Departmental Scholarships
Overview
Scholarship recipients are selected in the spring with the award presented in the
fall and spring semesters following registration. All incoming, undergraduate and
graduate student scholarships are administered by the departmental scholarship committee
and department chairperson, unless otherwise noted. Typical scholarships are in the
$500.00 - $2,000.00 range thanks to the generosity of the many friends of the department.
The deadline for all Department of Physics and Astronomy scholarship applications
is January 15th for graduate students and February 1st for undergraduate students.
All applications should be filled out online using the correct university scholarship application. Applicants do not need to apply
for a particular physics endowed scholarship. After the deadline has passed, the departmental
scholarship committee retrieves the application materials from the university's scholarship
website and determines the amounts to be granted and the recipients of the Department
of Physics and Astronomy scholarships. In addition, the departmental scholarship committee
recommends several physics majors for merit-based and need-based College of Arts and
Sciences scholarships.
Department of Physics Endowed Scholarships and Scholarship Donors
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is very fortunate to have several endowed
scholarships for our students. This would obviously not be true without the significant
generosity of the donors of these scholarships over many years. The Department of
Physics and Astronomy and all of the scholarship recipients are very grateful to these
donors. What follows are brief discussions of the donors of these scholarships, along
with brief descriptions of the scholarships they have made possible.
Mr. J. Fred and Mrs. Odetta Greer Bucy
Donors of:
- The Bucy Graduate Scholarships in Applied Physics
- The Bucy Undergraduate Scholarships in Physics
- The Bucy Endowed Chair in Physics
J. Fred Bucy is one of the most distinguished alumni of the Department of Physics
and Astronomy and of Texas Tech University. + More
He was born 1929 in Tahoka, TX. He received a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Texas
Tech in 1951. He then became an associate research physicist in the Defense Research
Laboratories of U.T.-Austin. He received his MS. in Physics from U.T.-Austin in 1952.
He then joined Texas Instruments (TI) and was assigned to the Central Research Laboratories
in Dallas, with responsibility for development of geophysical instrumentation including
the development of the first solid state seismic system in 1958. He then became manager
of the program to develop the first integrated seismic digital system. In 1963, Mr.
Bucy became a TI corporate vice president. In 1967, he was promoted to head of TI's
Semiconductor–Components Division and corporate group vice president. He continued
moving up in TI in the 1970's and 1980's. At his retirement in 1985, Mr. Bucy was
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of TI. After his retirement, he was
appointed by the Governor of Texas as Chair of the Texas National Research Laboratory
Commission, which promoted the building the $11 billion Superconducting Super Collider,
near Waxahache, TX. (Later killed by Congress). Mr. Bucy holds several patents and
has been a Trustee of Southwest Research Institute. In the 1980's, he was Chair of
the TTU Board of Regents. Later, he became a member of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board Advisory Committee on Research. He is still a member of the executive
committee of the Solid State Products Division of the Electronic Industries Association
and a member of the Defense Science Board of the Department of Defense. He has received
both Distinguished Alumnus and Distinguished Engineer Awards from Texas Tech University
and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science by TTU in 1994. He has also received
numerous professional honors and awards. Among others, he is a fellow of the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a member of National Academy of Engineers.
He currently is a director of Intrusion, Inc., a Security Software and Services company
in Richardson, TX.
J. Fred Bucy and his wife, Odetta Greer Bucy have donated very generously to the Department
of Physics. In addition to The Bucy Scholarships, they are also the donors of the
endowed Bucy Chair in Physics. The Bucy Undergraduate Scholarships in Physics are
awarded to undergraduate students of high ability and character majoring in physics.
Criteria for selection are academic performance in high school or college and potential
for future contribution to physics. The Bucy Graduate Scholarships in Applied Physics
are awarded to new or continuing graduate students in applied physics with high academic
potential or accomplishments.
Drs. Shubhra and Keshab Gangopadhyay
Donors of:
- The Gangopadhyay Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship in Physics
Shubhra Gangopadhyay is a former Physics faculty member who is a good friend to many
of us in the department. Her research is in semiconductor materials and devices.+ More
She left here a few years ago to take an endowed chair at the University of Missouri,
where she is also the Director of their Nano-Technology Center. She is an excellent
teacher, she is a person who cares strongly about students, and she was a mentor to
many graduate and undergraduate students while she was here. Because of her strong
interest in students, she and her husband Keshab Gangopadhyay established The Gangopadhyay
Undergraduate Scholarship in Physics. This scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen
majoring in physics or engineering physics.
Mrs. Glen A. Mann, the Mann Family and Friends of Glen Mann
Donors of:
- The Glen A. Mann Memorial Scholarship
Glen A. Mann was a long-time Physics faculty member who passed away several years
ago. He was a good friend to many of us in the department. His research interests
were in experimental infrared spectroscopy of molecules.+ More
He was also a teacher who was very well-liked by the students. The Glen A. Mann Memorial
Scholarship was established by Mrs. Glen Mann, the Mann family, and by his friends
in honor and memory of Glen Mann. This scholarship is for an entering freshman majoring
in physics or engineering physics with an outstanding high school record.
Dr. A. Isabelle Howe, the Howe Family and Friends of David Howe
Donors of:
- The David Howe Graduate Fellowship in Physics
David Howe was a Physics faculty member who passed away several years ago. He was
a good friend to many of us in the department. His research interests were in experimental
nuclear physics and in the observational search for gravity waves.+ More
The David Howe Graduate Fellowship in Physics was established by his wife, Dr. A.
