Scholarship and Awards

The College of Humanities and Sciences offers more than 100 scholarship opportunities annually to currently enrolled students.

Of those, the following are offered to undergraduate students specifically through the Department of Chemistry, though there are more general scholarships in the full scholarship database for which students may qualify, as well. Our scholarships are supported by, or endowed in honor of, alums and former members of our faculty, in a tangible representation of their deep commitment to VCU and to physics as a discipline.

Albert T. Sneden III Scholarship in Chemistry: The Albert T. Sneden III Scholarship in chemistry was established by alumni, friends and associates of Sneden upon his retirement to honor his 28-year career at VCU. Sneden was the former executive associate dean of the College and is a professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry. The scholarship is available to qualified undergraduate or graduate students majoring in chemistry who are in good academic standing. Graduate student applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 with no grade lower than a B. Undergraduate applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and are 'true' chemistry majors (not pre-med students).
David F. Ingraham Scholarship: The Richmond Chromatography Discussion Group established the David F. Ingraham Scholarship with gifts in 1995. The fund honors the memory of David F. Ingraham, an analytical chemist who worked in the areas of high resolution, GC, GC/MS and ancillary techniques. This fund seeks to encourage young students to follow in his footsteps by pursuing the separation sciences. The scholarship is awarded to a meritorious, upper-class chemistry major with an interest in the separation sciences.
Department of Chemistry Merit Scholarship: The Department of Chemistry Merit Scholarship will be awarded to an incoming, full-time freshman planning to major in chemistry. The scholarship may be renewed for an additional three years provided the student remains in good academic standing. Please note: Admissions criteria is used to award a recipient. No additional application is necessary.
Distinguished Chemist Fund: The Distinguished Chemist Fund recognizes and funds undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students who demonstrate distinguished performance and intend to complete an advanced degree in chemistry within the VCU Department of Chemistry. Undergraduate candidates must be a rising junior or senior in good standing who have completed a semester of Independent Study or a semester of Chemistry Preceptorship and who plan to obtain an advanced degree in chemistry. Graduate student candidates must have passed the oral candidacy exam and have one peer-reviewed publication.
Gerald and Susan Bass Scholarship: Upon his retirement from the Department of Chemistry in 1998, R. Gerald Bass, Ph.D., and his wife Susan established this endowment. The scholarship is awarded with preference given to a student who is majoring in chemistry with secondary preference given to an undergraduate or graduate student with a primary interest in chemistry.
Jon & Wendy Baker Award: The Baker Award Fund provides funding for a deserving student who has participated in undergraduate research in VCU's Department of Chemistry.