APS Minority Scholarship

The goal of this minority scholarship is to increase the number of under-represented minorities obtaining degrees in physics. It provides funding and mentoring to minority physics students to enhance their education and help them prepare for success in various careers.

Rules & Eligibility

Any African-American, Hispanic American, or Native American U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is majoring or planning to major in physics, and who is a high school senior, college freshman, or sophomore is eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Deadline & Application

Online Application

If you are a current scholarship recipient, you should have received an email with instructions on how to reapply.

The deadline for the completed application and the postmark deadline for supporting documents to be sent to our office is always the first Friday in February. The next deadline is Friday, February 5, 2010.

Questions?  Email minorityscholarship@aps.org

Award

The award consists of $2000 per year for new minority scholars, and $3000 per year for renewal students to be used for tuition, room & board, and educational materials. In addition, each student is paired with both a local mentor at their institution, and an APS mentor. These physicist mentors provide support and assistance to the students as they navigate their education and plan for future careers.

History

Through the generosity of corporate and individual donors, the APS has been able to offer the APS Scholarship for Minority Undergraduate Physics Majors (formerly known as the Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship for Minority Undergraduate Students Who Major in Physics). This program, which began in 1980, has graduated students who have received their Ph.D.s in physics and are now working as physics faculty members in universities, as well as research scientists at corporations and national labs. Some past scholars have also become high school physics teachers.

Each year, the APS Committee on Minorities in Physics (COM) acts as the selection committee for this scholarship which attracts many excellent applicants.

Non-APS Scholarships