Financial Support

Finding financial aid to help finance your education can be tricky, but the effort is often worth it! Although the UH schools are considered a great educational value, many students apply for -- and receive -- varying amounts of financial aid.

Basic Financial Aid Information

Some financial aid assistance is need-based, while some is determined by academic achievement. Other types of financial aid assistance are awarded based on race, chosen major, geography or other criteria.

Financial aid awards may include any combination of scholarships, grants and loans. Financial aid providers include the U.S. Government, the State of Hawai'i, corporate entities and private people.

Where to Begin Seeking Financial Aid

The internet is a great place to begin to learn about the many available opportunities for financial aid. For example, most campus financial aid programs require students to begin by filling out the U.S. Dept. of Education Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA). If you fill this form out online, you can prevent errors and save time.

Note: Male citizens of the U.S. and male immigrant aliens 18 through 25 years old must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System to be eligible for federal student loans and grants. Men can register at any post office, or register on-line at http://www.sss.gov/regist.htm

Once you have been accepted into a University of Hawai'i program, contact the financial aid office of the campus you will be attending to find out what additional types of financial assistance may be available, and what the application procedures and deadlines are.

The University of Hawai'i's Computer-Assisted Scholarship Help (CASH) database lists many different financial aid opportunties that may be available.

G & G Undergraduate Research Fellowships [Undergraduate]

The Department of Geology and Geophysics usually offers renewable research fellowships in each academic year to undergraduate Geology and Geophysics majors.[SORRY, NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR 2005] Fellowship stipends of $1000 or more per successful candidate will be offered. Fellowships will be awarded based of the quality of a short research proposal, faculty recommendation, and academic merit.
To Apply

Discuss a research idea with a faculty member. Write a brief research proposal (less than two typed pages) and include a budget. Have the faculty member that you will work with write a short letter of recommendation.

1. Obtain a Application Form from Department of Geology and Geophysics's website.
2. Submit the proposal and letter to the Department Chair.
   

Application Deadline: February 15
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Hawaii Space Grant Undergraduate Fellowships [Undergraduate]

The University of Hawaii Space Grant College, as a participant in the national Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, invites applications for NASA Undergraduate Space Grant Fellowships to support studies in fields related to space.
Fields related to space means scientific disciplines or fields of study (including astronomy, geology, meteorology, oceanography, math, physics, engineering, computer sciences, and life sciences) that are concerned with the understanding, utilization or exploration of space, or with the investigation of the Earth from the perspective of space.
A significant goal of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program is to encourage interdisciplinary studies and research and to train the future generation of space scientists in the physical and life sciences, math, engineering, and computer science.
All full-time undergraduates enrolled at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa who have declared a major and propose study or research with a strong space component are eligible to apply for two- semester Fellowships. In rare instances, a one-semester project may be considered. Fellowship applicants must be U.S. citizens and each applicant must be sponsored by a mentor who is willing to advise the student for the duration of the award. Awards of Fellowships will be based on academic qualifications of the student, quality of proposed research/study, appropriateness of proposed research to NASA's goals, and feasibility of proposed research/study within the planned academic time-frame.
Successful candidates will be designated University of Hawaii Space Grant Fellows. Fellows are expected to work between ten and fifteen hours a week on their projects. Financial support for Fellows includes a stipend of $3000 per semester and up to $500 for supplies and/or travel pertinent to their project. Women, under-represented minorities (specifically Native Hawaiians, Filipinos, other Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics), and physically challenged students who have interest in space-related fields are particularly encouraged to apply.
For more information visit the Hawaii Space Grant Consortium.

Inquiries
Questions concerning the preparation and submission of applications and the administration of this Fellowship Program should be addressed to Ed Scott at 956-3955. Students and Faculty Mentors are strongly urged to contact the Space Grant College Office prior to submission of the proposal in order to ascertain the appropriateness of the intended project.

Application Deadline: June 15th for the Fall, December 1st for the Spring
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Undergraduate Summer Field Camp Award

A limited number of fellowships will be awarded by the Department of Geology and Geophysics to undergraduate geology majors to offset the cost of geology summer field camp.

To Apply

1. Student submits application, acceptance letter from the host university for the field camp, and a cover letter to the GG department chair as soon as possible.  No deadline but first come, first served.
2. Result of application will be sent by the GG department chair.
3. If application is accepted, student:

1. Will pay for the field camp up front.
2. Attend field camp.
3. Request official transcript from the host university to be sent directly to the University of Hawaii’s Admission and Records Office.
4. Have grades mailed to the University of Hawaii’s Department of Geology and Geophysics.

