The following scholarships are available to graduate students in the Department of Entomology at Iowa State University. They are listed here by funding source.
DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY
Henry and Sylvia Richardson Research Incentive Grant
The purpose of the award is to encourage research experiences beyond those available in the student’s degree program. A single award will be presented annually. Applications due November 1. More info.
Previous awardees:
- 1991: Mark Novak
- 1994: Ellen Kruger
- 1995: Clint Pilcher
- 2001: Joel Gibson
- 2002: Yong-Lak Park and Johnson Ouma
- 2003: Laura Jesse
- 2004: Megan O'Rourke
- 2005: Matt Petersen
- 2006: Rebecca Brown
- 2007: Nina Richtman
- 2008: Gretchen Paluch
- 2009: Jessica Petersen
- 2012: Aaron Gross
- 2013: Eric Clifton
- 2014: R. Isai Madriz Villanueva
- 2015: Mariah Kemmerer
Dr. Jean L. Laffoon Memorial Scholarship
Dr. Jean L. Laffoon was an entomology faculty member from 1946 until his untimely death in 1973 at age 50. He was an exemplary professor, undergraduate advisor and mentor who knowledgeably and enthusiastically taught elementary entomology and systematic entomology.
The Dr. Jean L. Laffoon Memorial Scholarship provides scholarships for one graduate student enrolled in the Department of Entomology per year. Scholarships are for one year, but may be renewed for additional years. The amount of the scholarship is variable. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a scale of 4.0 is required.
Applicants should send a cover letter, and a full résumé including academic training with grades. Applications must be submitted as a single pdf file by e-mail by November 1 to Dr. Ryan Smith, Chair, Department of Entomology Student Awards and Scholarships Committee: smithr@iastate.edu. The Student Awards and Scholarships Committee will recommend awardees to the Chair of the Department of Entomology.
Previous awardees:
- 2012: Kelly Gill
- 2013: Diveena Vijayendran
- 2014: Coy St. Clair
- 2015: R. Isai Madriz Villaneuva
- 2016: Coy St. Clair
Larry Pedigo Graduate Scholarship in Entomology
Dr. Larry Pedigo served on the faculty of the Entomology Department for over 30 years. During that time, he achieved a distinguished record in research and successfully mentored many M.S. and Ph.D. students. As a result he brought international recognition to the Department and to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Larry Pedigo Graduate Scholarship in Entomology has been established to honor Dr. Pedigo for his many contributions.
The Larry Pedigo Graduate Scholarship in Entomology provides scholarships for one graduate student majoring in Entomology per year. Scholarships are for one year, but may be renewed for up to five years. The amount of the scholarship The amount of the scholarship varies depending on the interest earned from the endowment. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of scholarly performance. Evidence of scholarly performance may include but is not limited to: participation in academic, scholarly, or professional organizations; elections to honor societies; or receipt of academic awards or honors.
Applicants should send a cover letter highlighting scholarly performance, and a résumé including academic training with grades / scores, evidence of scholarly performance, and details of entomology-related activities. Applications must be submitted as a single pdf file by e-mail by November 1 to Dr. Ryan Smith, Chair, Department of Entomology Student Awards and Scholarships Committee: smithr@iastate.edu. The Student Awards and Scholarships Committee will recommend awardees to the Chair of the Department of Entomology.
Previous awardees:
- 2010: Missy Rynerson
- 2011: Mike McCarville
- 2012: Mike McCarville
- 2013: Mike McCarville
- 2014: Mike Dunbar
- 2015: Eric Clifton
- 2016: Edmund Norris
Jim Oleson Scholarship in Entomology
Jim Oleson had a long and outstanding career working for the Department of Entomology and saw firsthand the skill, commitment and success of students who applied themselves to the field. The Jim Oleson Scholarship in Entomology provides scholarships for one undergraduate or graduate student majoring in Insect Science or Entomology per year. Scholarships are for one year, but may be renewed for additional years. The amount of the scholarship The amount of the scholarship varies depending on the interest earned from the endowment. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic promise and initiative and hence a minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required.
Applicants should send a cover letter describing their entomology-related experience, and a résumé including details of academic training with grades / scores, activities, and work experience. Applications (a single pdf file) must be submitted by e-mail by November 1 to Dr. Ryan Smith, Chair, Department of Entomology Student Awards and Scholarships Committee: smithr@iastate.edu. The Student Awards and Scholarships Committee will recommend awardees to the Chair of the Department of Entomology.
