List of CNS scholarships
Below are listed available scholarships. Most scholarships are open to students in particular majors. Look for your PRIMARY major in Group 1 or Group 2 for most of the scholarships for which you may be eligible. Skim all of the descriptions to see if you may be eligible for others and determine which scholarships you intend to apply for. You may apply to a maximum of 5 scholarships. When you enter your major on the application, the specific scholarships that you are eligible for will appear.
Please keep in mind that many of the scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement. Therefore, rising juniors and seniors are generally most competitive for the majority of scholarships.
Students in the exploratory track should select the major that most closely resembles their academic plan.
Group 1 Majors
Animal Science, Building and Construction Technology, Earth Systems, Environmental Science, Food Science, Geography, Geology, Horticultural Science, Natural Resources Conservation, Plant and Soil Science, Pre-Veterinary Science, Stockbridge School of Agriculture AS majors, Sustainable Food and Farming, Turfgrass Science and Management
Albert and Helen Meserve Scholarship
Need-based scholarship open to students in arboriculture, horticulture, and forestry or other studies connected with ecology, conservation and tree care.
Arvo "Pop" Aho Memorial Scholarship Fund
Need-based scholarship. Must be a North-Central MA resident with an interest in production agriculture or related industries.
Ascension Farm School Fund
Students in agriculturally-related majors. Resident of Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire or Franklin Counties.
C.D. Youngren Scholarship Fund
Scholarship distributed during senior year to a student engaged in a research opportunity during the summer following her/his junior year and continuing through her/his senior year. Recipient will be outstanding student in natural sciences and mathematics, with preference to those majoring in one of the following areas: astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics and statistics, and physics.
Frank Plumb Scholarship
Need-based scholarship open to students in Agriculture.
Fred Farwell Family Memorial Scholarship
Agriculture or Natural Resources majors (Horticulture preferred). Scholarship based on need and participation in athletics and other university activities.
George M. and Edith H. Codding Scholarship
Open to students who graduated from public schools in Taunton or Martha's Vineyard. You must apply using the attached Codding Scholarship Application. The application deadline is May 1.
Henry B. Peirson Memorial Scholarship
Open to worthy students with preference to those studying forest and shade tree insects.
J.D.W. French Scholarship
Need-based scholarship open to Vet and Animal Science and Forestry Majors.
Marions Mahoney Scholarship
Annual scholarship awarded to two rising juniors or seniors in good academic standing who are female U.S. citizens with a serious interest in teaching mathematics or science after graduation. Please describe future teaching plans on application form.
New England Farm and Garden
Established to award scholarships to full-time, undergraduate sophomore, junior or senior students within the College of Natural Sciences studying the fields of agriculture, the environment or sustainability, who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have demonstrated financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office. Preference will be given to students with a strong track record of extracurricular activities that demonstrates commitment to the environment and our natural surroundings.
New York Farmers Scholarship
Need-based scholarship open to students interested in food, agriculture or the environment and active in campus activities.
Non-Traditional Scholars Opportunity Fund
Provides support to one or more students who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office and who meet one of the following criteria: transfer students, students who are of a non-traditional age to be entering college, students with a dependent other than a spouse, or students who are veterans of the U.S. Armed forces.
Otto Degener Scholarship
Need-based scholarship awarded to one or more students who show both academic excellence and financial need. Preference is given to students of biology (odd years) or botany (even years).
Porter L. Newton Scholarship
Need-based scholarship open to students in Agriculture; preference to Middlesex County residents.
Robert Burrell Memorial Scholarship
Eligible recipients are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have shown financial need and academic ability and have earned a grade point average of 3.0 or above in the most recent semester. Preference given to students interested in biological control or entomology research.
Robert H. and Patricia A. Ruf Scholarship Fund
Scholarship awarded to rising sophomore or junior students who are matriculated in one of the Life, Environmental or Agricultural Sciences.
Robert McGorum Scholarship
Awarded to students in Horticulture (on even years).
