Resources & Scholarships in Physics and Astronomy
We are committed to student success by providing a variety of support and resources to achieve your goals.
The Tools for Success
Find out about the generous scholarship opportunities for physics students and the student success resources available at the department, college, and university levels.
Scholarships
Each of these department scholarships has an online form and is due by March 1.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Undergraduate in physics
Application:
- Complete online application form by March 1.
About Dr. Lee N. Bolen, Jr.:
Dr. Bolen (1937-2016) a native of Memphis, received his undergraduate degree at UM and completed his master's and doctoral studies at the University of Virginia. He joined the physics faculty at UM in 1964 where he taught for 35 years, specializing in nuclear physics. Dr. Bolen was active in the Mississippi Association of Physicists and worked with other physics faculty to bring the National Center of Physical Acoustics to the university.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student
- Incoming freshmen
- Undergraduate in physics (B.S. degree)
- Financial need
- Scholastic achievement
Application:
- Complete online application form by March 1.
About Arthur B. and Alma G. Lewis:
Arthur Beverly Lewis (1901-2000) a native of Forest, MS, received his B.A. (1923) and his M.A. degree (1925) from UM. He then enjoyed a 35 year teaching career at UM, starting in 1936 as associate professor of mathematics and physics, becoming chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and then dean of the College of Liberal Arts until his retirement in 1971. He donated his collection of Physics Abstracts, a journal with articles spanning much of the development of high voltage physics, to the department in 1998. Lewis Hall, home of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was re-named in Lewis’s honor in 1984 and his portrait hangs in the Department of Physics.
Alma Gouchenour Lewis (1902-2002) was a native of Roanoke, VA, and worked in Washington, D.C. before her marriage to Dr. Lewis. Their tombstone includes a Chaucer quote: "And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche," which aptly describes their life.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student in B.A. or B.S. degree for physics
- Financial need
- Scholastic achievement
Application:
- Complete online application by March 1.
About William Kennon:
William Lee Kennon (1882-1952) was born in Columbus, MS, and educated at Millsaps College (B.S. 1900, M.S. 1901) and Johns Hopkins (Ph.D. 1906). In 1909, Dr. Kennon joined the faculty of the physics department at UM, and 42 years later he retired having served forty years as chair. He was instrumental in securing the funding for Kennon Observatory and Lewis Hall, where his portrait hangs. The observatory, conceived by Dr. Kennon, was completed in 1939. Dr. Kennon’s legacy is secured by the observatory named after him, his careful planning of the physics buildings, his successful efforts to attain funding for new demonstration and laboratory equipment, his commitment to the growth of the curriculum, and his nurturing of the students.
Eligibility:
- Full-time physics major in junior or senior year
- Mississippi resident, with preference to Jasper County, MS
- Scholastic ability, leadership potential
- Financial need
Application:
- Complete online application by March 1.
About Wofford Reynolds and Opal Read Price:
Wofford Reynolds Price (1921-1998) was a Winston County native, West Point Academy graduate, and WWII veteran. He earned both his undergrad and graduate degrees in physics from UM. Having received a Bronze Star for his army service, he retired after 20 years in the reserves with the rank of Lt. Col. He taught physics at UM after the war for 5 years and subsequently enjoyed a long career with Hughes Aircraft in California before he and his wife returned to Jasper County.
Opal Read Price (1923-2017) a native of Jasper County, MS, earned both her B.A. (1949) and M.A. in English and Literature from UM (1950). She taught in the English department at the University of Mississippi for 5 years and later in the California School Systems for 35 years until she retired.
Other College of Liberal Arts Scholarships
There are College of Liberal Ars scholarships that physics majors might be eligible for.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student majoring in the College of Liberal Arts
- Incoming freshman
- Public high school graduate from the Mississippi Delta counties
Application:
- Complete the UM Special Programs and Scholarship application
About Rich Raspet:
Born in upstate New York but raised in Starkville, MS, Dr. Richard Raspet earned his Doctorate in Physics from the University of Mississippi. He worked as Physicist in the Environmental Division of The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) in Champaign, Illinois, where he met his future wife, Wendy. In 1987 Rich joined the faculty of the Physics Department of the University of Mississippi in Oxford as an Associate Professor, eventually becoming full professor. His academic home on campus was the UM National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA). In recognition of his research, teaching, and service accomplishments, Rich was awarded the honor of Distinguished Faculty Fellow in the College of Liberal Arts, in 2007. His main area of research was investigation of how sound travels, and how to accurately measure sound. Rich’s scientific contributions in acoustics were vast, with publications on topics ranging from atomic nuclei, to aircraft sonic booms, and atmospheric turbulence. His work has applications in fields from national defense to weather prediction to the study of animal behavior. He continued to conduct research and mentor students as an Emeritus Professor until his passing. He was a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America.