Isabelle Howe, by the Howe family, and by his friends in his memory. This fellowship
is awarded to outstanding graduate students.
Mrs. Tamara Seibt, the Seibt Family, and Friends of Pete Seibt
Donors of:
- The Peter J. Seibt Graduate Scholarship in Physics
Peter J. Seibt was a long-time Physics staff member who passed away several years
ago. He had been a graduate student in the department and had received his PhD in
experimental molecular spectroscopy.+ More
His PhD advisor was Professor C.R. Quade. Unfortunately, severe health problems prevented
him from pursuing a career in physics and required him to remain in Lubbock to be
near his doctors. He held various staff positions in the department and was eventually
promoted to be head technician in the machine shop. He was a good friend to many of
us in the department. The Peter J. Seibt Graduate Scholarship in Physics was established
in his memory by his wife, Mrs. Tamara Seibt and by his many friends. This fellowship
is awarded to outstanding graduate students who are working in experimental physics.
Dr. and Mrs. Henry C. Thomas
Donors of:
- The Henry C. Thomas Scholarship
Henry C. Thomas is a long-time Physics faculty member who retired several years ago.
His early research interests were in experimental nuclear physics. Later, he changed
to experimental solid state physics.+ More
He holds the distinction of being the person who was the Physics Department Chairman
longer than anyone else in the history of the department. He held that position from
the late 1950's until the early 1970's and again from 1980 until he retired in 1984.
He did that job for a total of 18 years! He and his wife Martha are not only very
good friends to many of us in the department, but for some of us who have been here
quite a while, he was our Chairman as well as our professional mentor when we were
young Assistant Professors. The Henry C. Thomas Scholarship was established several
years ago by Henry and Martha Thomas. It is awarded to entering freshmen or to continuing
undergraduate physics or engineering physics majors. High academic potential for an
entering student is required as evidenced by high school performance. A minimum 3.0
GPA in physics is required for a continuing student.
Mrs. J.W. Day, the Day Family and Friends of J.W. Day
Donors of:
- The J.W. Day Memorial Scholarship
J.W. Day was a long-time Physics faculty member who passed away many years ago. The
J.W. Day Memorial Scholarship was established by Mrs. J.W. Day,+ More
the Day family and friends in his memory. It is awarded to a second semester junior
majoring in physics or engineering physics, who has maintained a 3.0 overall GPA and
a 3.0 physics GPA.
Preston F. Gott
Donors of:
- The Gott Gold Tooth Award
Preston F. Gott was a long-time Physics faculty member who passed away a few years
ago. He was a good friend to many in the department.+ More
His physics interests were in optics and in astronomy. The Gott Gold Tooth Award was
established by him because of his interest in astronomy. In addition to this scholarship,
he was the donor of a scholarship in Women's Studies, given in memory of his first
wife Edna. Also, several years ago, the Texas Tech Board of Regents named the off-campus
observatory The Preston F. Gott Skyview Observatory in his honor. At the discretion
of the Physics Department scholarship committee, the Gott Award can be awarded as
a scholarship, or in recognition of accomplished activity and either to an undergraduate
or to a graduate student. It's purpose is to encourage young scholars, and to strengthen
motivation for astronomy in the Physics Department. It is suggested that the recipient
of this award be given a plastic plaque, machine engraved. A tiny piece of gold from
an old filling, beaten thin, should be glued in to dot the 'I'. Criteria for this
award one or more of the following: 1) successful completion of several courses in
astronomy, 2) instructor for an astronomy class or lab, 3) knowledge of current textbook,
or 4) activity in setting up or maintaining the technical or physical aspects of the
astronomy program.
Mrs. Terry Menzel, the Menzel Family and Friends of Roland Menzel
Donors of:
- The E. Roland Menzel Scholarship in Physics
E. Roland Menzel was a long-time Physics faculty member who passed away in 2006. He
was well-known nationally and internationally in the scientific community for his
invention of the laser detection of latent fingerprint method and for his many other
contributions to forensic physics.+ More
The laser detection of fingerprint method also brought him a world-wide reputation
among law enforcement agencies. Over the years, he was invited to visit many countries
in Europe, in Asia, and in the Middle East to lecture and to train the police in these
places in the use of the laser detection of fingerprint method. At Texas Tech, he
was honored by being made a P.W. Horn Professor. He was a good friend to many of us
in the department. The E. Roland Menzel Scholarship in Physics was established in
his memory by his wife, Terry Menzel, by the Menzel Family, and by his many friends.
This scholarship is for an undergraduate major in physics or engineering physics with
high academic potential.
Mr. Bob Schmidt, the Schmidt Family and Friends of C.C. and Alma Schmidt
Donors of:
- The C.C. Schmidt and Alma K. Schmidt Memorial Scholarship
C.C. Schmidt was a long-time Physics faculty member who passed away many years ago.
In the 1950's he was the Physics Department Chairman. Alma K. Schmidt was his wife.+ More
The C.C. and Alma K. Schmidt Memorial Scholarship was established by their son, Bob
Schmidt, by many other members of the Schmidt family and by their friends in their
memory.
Mrs. Sarah F. Sterne
Donors of:
- The Kenneth Sterne Term Endowed Scholarship
Kenneth Sterne was a long time friend of the Department of Physics who passed away
many years ago. The Kenneth Stern Term Scholarship was established by his wife, Mrs.
Sarah F. Sterne, in his memory.+ More
It is awarded to students who show an interest in astronomy or to any deserving undergraduate
physics majors.