4. Once student successfully completes field camp with a passing grade:
1. Fill out UH Foundation Check Request Form for Student Aid Recipients with department secretary.
2. Monetary reimbursement award will be placed into student’s MYUH account.

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Dorothy & Harold Palmer Fund [Undergraduate]

The Dorthy & Harold Palmer Fund provides interest-free loans to Geology and Geophysics students to offset the cost of participating in Hawaii and mainland field exercises and summer field training camps (Field Camp). Selection of the students will be made by the chair of the Department of Geology and Geophysics.
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Agatin T. Abbott Memorial Fund [Undergraduate]

This award is given to an outstanding senior(s) each year.

Criteria:

• Outstanding senior based on academic record
• Contributions to the department's programs may also be considered.

Awarded in Spring
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Society of Exploration Geophysicists UH Student Chapter Undergraduate Scholarship [Undergraduate]

The SEG Scholarship is available to an outstanding undergraduate senior who is applying or intending to apply to graduate school in geophysics.
The applicant does not necessarily have to be a geophysics undergraduate, but should be satisfied (by the time of graduation) the minimum math and physics requirements for graduation as an undergraduate geophysics major as stated in the current UH catalog. The applicant will supply a list of math, physics, geology and geophysics, and any other geophysics-related (e.g. oceanography, engineering, ICS) courses that have been or will be completed by graduation.

To Apply

The applicant will supply a statement of purpose, approximately one type written page in length, describing his or her reasons for wishing to go into the field of geophysics. (Similar to the statement required by most graduated school applications.)

1. The applicant will provide the name of a UH faculty member in his or her field of study who can be contacted as a reference for the applicant.
2. The applicant is encouraged to provide any other information to substantiate his or her qualifications for this award. Such evidence might include membership in geophysics-related professional societies, honors thesis or term paper on a geophysics topic, or participation in any geology/geophysics field trips.

The awarding of the scholarship will be determined from the applicants by a committee of UH SEG Student Chapter.

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Harold T. Stearns Fellowship [Undergraduate] [Graduate]

Undergraduate and graduate students in the Geology and Geophysics Department may apply yearly for Harold T. Stearns Fellowship funds to support research in fields that Dr. Stearns was active in researching. The awards shall be for research in the following areas:

• Studies of limestone and ancient emerged and submerged shorelines related to eustatic and tectonic changes in sea level on islands in the central Pacific, other Pacific islands, and along shores bordering the Pacific Ocean.
• Geologic mapping of Pacific Islands for which no adequate geologic maps are available.
• Hydrologic studies of Pacific Islands.
• Geochemical, petrologic and radiometric studies of limestone and volcanic rocks on Pacific Islands.
• Analysis of geophysical data of submerged terraces bordering Pacific Islands.

To Apply:

Obtain a Harold T. Stearns Fellowship Application Form from the Geology & Geophysics Student Services Office (Leona Anthony, POST 701C). In it you will outline your proposed project. The application describes the research, its methodology and significance, and a proposed budget. Requests for up to $500 will be considered.

1. Obtain a letter of support from your advisor or other faculty member and attach it to the application form. (The faculty member will monitor the research.)
2. Submit the proposal and letter of support to Leona Anthony, POST 701C (mailbox in POST 722).

Those receiving a Harold T. Stearns Fellowship are required to present, within one year, an oral summary of their results at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Geology Club, or other public forum. Direct any questions to the Department Chair. Application Deadline: April 1
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William T. Coulbourn Fellowship in Marine Geology [Undergraduate] [Graduate]

The William T. Coulbourn Fellowship in Marine Geology is offered yearly to deserving undergraduate or graduate students in the Department of Geology & Geophysics. The purpose of this award is to support student research in sedimentary marine geology. Both graduates and undergraduates may apply. Up to $1000 of these funds are available per year.

To Apply:

Obtain a William T. Coulbourn Fellowship Application Form from the Geology & Geophysics Student Services Office (Leona Anthony, POST 701C). In it you will outline your proposed project in the field of sedimentary marine geology. The application describes the research, its methodology and significance, and a proposed budget.

1. Obtain a letter of support from your advisor or other faculty member and attach it to the application form. (The faculty member will monitor the research.)
2. Submit the proposal and letter of support to Leona Anthony, POST 701C (mailbox in POST 722).

Those receiving a William T. Coulbourn Fellowship are required to present, within one year, an oral summary of their results at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Geology Club, or other public forum. Direct any questions to the Department Chair.

