K-State Division of Biology

Awards & Scholarships

Undergraduate Awards & Scholarships
There are many opportunities for undergraduate awards and scholarships. Listed below are a few of the scholarships that are offered to students majoring in Biology at Kansas State University.

Most Promising Student & Haymaker Outstanding Senior Awards

The Division of Biology recognizes superior achievements of its majors via choosing Most Promising Student (MPS) and H.H. Haymaker Outstanding Senior award winners. Each year eight to ten sophomores and juniors are selected for the MPS Awards and one individual is chosen for the Outstanding Senior Award. For both awards students are nominated by the faculty and the winners are chosen by a faculty committee whose selection criteria includes academic record, activities and achievements outside the classroom and performance in an interview with the committee. Student winners are honored at a Saturday luncheon and receive cash awards.

2009 Haymaker Outstanding Senior, Nathan Harms


Most Promising Student Jamie Ball	Most Promising Student Brian McCandless	Most Promising Student Erin Gettler	Most Promising Student Mark McHaney	Most Promising Student Antoinette Tau'a

June Hull Sherrid Scholarships
Funded by endowed accounts in the KSU Center for Basic Cancer Research and the Division of Biology, annually provide $50,000 to $100,000 (depending on interest rates). These Sherrid Scholarships are initially awarded to both incoming frosh and enrolled upperclassmen and are typically valued at $700 to $1000 annually. The scholarships are renewable through the senior year and, if obtained in the frosh year, are potentially a $2800 to $4000 scholarship package. Currently about 80 students hold these Sherrid Scholarships. Eligibility requirements for the Sherrid Scholarships include that the applicant have: 1) Graduated from a Kansas high school, 2) A stated career interest in the betterment of human health, 3) Declared a major in biology or microbiology majors and 4) Shown excellent academic performance (for incoming frosh this academic performance includes an ACT composite score of 28 or better). In addition, we annually award another six to ten scholarships in the $700 to $1000 range (including several for just fisheries/wildlife/conservation majors) to upperclassmen with excellent records.
K-INBRE Research Scholars
(Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence)
One segment of K-INBRE provides $3500 per year (beginning in the freshman or sophomore year) to students who desire an in-depth research experience. Each of these (five per year) is expected to devote 450 hours per year (for two years) toward a research project. K-INBRE also provides support each year for four Summer Research Scholars ($3500 for a summer of full time research).
Terry C Johnson Basic Cancer Research Center
Annually awards forty $1000 scholarships for students who agree to pursue a one semester research project (seven to 10 hours per week time commitment) in a laboratory whose research can relate to a better understanding of cancer.

Larry G. Williams Scholarship
This scholarship is new to the Division of Biology and we are still building the endowment for it. We hope to be able to have enough interest earned to provide $1000 scholarships to deserving undergraduates majoring in Biology at K-State. It is not currently known when this scholarship will be available or how much the final scholarship will be. Stay tuned for more information as we continue to raise funds for this scholarship.

Graduate Awards
Division of Biology graduate students at Kansas State University receive a generous stipend for all their hard work, however for outstanding dedication to teaching or research students may be nominated to win one of several awards given exclusively to graduate students.


Michael Scott Watkins Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Established in 1974 for M.S. Watkins, a deceased graduate student. Awarded annually to a graduate student who excels in her/his teaching responsibilities. Nomination/Application materials required	Dr. Tonia Von Ohlen presents Alison Fedrow with the 2009 Watkins Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching.
Chris Edler Award for Outstanding Research on Konza Established in 1993 for C. Edler who died while he was a graduate student in the Division. Awarded annually to a graduate student who has an outstanding record as a graduate student teacher and has performed superior research on Konza Prairie.	Dr. John Briggs presents Alyssa Riley with the 2009 Chris Edler Award for Outstanding Research on Konza.
John C. Frazier Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Research in Plant Science J.C. Frazier was a plant physiologist in the Department of Plant Pathology and Botany before the formation of the Division of Biology. The endowment was established in 1976. The award is given at the discretion of the Director of the Division of Biology based on superior graduate student research in plant science, including a presentation given at the Annual Division of Biology Graduate Research Forum. Nomination/Application materials required	Dr. Dave Hartnett presents Jackie Ott with the 2008 John C. Frazier Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Research in Plant Science.
L. Evans Roth Award for Graduate Student Research in Cellular, Molecular or Developmental Biology L.E. Roth was the first Director of the Division of Biology. This new award is given at the discretion of the Director of the Division of Biology based on superior graduate student research in cell, molecular or developmental biology, including a presentation given at the Annual Division of Biology Graduate Research Forum. Nomination/Application materials required	Dr. Rollie Clem accepts the 2009 L. Evans Roth Award for Superior Graduate Student Research in Cellular Biology, on behalf of Bart Bryant.

James E. Ackert Award for Outstanding Presentation by a Graduate Student J.E. Ackert was a long-time Dean of the Graduate School. He was a Parasitologist in the Department of Zoology. The award is given annually for an outstanding graduate student presentation by a student who has been in the Division of Biology graduate program less than two years.	Dr. Walter Dodds presents Alyssa Riley with the 2009 James E. Ackert Award for Outstanding Presentation by a Graduate Student at the Biology Graduate Forum.	Dr. Dave Rintoul presents Andrea Severson with the 2009 James E. Ackert Award for Outstanding Presentation by a Graduate Student at the Biology Graduate Forum.
H. Henley Haymaker Award for Outstanding Presentation by a Graduate Student Haymaker was a KSU faculty member in the Department of Botany for over 40 years from 1917- 1963. He was voted an outstanding teacher and contributed in many ways to the University. Haymaker Hall is named after him. The award was established in 1975 by his family. The award is given annually for an outstanding graduate student presentation by a student who has been in the Division of Biology graduate program 2 or more years or has a M.S. degree.	Dr. Lynn Hancock presents Lance Thurlow with the 2009 H. Henley Haymaker Award for Outstanding Presentation by a Graduate Student at the Biology Graduate Forum.

