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The scholarship process for all undergraduates and all scholarships (both major specific ones and all general scholarships) begins with UWM’s Panther Scholarship Portal.

How and when to apply:

  1. Log into the portal and your general application. This must be done a minimum of once per school year but we recommend doing this twice a year in November and February.
  2. In the portal, complete the Letters & Science scholarship application. Here is where you will upload a copy of your transcript (also recommended to be done in November and February).

    Completing steps 1 and 2 will match you to most scholarships based on the information you enter.
  3. You may see scholarships on your Panther Scholarship Portal dashboard that you can “Apply To.” These are scholarships which require additional information beyond steps 1 and 2. Complete any of these you wish to apply for.

The Panther Scholarship Portal can also be used to find non-UWM (private) scholarships that have registered with UWM. These may be scholarships sponsored by local or national organizations, fraternal clubs or other companies outside of UWM.


In addition to campus-wide and college-wide scholarships that you will find on the UWM Panther Portal, the Department of Geosciences offers these scholarships and awards just for Geosciences students.

Neuschafer Spring Symposium Award

The Neuschafer Spring Symposium Award is given to the undergraduate and graduate research project deemed to be the most creative at the annual Geosciences Research Symposium. Funded by the Neuschafer family, students interested in competing for this $1,000 award must participate in the Geosciences Research Symposium held each spring. There is no other application process other than symposium participation.

Award: $1,000

Donor: Gregory Neuschafer

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Chancellor's Graduate Student Award in Geosciences

Chancellor’s awards for graduate students in geosciences as selected by the Department. Students do not need to submit an application to be considered for this award.

Award: Varies

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Department of Geosciences Award

The Department of Geosciences, benefiting from many generous donations from our alumni, gives various awards to high-achieving students engaged in research. Geosciences majors and minors often conduct much of their own research above and beyond the expectations of their curriculum study, and these students are eligible for these awards. Recipients will also have overall demonstrated academic merit. Graduate students with the top research projects and who are in the final year of their degree programs also are eligible for these awards.

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.

There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, graduate students in geosciences should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18602

Undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600
Both applications have a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: Varies up to $5,000

Donor: Multiple Donors

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Department of Geosciences Scholarship/Award

The Department of Geosciences recognizes students’ academic and research accomplishments through a variety of awards and scholarships.

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.

There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, graduate students in geosciences should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18602

Undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600
Both applications have a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: Varies from $500 and up

Donor: Multiple Donors

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Dr. Thomas S. Hooyer Scholarship

This award provides field research support for undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in the Department of Geosciences. This award honors former Geosciences Associate Professor, Dr. Thomas S. Hooyer, who served the department from 2009 to 2014. The award is intended to be used to defray the cost of field research and related travel expenses. Criteria include:

  • Demonstrated academic merit
  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior, or graduate student standing
  • A major, intended major, or graduate student in Geosciences
  • Participating in a field research project, with a preference for students whose research is focused on the Quaternary

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.

There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, graduate students in geosciences should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18602

Undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600
Both applications have a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: Varies up to $2,000

Donor: Family, friends and former students of Dr. Thomas S. Hooyer

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Greater Milwaukee Foundation Joseph (Starr) Diny Scholarship

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation Joseph (Starr) Diny fund supports one STEM major in the College of Letters & Science with a $1,000 scholarship. Eligible students will hold sophomore, junior, or senior standing, will be in good academic standing, and will have demonstrated financial need. Second degree students who already hold a bachelor’s degree are not eligible.

Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in spring each year. No additional or separate application is required; students should thoroughly fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so students graduating that same spring or summer are not eligible. E.G. applications reviewed in Spring 2025 are for Fall 2025; students graduating in May or August 2025 are not eligible.

Award: $1,000

Donor: Greater Milwaukee Foundation Joseph (Starr) Diny Scholarship Fund

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Katherine Greacon Nelson Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship provides financial support to an undergraduate for research or other appropriate programs of a professional nature related to their studies in geology or geophysics. This scholarship honors the Department of Geosciences founder and former faculty member, Dr. Katherine Greacon Nelson. Qualified applicants will:

  • Be an undergraduate major in Geosciences
  • Have demonstrated academic achievement
  • Have demonstrated financial need as shown on the FAFSA
  • Be engaged in relevant field work and/or research

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.

There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, graduate students in geosciences should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18602

Undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600
Both applications have a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: Varies up to $2,000

Donor: Multiple Donors

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L. Joseph Lukowicz Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship provides financial aid to master’s students in geosciences undertaking field-oriented lithostratigraphic thesis projects. This scholarship is named after and honors a former Geosciences graduate student. Qualified applicants will:

  • Be a graduate student at the master’s level in geosciences
  • Be engaged in field work/research

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.
There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600

There is a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: Varies up to $2,000

Donor: Multiple Donors

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Mary H. Mursky Scholarship

The Mary H. Mursky Scholarship is given to an outstanding Geosciences major with junior or senior standing and demonstrated academic merit.

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.

There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600
There is a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: $1,000

Donor: The late Gregory Mursky

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Nelson Cherkauer Lasca Legacy Scholarship

The Nelson Cherkauer Lasca Legacy Scholarship provides support for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Geosciences Department for field camp or research activities. Criteria include:

  • undergraduate major or graduate student in Geosciences
  • demonstrated academic achievement, including a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • engaged in relevant field work and/or research

Preference will be given to students with a history of employment.

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.

There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, graduate students in geosciences should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18602

Undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600
Both applications have a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: Varies up to $5,000

Donor: Candace Winkle & David Flanigan

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Robert E. Gernant Memorial Scholarship

The Robert E. Gernant Memorial Scholarship provides support for an undergraduate Geosciences major engaged in field camp or field coursework. Criteria include:

  • Undergraduate major in Geosciences
  • Engaged in field work

Preference will be given to a paleontology student.

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.

There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, graduate students in geosciences should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18602

Undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600
Both applications have a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: $1,000

Donor: Friends and Family of Robert E. Gernant

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Wisconsin Geological Society Scholarship

This scholarship is given to a student in geosciences who meets these criteria with preference given to a student who is an active member of the Wisconsin Geological Society for at least one year.

  • Geosciences major or graduate student in Geosciences
  • Demonstrated academic merit

Applications are typically accepted in January and are paid the following summer or fall unless a student is graduating in May. E.g. most recipients chosen in February 2025 will receive payment in summer or fall 2025.

There is a single common application for geosciences students to complete in order to be considered for all geosciences scholarships and awards. For the 2025 calendar year, graduate students in geosciences should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18602

Undergraduate geosciences students should complete this application https://uwm.academicworks.com/opportunities/18600
Both applications have a February 1, 2025 deadline.

Award: Varies up to $3,000

Donor: Wisconsin Geological Society

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UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.