Sherwood-Delaney Scholarship
The Sherwood-Delaney Scholarship was established to provide scholarship support to encourage meritorious students to pursue careers in science in order to ensure America’s continuing leadership in innovation and discovery. Rising CNS juniors and seniors with majors in the following departments are eligible: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Biology; Chemistry; Microbiology; Physics; Psychological and Brain Sciences (neuroscience track); and Veterinary and Animal Sciences. Eligible recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2. Preference will be given to U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Education. To be considered for this award, applicants MUST submit a 250 word essay describing how a UMass Amherst education will enable them to contribute to science in the United States. The essay will be shared with the donors who fund this scholarship.
Stanley Jez Scholarship
Scholarship open to students majoring in forestry, environmental science, or arboriculture. Preference given to Catholic students from the Immaculate Conception Parish of Indian Orchard, MA or the Holy Trinity Parish of Westfield, MA. Second preference will be given to Catholic applicants from any Catholic high school in the Springfield Diocese. Third preference will be given to applicants submitted by the Bishop of Springfield. Fourth preference will be given to applicants submitted by a Bishop from another Catholic Diocese in Massachusetts. Absent sufficient applicants above, eligible students in forestry or other environmental studies programs will be considered. The application deadline is May 1.
Group 2 Majors
Astronomy, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, Microbiology, Physics, Psychology, Science
C.D. Youngren Scholarship Fund
Scholarship distributed during senior year to a student engaged in a research opportunity during the summer following her/his junior year and continuing through her/his senior year. Recipient will be outstanding student in natural sciences and mathematics, with preference to those majoring in one of the following areas: astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics and statistics, and physics.
Dr. Arthur and Dr. Helen Poland Scholarship
Scholarship for a rising junior in good academic standing, with preference to a student with demonstrated financial need and a strong work ethic. This is a two-year award.
Eleanor W. Bateman '23 Family Scholarship
Merit-based scholarship.
George H. and Lillian Millman Scholarship Fund
Scholarship for a full-time student. Recipient must demonstrate financial need, be eligible for financial aid, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarship support for undergraduate students majoring in physics (first preference), or astronomy, biochemistry & molecular biology, biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics & statistics, or microbiology.
Henry B. Peirson Memorial Scholarship
Open to worthy students with preference to those studying forest and shade tree insects.
Hokkaido Scholarship
Scholarship for students based on academic achievement, need, and participation in campus activities. Preference given to students with interest in Japan and its people and culture.
Joya Chakrabarty Memorial Scholarship
Need-based scholarship awarded to a rising sophomore with academic excellence and a 3.5 or higher GPA.
Luise Bronner Scholarship Fund
Provides 2 scholarships: one for a student majoring in science, and one for a student majoring in languages.
Marions Mahoney Scholarship
Annual scholarship awarded to two rising juniors or seniors in good academic standing who are female U.S. citizens with a serious interest in teaching mathematics or science after graduation. Please describe future teaching plans on application form.
Non-Traditional Scholars Opportunity Fund
Provides support to one or more students who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office and who meet one of the following criteria: transfer students, students who are of a non-traditional age to be entering college, students with a dependent other than a spouse, or students who are veterans of the U.S. Armed forces.
Otto Degener Scholarship
Need-based scholarship awarded to one or more students who show both academic excellence and financial need. Preference is given to students of biology (odd years) or botany (even years).
Robert Burrell Memorial Scholarship
Eligible recipients are rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have shown financial need and academic ability and have earned a grade point average of 3.0 or above in the most recent semester. Preference given to students interested in biological control or entomology research.
Robert H. and Patricia A. Ruf Scholarship Fund
Scholarship awarded to rising sophomore or junior students who are matriculated in one of the Life, Environmental or Agricultural Sciences.
Sherwood-Delaney Scholarship
The Sherwood-Delaney Scholarship was established to provide scholarship support to encourage meritorious students to pursue careers in science in order to ensure America’s continuing leadership in innovation and discovery. Rising CNS juniors and seniors with majors in the following departments are eligible: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Biology; Chemistry; Microbiology; Physics; Psychological and Brain Sciences (neuroscience track); and Veterinary and Animal Sciences. Eligible recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2. Preference will be given to U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Education. To be considered for this award, applicants MUST submit a 250 word essay describing how a UMass Amherst education will enable them to contribute to science in the United States. The essay will be shared with the donors who fund this scholarship.
Verne and Irene Fogg Scholarship
Need-based scholarship open to students working to finance their own education.