Previous awardees:
- 2010: Mike McCarville
- 2011: Kelly Gill
- 2012: Jing Sun
- 2013: Adam Varenhorst
- 2014: Adam Varenhorst
- 2015: Eric Clifton
- 2016: Teresa Blader
Herbert Osborn Award
The purpose of the Herbert Osborn Awards was to recognize and encourage development of professional skills by graduate students in the Department of Entomology. Awards were available on an annual basis for one MS and one PhD Student. The last Osborn awards were presented in December 2008. This award has now been replaced by the Entomology Student Scholarship for Student Excellence.
Previous awardees:
| Year | Ph.D. | M.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Kris Giles | Carol Pilcher |
| 1998 | Clint Pilcher | Rayda Krell |
| 1999 | Timothy Nowatski | David Coyle |
| 2000 | Chris Peterson | Amy Wiebe |
| 2001 | Wilmar Morjan | Joel Gibson |
| 2002 | Rayda Krell | Susan Moser |
| 2003 | Patti Anderson | Emily-Jean Fuerst |
| 2004 | Betsy Matos | Kate Kronback |
| 2005 | Jeff Bradshaw | Gretchen Schultz |
| 2006 | Matt Petersen | Nick Schmidt |
| 2007 | Keri Henderson | (no MS award) |
| 2008 | Gretchen Paluch | Nina Schmidt |
Entomology Student Scholarship for Student Excellence
The Entomology Student Scholarship for Student Excellence, which was funded by the Fred Clute Memorial Fund, provided a scholarship for one undergraduate or graduate student per year, with preference for students working in Structural Pest Management. Selection at the undergraduate level was based on academic excellence, and at the graduate level on excellence in research, teaching and / or extension.
Fred N. Clute (1932 – 2002) worked for Evans Orchard Supply Company in Kansas City before joining Rhodes Chemical Company in 1966. He spent most of his 36 years with Rhodes educating, training, providing customer service and support, and solving problems. His greatest satisfaction was in sharing his experience, knowledge and wisdom with others. Fred received many awards from the state pest control associations throughout the Midwest, and attended the Purdue Pest Control Conference no fewer than eighteen times.
The last Entomology Student Scholarship for Student Excellence was awarded in 2013.
Awardees:
- 2008: Nick Schmidt
- 2009: Missy Rynerson
- 2010: Mike McCarville
- 2011: Kelly Gill
- 2012: Diveena Vijayendran
- 2013: Aaron Gross
Wayne A. Rowley Scholarship
The Wayne A Rowley Scholarship in Entomology provides scholarships for one undergraduate or graduate student majoring in Entomology per year. The scholarships are open to students with Sophomore or higher class standing. Scholarships are for one year, but may be renewed for up to three additional years. First preference shall be to applicants concentrating on medical entomology. The amount of the scholarship varies depending on the interest earned from the endowment. The Student Awards and Scholarships Committee will recommend awardees to the Chair of the Department of Entomology.
Applicants should send a cover letter describing their career goals, and a résumé including information on academic training (including GPA, ACT/SAT score), activities and leadership information, and work experience. Applications must be submitted by mail or e-mail (preferred) by November 1 to Dr. Ryan Smith, Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, 401 Science II, Ames, IA 50011-3222; E-mail: smithr@iastate.edu.
Previous awardees:
- 2006: Brendan Dunphy
- 2007: Jon Oliver
- 2008: Gretchen Paluch
- 2009: Jon Oliver
- 2010: Patrick Jennings
- 2011: Adam Varenhorst
- 2012: Jeff Alfred
- 2013: Michael Dunbar
- 2014: Edmund Norris
- 2015: Mike Dunbar
- 2016: Rebekah Reynolds
Entomology Alumni Scholarship
The Entomology Alumni Scholarship provides scholarships for one undergraduate or one graduate student enrolled in a current major in the Department of Entomology per year. Selection is based on scholarship, leadership potential, extracurricular activities, work and community experience, and on promise for a career in Entomology. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. The amount of the scholarship varies depending on the interest earned from the endowment. The Student Awards and Scholarships Committee will select awardees.
Applicants should send a cover letter describing their career goals, and a résumé including information on academic training (including GPA, ACT/SAT score), activities and leadership information, and work experience. Applications (a single pdf file) must be submitted by e-mail by November 1 to Dr. Ryan Smith, Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, 418 Science II, Ames, IA 50011-3222; E-mail: smithr@iastate.edu.
