Scholarships

As of 2026 the Virginia Academy of Science awards 14 endowed scholarships.  The Executive Officer will solicit nominations from the relevant department in January of each year and the scholarships will be awarded at the annual meeting in May.  

1. Rosemary Barra Scholarship - The recipient of the Rosemary Barra Scholarship Award should be a rising senior in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Mary Washington who has presented, or intends to present, at the Academy’s Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting.
2. Blanton Mercer Bruner Chemistry Scholarship - The recipient of the Bruner undergraduate scholarship must be a rising senior, who will be selected by the faculty of the Department of Chemistry of the College of William and Mary.
3. Arthur Burke Senior Scholarship Award- The Arthur Burke Scholarship Award honors Arthur Burke, Sr for his many years of faithful service to the Academy. This award is presented to a graduate student in Biology at the University of Virginia, selected by the faculty of the Biology Department at the University of Virginia.
4. D. Rae Carpenter Scholarship -The recipient of the D. Rae Carpenter, Jr. Scholarship must be a rising senior in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Virginia Military Institute. Preference will be given to a student who has presented, or intends to present, a paper or poster at either the Academy’s Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting or the Academy’s Annual Meeting. 
5. Elsa Q. Falls Scholarship Award - The Elsa Q. Falls Scholarship Award is presented to a rising senior engaged in laboratory or field research in the Department of Biology at Randolph-Macon College. Preference is given to students who have presented, or intend to present, a poster and/or oral presentation at the Academy's Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting or the Spring Annual Meeting. The recipient of this award will be selected by the Biology Department faculty at Randolph-Macon College.
6. Richard Groover Scholarship Award- The Richard Groover Scholarship Award is presented to a graduate or undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science and Public Policy at George Mason University. The recipient of this award will be selected by faculty of the Environmental Science and Public Policy Department at George Mason University.
7. Edward Swain Harlow Chemistry Scholarship - The recipient of Harlow Chemistry Scholarship should be a rising senior, and is selected by the faculty of the Chemistry Department at the University of Richmond.
8. Marion Lobstein Scholarship Award- The Lobstein Award is presented to a rising senior in the Department of Biology at George Mason University. Preference is given to students in an area of botany who has presented, or intend to present, a paper or poster at either the Academy's Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting or the Academy’s Annual Meeting.
9. Martin Scholarship Award - The recipient of the Martin Scholarship should be a second-year student, selected by the teaching faculty of the School of Math, Science and Engineering at Reynolds Community College. As Dr. Martin was a long-time member of the Reynolds Parham Road campus biological faculty, it is in the spirit of the Martin Award that a student be selected from those demonstrating a leaning to the life sciences area of study. 
10. D'Arcy P Mays Scholarship Award - This award is presented to a rising senior majoring in Math and Applied Mathematics at Virginia Commonwealth University. Faculty in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, and in the Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research will select a recipient for this award.
11. James P. O'Brien Award - The recipient of this award should be an undergraduate student in the Department of Psychology at Old Dominion University. Preference should be given to a rising senior who is involved in research and who has previously participated or plans to participate in the Academy’s Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium and/or the Annual Spring Meeting.
12. Vera Bruce Remsburg Biology Scholarship- The recipient of the Remsburg undergraduate scholarship should be a rising senior and will be selected by the faculty of the Department of Biology at Longwood University.
13. Thomas O. Sitz Scholarship- This award is presented to an undergraduate student in the Department of Biochemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Preference is given to a student who has previously participated (or plans to participate in) the Academy’s Fall Undergraduate Research Meeting and/or the Annual Meeting in May. Faculty in the Department of Biochemistry at Virginia Tech will select the recipient.
14. Gerald R. Taylor, Jr., Scholarship Award - The recipient of the Gerald Reed Taylor, Jr. Scholarship should be a rising senior in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at James Madison University. Preference should be given to students who have presented, or intend to present, a paper or poster at either the Academy’s Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium or Spring Annual Meeting. Faculty of the James Madison University Department of Physics and Astronomy will select the recipient.