing scholarships to deserving undergraduate geoscience majors.  The Foundation was incorporated in 1985 and achieved tax-exempt status from the IRS later the same year as a nonprofit Section 501c (3) organization for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes.  As of March 2011, Foundation trustees include: John Adamick (chairman), David Fontaine (Treasurer), Shannon Lemke (Secretary), James Painter, Susan Black, Paul Hoffman, James Ragsdale, and Evelyn Medvin.  The Foundation has provided over $184,000 in scholarships since its inception.

Fundraising:  The Foundation uses a variety of means to try and raise scholarship funds. Direct donations, the HGS membership dues process, Vendors Corner proceeds, matching-fund donations, and golf tournaments all produce funds that help support our scholarship program.  In 2011, the HGS also allowed the Foundation and Calvert (graduate) scholarship programs to recruit sponsors for Legends Night.  Profits from Legends Night were split between the two scholarship funds and were a significant source of funding.  

Description of Program: Seven universities participate in the Foundation’s scholarship program.  These include: Rice University, the University of Houston, Texas A&M, the University of Texas, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Lamar.  Each fall, the head of the geoscience department at each university is contacted.  The university submits two nominees and notifies the students of their nomination.  Each student is then required to file an application to the Foundation by a deadline.  All applications are reviewed in late November and winners are notified in December.  The scholarships are presented to the students in January or February at one of the regular HGS dinner meetings. Typically, the Foundation attempts to award a scholarship to each university participating in the program, if the applicants are qualified.   Scholarship amounts may vary from year to year but in recent years have been $1500 per student.  In addition, the highest overall ranked student each year is awarded the Maby Scholarship and awarded an extra $1,000.

• Scholarship Requirements:    

• Other Factors Considered:

• All Historical Winners
• 2011 Winners
• 2010 Winners
• 2009 Winners

W.L. Calvert Memorial Scholarships (Graduate Students)

The Houston Geological Society announces a scholarship for graduate students in the earth sciences who plan to pursue a career in some area of economic geology.  The $3000 annual award will be made to U.S. citizens who have gained unconditional admission to a graduate program leading to an M.S. or Ph.D. degree at any accredited U.S. college or university.

Selection of an awardee will be based primarily on the candidate’s past academic record and his/her potential to complete graduate degree requirements, as attested to by professional earth scientists in academia, government and industry.  Financial need will be a secondary consideration.  An awardee may accept other scholarships, but the name(s) of the grantor(s) and the dollar amount(s) must be reported to us.  Money earned through research assistantships and teaching assistantships should also be reported to us.

An awardee may pursue studies at any accredited college or university in the United States that awards graduate degrees in the earth sciences.  Scholarship applicants must present evidence of their unconditional acceptance for graduate study at the school of their choice.  Awardees are expected to carry at least 9 credit hours each semester or quarter, summer terms excepted.  Second and third year renewals will be granted provided the scholar demonstrates satisfactory progress toward his/her degree.

Deadline for receipt of applications is June 1.  Announcement of awards will be made by July 15. Application forms can be downloaded here or they can be requested to:

Dr. Alison Henning
Rice University
Department of Earth Science
6100 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77005