Faculty Awards
The Faculty at K-State Biology are continually recognized for their outstanding research and teaching contributions. Below are a few of the outstanding honors our faculty have been awarded.

Biology Graduate Student Association Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award

Brett Sandercock - 2009

Rollie Clem - 2008

Walter Dodds - 2007

Lorena Passarelli - 2006

Page Klug presents Dr. Brett Sandercock with the BGSA Award for Outstanding Graduate Faculty.

Commerce Bank Outstanding Teaching Award

Dave Rintoul - 2007

S. Keith Chapes - 2003

Judy Roe - 1999

Larry G. Williams - 1994

Byron T. Burlingham - 1976

Ann Stalheim-Smith - 1975

Heschel T. Gier - 1972

Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award

Walter K. Dodds - 2008

Larry J. Takemoto - 1999

Gary W. Conrad - 1996

Robin E. Denell - 1994

Brian S. Spooner - 1991

Terry C. Johnson - 1987

Richard A. Consigli - 1976

V.D. Foltz (Bacteriology) - 1966

H. Henley Haymaker (Botany) - 1962

A.M. Guhl (Zoology) - 1962

Haymaker Teaching Excellence Award

Robbie Bear - 2008

Dave Rintoul - 2006

Lorena Passarelli - 2005

Higuchi/Endowment Association Research Achievement Awards

The Higuchi awards were established in 1981 by Takeru Higuchi, a KU distinguished professor of chemistry and pharmacy and chair of the pharmaceutical chemistry department, and his wife, Aya. Higuchi stipulated that faculty members at all Kansas regents institutions be eligible. The annual awards are named for former officers of KU Endowment who were instrumental in bringing Higuchi to KU and who worked to further KU’s overall research program. Recipients may use their awards for research materials, summer salaries, fellowship matching funds, research assistance or other research-related support.

Dolph Simons Award in Biomedical Sciences

Larry Takemoto - 2008

Gary Conrad - 2006

Rob Denell - 2003

Olin Petefish Award in Basic Sciences

John J. Iandolo - 1996

Richard A. Consigli - 1992

J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship

Mike Herman - 2008

Dave Hartnett - 2002

K-INBRE Faculty Scholar Award

The K-INBRE has established this prestigious award program for mid-level faculty of distinction called “Faculty Scholars”. The purpose of this program is to acknowledge to our outstanding faculty, who are often targets of recruiting efforts by other institutions, that we highly value their contributions to our Kansas universities. These Faculty Scholar Awards comprise $10,000 in flexible funds for academic/scholarly expenses allowable by NIH such as travel to scientific meetings, purchase of books and computers.

Sherry D. Fleming - 2008

Rollie J. Clem - 2007

Jyoti Shah - 2006

A. Lorena Passarelli - 2006

Susan J. Brown - 2005

Katsura Asano - 2005

Michael A. Herman - 2004

Rollie J. Clem - 2003

Dr. Brian Spooner, University Distinguished Professor and Director of the Division of Biology, presents the K-INBRE Faculty Scholar Award to Dr. Rollie Clem for his outstanding contributions as faculty in the State of Kansas

KSU Alumni Association Iman Research Award

Gary Conrad - 2007

Presidential Awards

Brett Sandercock - 2009
Presidential Distinguished Faculty Award for the Mentoring of Undergraduate Students in Research

Gary Conrad - 2008
Presidential Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Students in Research at KSU

Lorena Passarelli - 2007
Presidential Distinguished Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Students in Research at KSU

Caroline Delandre - 2007
Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Lorena Passarelli - 2006-2007
Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty Award for Distinguished Services to Historically Underrepresented Students

Larry G. Williams - 2004
Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising

Ryan Rehmeier - 2003
Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Scott Todd - 2002
Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Brian S. Spooner 1997
Presidential Distinguished Department Head Award

Larry G. Williams - 1996
Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

University Distingushed Professors

Walter K. Dodds - 2009

John M. Blair - 2006

David C. Hartnett - 2004

Alan K. Knapp - 2002

Larry J. Takemoto - 2001

Robin E. Denell - 2000

Brian S. Spooner - 1999

Gary W. Conrad - 1998

Terry C. Johnson - 1989

Richard A. Consigli - 1985

University Distinguished Teaching Scholars

Larry G. Williams - 1999

Ann Stalheim-Smith - 1997

William L. Stamey Award

Kent Kerby - 2009

Robbie Bear - 2008

Lorena Passarelli - 2005

Rollie Clem - 2001

Dana Townsend - 2001

Sally Schrank & Patricia Hook- 2000

John M. Blair - 1998

Peter Wong - 1997

John L. Zimmerman & Beth A. Montelone - 1996

Ronald Gaines & Gary Conrad - 1995

Dale E. Kennedy and James A. Guikema - 1994

Larry G. Williams & Beth Montelone - 1993

Alan K. Knapp and Harold E. Klaassen - 1992

Jerry S. Weis & Gregory Fitch - 1991

John L. Zimmerman, Steve J. Upton & Christopher C. Smith- 1990

Ann Stalheim-Smith, James E. Urban, & Larry G. Williams - 1989