Northern Illinois University
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Alumni and other interested parties are encouraged to contribute toward the scholarships and awards described below.

Give to the Department

Scholarships & Awards for Biology Students

• Alumni Scholarship in Biological Sciences
  This award is presented annually to an outstanding undergraduate student in biological sciences. The Award is made possible by the generous donations from biology alumni.
• Elwood and Ruth Briles Memorial Scholarship
  Established to honor the memory of Dr. W.E. Briles and Ruth Briles who worked for nearly 40 years in the Biology Department at NIU in the field of immunogenetics. The endowed scholarship provides support to graduate students performing research in genetics.
  
• Sonya Conway Memorial Award.
  Established to honor the memory of Dr. Sonya Conway, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences. The award is given annually to an outstanding female undergraduate in the department.
• Deans Award
  Established in 1970 by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to give recognition to senior students who have made outstanding contributions to their major departments. These students are expected to have displayed leadership, conspicuous service, and an excellent scholastic record. Each department may submit one nominee to the college, from which the dean selects award recipients.
• Dissertation Completion Award
  Dissertation Completion Fellowships are awarded annually to some of the university's most promising doctoral students to assist in the completion of their dissertations. Those awarded to full-time students carry a tuition waiver, a stipend, and funds for limited research expenses. Those awarded to part-time students include a tuition waiver and funds for limited research expenses.
• Harvey A Feyerherm Award
  Established as a memorial to Dr. Harvey A. Feyerherm who came to NIU in 1950 and served as head of the Department of Biological Sciences from 1964 to 1969. He served as a professor of bological sciences and Acting Director of the School of Allied Health. This annual award is made to a junior with high academic achievement and potential for success in one of the health care professions.
• Winifred Halsey Scholarship
  This award is presented annually to an outstanding female undergraduate in biological sciences. The award was established by Winifred Halsey, an alumna of the Department of Biological Sciences and in memory of her mother, Winifred Ethel Halsey.
• August M. Gorenz Award
  Established in 2000 by Dr. August Gorenz (B.S., NIU, Ph.D, UW). Dr. Gorenz had a long and successful career in plant pathology working at various locations around the world. The award is presented annually to an outstanding undergraduate student majoring in the biological sciences.
• David R. Layman Scholarship Fund
  Established in 1997 by David R. Layman. This award is designed to support outstanding students in the Biology Teacher Certification Program.
• Dennis Larsen Endowed Scholarship
  An endowed scholarship to honor the memory of NIU Biology alumni Dennis Larsen, longtime teacher and environmental activist.  The scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students in the Dept. of Biological Sciences who have an emphasis or interest in the environmental studies.
• Michael Mangold Scholarship
  Established in 1996 and funded by Dr. Michael Mangold, an NIU graduate (B.S. 1979, M. S. 1984). He established the scholarship to recognize and help students who are working to fund their education. It is presented to a pre-medical student with an excellent academic record and significant working experience.
• Sidney A. Mittler Award
  Established to honor the memory of Dr. Sidney Mittler, professor of Genetics, who died in 1988. Dr. Mittler came to NIU in 1960, and served as a faculty member of this department until his retirement in 1987. A certificate and monetary award is presented to the outstanding graduate student in genetics, as determined by a faculty committee.
• Charles E. Montgomery Award
  Established to honor the memory of Dr. Charles Montgomery, who came to Northern Illinois State Normal School in 1917 and served as head of the Biology Department from 1921 until his retirement in 1952. This award is presented to Biology majors in the teacher certification program who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and who possess qualities that suggest that they will become outstanding teachers.
• Phi Sigma Outstanding Graduate Research Award
  Established by Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society, this monetary award is given to the outstanding graduate researcher in the department, as voted on by the members of Phi Sigma.
• Phi Sigma Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award
  Established by Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society, this monetary award is given to the outstanding undergraduate researcher in the department, as voted on by the members of Phi Sigma.
• George L. Terwilliger Memorial Scholarship Fund - Endowed
  Established to honor the memory of Dr. Geroge L. Terwilliger. Dr. Terwilliger came to this institution in 1925 when it was Northern Illinois State Teachers College. He served as a faculty member for 45 years until his retirement in 1968, and filled the position of department head from 1952-1964. Each year a certificate and monetary award is presented to the outstanding graduate student in the department, as determined by a faculty committee.
• University Fellowship
  This monetary award was established in 1965 to recognize academic excellence and high potential in a major field of study. Recipients of University Fellowships are selected by the Graduate School Fellowship Committee from a large number of students nominated by academic departments.
• Jerrold H. Zar Endowed Scholarship in Biology
  Established in 2002 by Dr. Zar to provide scholarship support for senior undergraduate students majoring in Biology at NIU. Dr. Zar had a long and impressive career at NIU. He earned his B.S. at NIU (Ph.D. UIUC), joined the NIU Biology faculty in 1968, served as chair of the department from 1978 to 1984, served as vice provost for Research and Dean of Graduate School from 1984 until his retirement in 2002.
• Jerrold H. Zar Endowed Scholarship in Science Education
  Established by Dr. Zar to provide scholarship support for a full-time student admitted to an initial teacher certification program in biological or physical science at NIU.