Application Deadline: April 1
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ARCS Foundation Award [Graduate]

The funding for these awards comes from a group of concerned local women who raise nearly $100,000 annually for local university students. The availability and amount of the award is set each year by ARCS. Criteria

1. Limited to U.S. citizens with graduate GPRs of at least 3.5 (these criteria set by ARCS).
2. Academic performance, including GPR, total credit hours of courses taken (not 699, 700, or 800), and difficulty of courses.
3. Progress towards the degree, including research progress.
4. Other evidence of academic excellence including outstanding service to the department or for the graduate students, etc.
5. Unless no other qualified students are available these awards will not be repeated and will be given only to students who have completed at least two semesters in the department.

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J. Watumull Merit Scholarship [Graduate]

This award is given each year to an outstanding GG graduate student by the Watumull Foundation.

Criteria: Same as for the ARCS awards except it is not limited to U.S. students only, and the recipient must plan to spend at least one more year at UHM as the award is given in two parts, half at the beginning of the fall semester and the other half at the beginning of the spring semester.

Nominations made in April.

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The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation Grants-in-Aid [Graduate]

The Grants-in-Aid program offers students an excellent opportunity to fund their research and publish an abstract in the AAPG Bulletin. The Grants-in-Aid program has become highly competitive and can only fund about 25 percent of the applications received.

The purpose of the program is to foster research in the geosciences by providing support to graduate students in the earth sciences whose research has application to the search for the development of petroleum and energy-mineral resources, and/or to related environmental geoscience issues.

Grant Amounts typically range from $500 to $2,000 each.

The program is available to Master's (or equivalent 2-year degree) and Ph.D. applicants. Bachelors with Honors and 4th year degree students are NOT eligible. Candidates for Master's or equivalent degrees may receive a maximum of one grant, and Ph.D. candidates may receive a maximum of two grants. However, no more than two grants will be awarded to any one applicant during his/her graduate education. Due to award timing, it is critical that first-year Master's degree students apply for grants in their first year so that the research money will be available to them in the second year.

To Apply

1. visit http://aapg_gia.confex.com/aapg_gia/2005
2. note: The application form cannot be submitted electronically, but must be printed out, signed by the applicant, edorsed by the department, and mailed with the other required documentation.FAX'd applications will not be accepted. Delivery by courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL is recommended if time is short, particularly for students outside of North America.
3. To be eligible, applications must meet ALL requirements, and those received after January 31, 2005 is NOT be considered.
4. Successful applicants will be notified in April/May, and asked to provide current mailing addresses and appropriate transmittal instructions for the grants. They will also be given the opportunity to submit their abstracts for publication in the AAPG BULLETIN. For additional questions contact Leona Anthony or the AAPG Grants Coordinator Ms. Rebecca Griffin at 918-560-2644 or 1-888-945-2274, Ext. 644, email: rgriffin@aapg.org

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GSA Graduate Student Research Grant Eligibility [Graduate]

Since 1933, GSA has supported student research from private and federal funding with over $8 million awarded to more than 7,500 students.  Currently, GSAs Research Grant Program provides partial support of masters and doctoral thesis research in the geological sciences for graduate students at universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America.   In 2005, 45% of the applicants received funding with the average award being $1,533.

Starting in 2006, GSA Student Members may now only receive GSA funds once at the Masters level and once at the Ph.D. level.  This policy affects all GSA research grantees retroactively.  Applicants who have applied in the past, but who did not receive funding, are welcome to apply again.  These new guidelines were proposed by the 2005 GSA Research Grant Committee and were passed by GSA Council in May of 2005. With these new eligibility guidelines in place,  GSA hopes to award its limited funding to those who have not been funded in the past, and to attract new student members to join GSA and apply for research funding.

We ask you to share this funding opportunity with your graduate students, along with these modifications to the eligibility guidelines.  A similar email will also be sent to all GSA Student Members.  A student may check their eligibility to receive funding at http://www.geosociety.org/grants/gradgrants.htm.

Here are two eligibility examples:

• * a Ph.D. student who has received one or more grants as a Ph.D student but not as a Masters student MAY NOT apply for further funding
  
• * A Masters student who has received two grants at the Masters level in the past MAY apply again at the Ph.D. level.

The 2006 online application system will be available by mid-November of 2005 and online applications will be due by 11:59 p.m. (MST) on Wednesday, 1 February 2006.

Please visit www.geosociety.org/grants/gradgrants.htm for further details, or contact awards@geosociety.org with any questions you may have.

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