Financial Support, Fellowships, and Prizes

Washington University has a considerable commitment to all types of scholarship assistance (approximately $70 million in scholarships and grants during the 2009-2010 academic year) directed to talented students who could not enroll without such support. In addition to assistance based on a student's financial need, the University recognizes top students with its academic scholars and fellows programs. For more information, visit the University's financial aid page .

Arthur Holly Compton Fellowships In the Physical Sciences and Mathematics

These are four-year, full tuition scholarships awarded to incoming freshmen, in honor of Nobel Laureate (1927) A. H. Compton, a former Professor and Chair of Physics and Chancellor of the University. For more information and application materials, click here.

Robert N. Varney Prize

This prize is awarded each year to the best student in the introductory course. Professor Varney was a member of the faculty for many years, carrying out research in gaseous electronics. This prize was established to commemorate his deep and long-time interest in physics instruction. Because some students start with Physics 118/198 or Physics 217 rather than Physics 117/197, performance in any of these courses is considered in selecting the winner(s) of the Varney Prize each year. The Varney prize is presented each fall semester before a mid-week department colloquium.

Greg Delos Summer Fellowship

Greg Delos was an excellent student who died during his junior year. In his memory, the Delos family has generously set up the fund that supports the award, each year, of a prize that takes the form of a stipend to support a student working with one of the research groups during the summer. The availability of this prize is publicized each spring semester and the winner is selected, by the department's advisors, from among the applicants, with selection based on performance in the physics courses (and possibly research) thus far.

The Senior Prize

Awarded each year, the prize is in the form of a plaque and a check. Selection is based on performance in physics courses and is made by the department's major advisors. This Prize is awarded in a ceremony in the Department, after Commencement. It is appropriate to mention another prize that is related to undergraduate courses. The Franklin B. Shull Prize is awarded each year to the outstanding graduate teaching assistants. Frank Shull was the senior faculty instructor in introductory courses for many years, and the prize takes note of both his interest and the importance that the Department attaches to the quality of teaching assistantships.

Work Study Program

Washington University provides a variety of means of financial support for undergraduats students, ranging from academic scholarships to Federal Work-Study programs. For more information regarding the "work/study" program, visit the Washington University Work Study financial aid webpage.