Previous awardees:
- 2005: Harold Stockdale Awards: Daniel Forbes and Aaron Heit
- 2007: Harold Stockdale Memorial Scholarships: Brendan Dunphy and Kelly Seman
Entomology Alumni Scholarship
- 2008: Kayalyn Edmeade
- 2009: Grace Sward
- 2011: Mike McCarville
- 2012: Mike Rausch
- 2013: Diveena Vijayendran
- 2014: Eric Clifton
- 2015: Mike Dunbar
- 2016: Eric Clifton
ISU GRADUATE COLLEGE
Research Excellence Award
The purpose of these awards is to recognize the top 10% of graduate students in each major for outstanding research accomplishments as documented in resulting theses and dissertations. Awards are offered each semester. Nominations are due to Vice Provost for Research Office in April, July, and November. Nominations are due to the Chair, Entomology Student Awards and Scholarships Committee, 2 weeks in advance of these deadlines. Students are required to submit a brief description of their research (no more than one page), and copies of papers that have been published or accepted for publication. More info...
Previous awardees:
- 2001: Anthony Boughton
- 2001: Brad Coates
- 2002: Rayda Krell
- 2004: Johnson Ouma, Matt Cummings
- 2005: Gretchen Schultz
- 2008: Miriam Lopez
- 2010: Missy Rynerson
- 2011: Mike McCarville
- 2014: Mike McCarville
- 2014: Aaron Gross (Toxicology major)
- 2014: Diveena Vijayendran (Genetics major)
Teaching Excellence Award
The purpose of the award is to recognize and encourage outstanding achievement by graduate students in teaching. Deadlines as for Research Excellence Award. Nominees selected by the Student Awards and Scholarships Committee will be forwarded to the Vice Provost for Research and Advanced Studies. More info... Applications should be submitted to the Chair, Entomology Student Awards and Scholarships Committee. Applications should include:
1. A nomination letter from the faculty member most closely associated with the student’s teaching experience. The letter should include a percentile ranking and the number of TAs the faculty member has dealt with, an assessment of the difficulty of the assignment, and the student’s role in course development or improvement.
2. A summary of the student’s teaching accomplishments and impact (1 page max)
3. Student evaluations of the TA
4. Any other supporting materials that may assist the committee in the review process.
Previous awardees:
- 2000: Laura Weiser
- 2001: Wilmar Morjan
- 2001: Rayda Krell
- 2002: Jeremy Heath
- 2004: Patricia Anderson
- 2007: Nina Schmidt
- 2008: Rebecca Sam
- 2008: Nick Schmidt
- 2015: Adam Varenhorst, R. Isai Madriz Villaneuva
Minigrants for Travel and Research
Professional Development Grants are available to graduate students for travel to professional meetings. The Graduate and Professional Student Senate offers various other awards. More info...
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
Details of other scholarships can be found via the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences site.
Zaffarano Award for Graduate Student Research
Awarded annually to a graduate student with superior performance in publishable research. Consideration is given to both the number and the quality of publications accepted during the student's tenure at Iowa State University. More info...
Karas Award for Outstanding Dissertation
The Karas Award for Outstanding Dissertation has been established to recognize excellence in doctoral research at Iowa State University. Dissertations in the Biological Sciences are considered in odd years (2015, 2017 etc). More info...
George Washington Carver Fellowship
This fellowship is given to minority graduate students based on research and academic achievement. The fellowship provides full tuition and an increase in stipend paid by the Graduate College. More info...
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, NORTH CENTRAL BRANCH
North Central Branch Graduate Scholarship Award
An award of $500 is given in recognition of graduate student members of NCB ESA for course work and research culminating in scholarship. Three letters of recommendation from faculty are required. More info...
J. H. Comstock Award
Awarded to five graduate students each year to promote interest in Entomology. Winner from each branch receives certificate, cash prize and all-expenses paid trip to National ESA meeting. Letters of recommendation from three ESA members are required.
More info...
2008 North Central Branch Comstock Award: Jeff Bradshaw
Details of North Central Branch Student awards can be found here.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, NATIONAL
Jeffery P. Lafage Graduate Student Research Award
The grant is awarded to a graduate student who proposes innovative research, which advances or contributes significantly to the knowledge of the biology or control of pests in the urban environment, especially termites or other wood-destroying organisms.
More info...
Kenneth and Barbara Starks Plant Resistance to Insects Graduate Student Research Award
This award recognizes a graduate student in entomology or plant breeding/genetics for innovative research. Applications due July 1.
More info...
Lillian and Alex Feir Graduate Student Travel Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biology
The purpose of this award is to encourage graduate students working with insects or other arthropods in the broad areas of physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to affiliate with ESA's Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology Section and to attend the ESA Annual Meeting.Applications due July 1.
More info...
The Larry Larson Graduate Student Award for Leadership in Applied Entomology
Award is to recognize final year Masters students or first year PhD students for outstanding research and leadership skills. Award includes a trip to Dow AgroSciences Corporate Headquarters in Indianapolis. Applications due July 1. More info...
Details of other ESA awards can be found at here. Be sure to check for ESA student award nomination deadlines.