Financial Aid and Scholarships

Biology scholarship applications will open on December 9th, 2024 and the deadline for submission will be February 3rd, 2025.

The Department of Biology offers several scholarship opportunities for Biology undergraduate students. To be competitive for biology scholarships, students should be of junior (60+ hours) or senior (90+ hours) standing with at least 12 hours of biology courses completed at Baylor. Seniors graduating in December are not eligible for these scholarships. Please keep in mind that all applications listed below require that a FAFSA be on file with the Financial Aid Office.

Kenny Cameron Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund

The Kenny Cameron Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 2007 by Keith C. and Michelle M. Cameron of Austin, Texas, in memory of Kenny Cameron who passed away September 13, 2006, at the age of 44. Kenny was born in Waco, Texas, and graduated from Memorial High School in Houston, Texas. In 1984, he received his B.A. degree in Biology from Baylor University. While a student at Baylor he was a member of Kappa Omega Tau fraternity and Student Foundation. Kenny was involved in the Prayer Ministry. Additionally, he was a board member of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and a life member of the Baylor University Alumni Association.

This endowed scholarship fund provides assistance to deserving undergraduate students who are from Harris County, Texas, and who are majoring in biology. Additionally, scholarship awards will be made on the basis of merit and need.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be a declared Biology major
Must be from Harris County, Texas
Must not have a grade of I (incomplete) in any Biology course
Must be registered with the Student Financial Aid Office

Kenny Cameron Memorial Scholarship

Eugene Crowder Memorial Tuition Scholarship

These fund awards are designed to help defray tuition costs for undergraduate students for any 3000, 4000 or graduate level Baylor Biology course. This is applicable for the semester following the semester of the award. Academic accomplishments and financial need of the applicants will also be considered.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be a declared Biology major
Must be an undergraduate of junior or senior standing
Must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater and a Biology GPA of 3.0 or greater
Must not have a grade of I (incomplete) in any Biology course
Must be registered with the Student Financial Aid Office

Eugene Crowder Memorial Tuition Scholarship

David W. Eldridge Endowed Scholarship Fund

The David W. Eldridge Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor University was established in 2003 by the family of Dr. Robert Larry Meek of Odessa, Texas, in memory of Linda Cohorn Meek, wife of Dr. Meek and mother of David Meek, Lacy Meek Phillips, and niece Lisa Camille Cohorn. Dr. Robert Meek was Dr. Eldridge's first graduate student and after finishing his M.S. Degree in Biology, he attended Baylor Dental School and is currently practicing dentistry in Odessa. The family of the late Linda Meek established this endowed scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Eldridge and in loving memory of their wife, mother and sister. The scholarship fund provides assistance to students of Baylor University who are majoring in biology based on the student's academic performance and financial need. Preference will be given for students planning to enter any of the health care professions.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be a declared Biology major
Must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater
Must have a Biology GPA of 3.0 or greater
Must have no grade of I (incomplete) in any Biology course
Must be registered with the Student Financial Aid Office

The David W. Eldridge Endowed Scholarship

Frederick R. Gehlbach Endowed Scholarship Fund

This award is presented in honor of Dr. Frederick R. Gehlbach, an outstanding professor of ecology in the Department of Biology from 1963 to 1995. Awards are made annually on the basis of merit with need being a secondary consideration.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be an identified major in the Department of Biology Ecology Program
Must be classified as a junior by hours completed
Must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0
Must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to be eligible for a second award
Must be registered with the Student Financial Aid Office

Frederick R. Gehlbach Endowed Scholarship

Anne E. Rushing Endowed Biology Scholarship Fund

The Ann E. Rushing Endowed Biology Scholarship Fund was established in 2017 by Dr. Ann E. Rushing of Vero Beach, Florida. She taught at Baylor University in the Department of Biology and Institute of Biomedical Studies from 1989 – 2014. During her tenure at Baylor, Dr. Rushing was honored with many research and professor awards including the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year Award. This scholarship fund provides assistance to deserving students attending Baylor University with a preference given to students who are majoring in biology.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be a declared Biology major
Must have an overall grade point average of 3.5 or greater
Must have a Biology GPA of 3.5 or greater
Must have at least 16 hours in Baylor Biology credits and may not have any biology credits transferred from another institution
Must be registered with the Student Financial Aid Office

Ann E. Rushing Endowed Biology Scholarship Fund

Donald Keith Sanford, M.D. Endowed Scholarship Fund

Dr. Donald Keith Sanford, BS ’85, of San Antonio, TX established this endowed scholarship fund in 2021. He earned his B.S. degree in Biology from Baylor University in 1985 and received his M.D. from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 1990. After residency training, he transitioned to the US Air Force base in San Antonio as an ophthalmologist. Being the fortunate recipient of endowed scholarship funds himself, Dr. Sanford’s intention for this fund is to honor and expand the Baylor experience for his beloved alma mater to future student generations.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be a declared Biology major
Must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater
Must have a Biology GPA of 3.0 or greater
First preference will be for first generation college students or veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Must be registered with the Student Financial Aid Office

Donald Keith Sanford, M.D. Endowed Scholarship Fund

David and Tracy Stringfield Family Endowed Scholarship Fund

The David and Tracy Stringfield Family Endowed Scholarship Fund in Biology was established in 2020 by David and Tracy Stringfield of Dallas, Texas. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stringfield are 1989 Baylor University alumni.

This endowed scholarship fund provides assistance to deserving students attending Baylor University whom are pursuing a degree in biology and who are the children or dependents of members or veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be a declared Biology major
Must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater
Must have a Biology GPA of 3.0 or greater
Preference to students who are the children or dependents of members or veterans of the United States Armed Forces
Must be registered with the Student Financial Aid Office

David and Tracy Stringfield Family Endowed Scholarship Fund

F. Ray Wilson Scholarship

Scarlett Bowden, Jeffrey Bowden and John Bowden of Waco, Texas established the F. Ray Wilson Endowed Academic Scholarship in Biology to honor F. Ray Wilson. Dr. Wilson was an alumni by choice at Baylor University where he served as Professor of Biology, Director of the Honors Program and a Master Teacher. He was also a member of the Baylor/Waco Foundation. This endowed scholarship is awarded by the Department of Biology at Baylor University to biology pre-med students on a merit basis.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be a declared Biology major
Must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater
Must have a Biology grade point average of 3.0 or greater
Must have no grade of I (incomplete) in any Biology course

F. Ray Wilson Scholarship

Limnology and Aquatic Ecology Scholarship

The Limnology and Aquatic Ecology Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1984 by Mr. James M. Short III to support undergraduate or graduate students interested in pursuing careers in limnology or aquatic ecology. Jim was a graduate student at Baylor and worked under the direction of Dr. Owen Lind.

Specific eligibility requirements are as follows:

Must be a declared Biology major
Undergraduates must be pursuing a BS emphasizing in limnology or aquatic ecology
Undergraduates must be registered with the Student Financial Aid Office
Graduate students must be working in labs of Department of Biology faculty members affiliated with the Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR)

Limnology and Aquatic Ecology Scholarship