Eligibility:
- Full-time student in select College majors, including physics
- junior or senior
- Financial need
- Academic performance
Application:
- No application process
About James Parmer Farrell
The scholarship was established in 1996 by the estate of Mr. James Parmer Farrel (1923-1995), a native of Tunica. MS, who graduated in 1943 from UM with a BS in Chemical Engineering.
Eligibility:
- full-time math or science majors in the College of Liberal Arts as well as select majors in Applied Sciences
- Registered with Office of Student Disability Services
- 3.0 GPA or higher
- Mississippi resident with first preference for Smith County
Application:
- No application necessary
About Dr. Jerrel K Yates
The scholarship endowment was established in 1996 by Dr. Jerrel K. Yates and Laura A. Yates. Dr. Yates earned a BS in Mathematics in 1964 and a PhD in Mathematics in 1972 from UM. He served on the faculty at Columbus State University.
Eligibility:
- Female student
- Select majors, including physics
- Resident of Yalobusha, Calhoun, Lafayette, or Grenada counties
- 3.0 GPA or higher
Application:
- no application process
About Hattie Burke Jackson:
This scholarship was established in 2004 by the estate of Miss Harriet Jackson, a UM graduate and long-time Latin and French teacher at UM, to honor her mother, Mrs. Hattie Talbert Burke Jackson (1868-1917). A Water Valley native, Hattie was known as 'a splendid woman, active in every civic and benevolent work' (Water Valley Progress newspaper), who died at the age of 49, leaving Harriet and her three sisters to be raised by their father, Dr. Manuel Winter Jackson, "one of the most talented practicing physicians in the city (of Water Valley)."
Miss Harriet Jackson received her BA from UM in 1924 and MA at UM in 1936. While in college she was a member of The Marionettes, a student drama club that William Faulkner helped found in 1920. Miss Jackson joined the Modern Languages department in 1950 where she taught Latin and French for 21 years, retiring in 1970. During her time at UM she was acting chair several semesters, a member of the Mississippi Modern Languages Association, the Faculty Senate, and was advisor to Phi Kappa Phi and the Latin Club.
Department of Physics and Astronomy
The Department of Physics and Astronomy provides a variety of resources to support students in courses and prepare for their post-graduate plans.
- Course tutoring
- Suppliemental Instruction
- Lab Physicist website resources
- Physics-related activities for networking and professional development
- Research opportunities to establish faculty mentorship and graduate school/career preparation
- Dedicated student lounge in Physics
College of Liberal Arts
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is one of many outstanding departments in the College of Liberal Arts at UM. Therefore, students receive support from the CLA Office of Student Services, located nearby in George Hall.
University-Wide Resources
Our university supports students and encourages them to be involved on campus and beyond.
- Arts and culture experiences
- Get involved on campus and grow your leadership
- Opportunities to learn beyond the classroom
- Health and wellness resources
- Registration and Financial Aid assistance
- Student advocacy and support
- Technology and learning resources
Supplemental Instruction
Supplemental Instruction is a set of weekly review sessions run by students, for students. Each student leader has completed a historically difficult course with a high grade. Students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, and predict test items. National statistics on these sessions at other universities show students achieve higher grades.
Physics Tutoring
The Department of Physics and Astronomy organizes tutoring to support students in the undergraduate courses. Both faculty and graduate students provide tutoring help to students.
Lab Physicist Resources
Lab Physicist, Ray Siedlecki, has a specialist website with information related to the following courses: Phys 221, Phys 222, Phys 223, and Phys 224. This information includes syllabi, experiment calendars, lab report formats, lab materials, tutoring schedule, and more.
Physics GRE
If you want to go on to physics graduate school, you will likely need to take the Physics GRE during the fall of your senior year. The test is usually given three times a year in April, September, and October. To register go to the ETS website.
- The book Conquering the Physics GRE is extremely useful.
- You can get free electronic flash cards from Case Western University
- See solutions to some old tests. Although, make sure you have a test-taking plan in place before you take the tests and use the answers wisely!
Conferences
CUWiP – The Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics is a great opportunity to meet other students from around the US.
APS – The American Physical Society holds two main meetings in March and April, where thousands of physicists get together to present their latest results. As an undergraduate, it is FREE to become a member. Members also receive a free copy of the Physics Today magazine.
AAS – The American Astronomical Society holds two main meetings a year. You can find career opportunities on their website, such as summer internships and jobs.