Undergraduate Scholarships
The Biology Department is proud to offer the scholarships listed below, which allows us to assist undergraduate students seeking a degree in Biology. The funds for these scholarships are possible through generous gifts and honor the individuals listed under each scholarship. There is no application for any of these awards and eligible students are identified based on the criteria listed beneath each fund. The amount of each scholarship varies from year to year, but will generally range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.
The Farrell Scholarship for Deserving Students
James Parmer Farrell
This scholarship is to assist deserving undergraduate students pursuing a degree in medicine, engineering, or the natural sciences. The primary criteria for selection shall be financial need, but selection is also based on GPA. Students must be nominated by Biology Department Faculty Members. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are eligible.
This scholarship fund was established in 1996 by the estate of Mr. James Parmer Farrell (1923-1995), a native of Tunica, MS, who graduated in 1943 from UM with a BS in Chemical Engineering.
Frank M. Hull Fund
Frank M. Hull
This fund serves as an Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award. Eligible students are those enrolled in directed studies with a Biology Faculty member and who present their work at Undergraduate Research Day.
Dr. Frank Hull (1901–1982), a native of Coahoma County, MS, received his B.S. from Miss. A&M (now MS State University) in 1932, and his Ph.D. in entomology from Harvard in 1937. He joined the biology faculty at UM in 1930, serving as Chair from 1930–1951, retiring in 1971 as Professor Emeritus of Biology. He wrote extensively on the syrphid flies, bee flies, and robber flies, publishing more than 150 research papers and three world monographs.
Jayna Michelle Kelly Ole Miss Women’s Council Scholarship in Biology
Edith Kelly-Green (left) and Jayna Michelle Kelly.
Dr. Jayna Michelle Kelly
Recipients of this scholarship for entering freshmen biology majors will be full time students with academic potential, financial need, and contributes to the diversity of the Department of Biology. The Ole Miss Women’s Council provides peer mentorship as well as career and life mentorship for scholarship recipients. For more information contact the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy.
This scholarship was endowed by Edith Kelly-Green in honor of her daughter Dr. Jayna Michelle Kelly, 2005 UM Biological Science graduate and 2013 graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine. Dr. Kelly is currently a Fellow in the Ochsner Cardiology Program at New Orleans’ Ochsner Medical Center and is the first African-American woman ever admitted to the cardiology specialty program there. After completing her general cardiology fellowship at Ochsner Medical Center, she will participate in an interventional cardiology fellowship in Vermont before returning to Memphis to join her partner in their new practice. Ms. Kelly-Green, a native of Oxford, earned her accounting degree from the university in 1973, her master’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management, and was the 1st female African-American CPA in the state of Tennessee. She established this scholarship to help young people—particularly those who may have overcome adversity—seek college degrees.
Tot and Griff Norquist Scholarship Endowment
Lotta (Tot) Swayze Norquist
Griffin Norquist
The recipient must be a full-time student majoring in biology. Selection will be based upon demonstrated academic ability, leadership potential, financial need, GPA, and the student must be nominated by a Biology Department Faculty Member.
In 2002, Ginger (Norquist) Taylor of Memphis, TN, established a scholarship in honor of her parents, Lotta (Tot) Swayze Norquist (1921–1995) and Samuel Griffin (Griff) Norquist (1921–2018), both from Yazoo City and graduates of UM. Mrs. Norquist received her BAE in 1943 from UM and Griff Norquist, a WWII veteran, was a 1942 liberal arts graduate and received a law degree from the University in 1947.
The William M. Shoemaker Scholarship in Biology
The recipient must be a full-time student majoring in biology. Selection will be based upon demonstrated academic ability, leadership potential, financial need, GPA, and the student must be nominated by a Biology Department Faculty Member.
This scholarship fund was established in 1984 by the family of the late William M. Shoemaker (1909-1984), a native of Lake Cormorant, MS, who received his BS degree in commerce in 1935 from UM, was a general manager of the Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, and was a member of the Board of Trustees of Institutes of Higher Learning in Mississippi for 12 years. Shoemaker Hall, which houses the UM Department of Biology, was named in his honor in 1984.
The Doctors Wong-Bridges Biology Scholarship Endowment
The recipient must be a student preforming molecular or cellular research with preference given to graduate students, followed by undergraduate juniors and then seniors. Selection will be based on academic excellence.
Dr. Jennifer Wong, a native of Jackson, MS, received her bachelors in biology in 1995 from UM and her MD, PhD in physiology in 2000 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Benjamin Bridges of Boise, Idaho, graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 2001 and is currently a Medical Oncology Specialist in Boise, ID, where Dr. Wong practices.
Jerrel K Yates and Laura A. Yates Scholarship
This scholarship assists deserving students in mathematics or science who are registered with the Office of Student Disability Services. The recipient must be a full-time junior or senior student majoring in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, forensic chemistry, mathematics, or physics with a 3.0 or higher GPA. The recipient must be a Mississippi resident with first preference for Smith County. The student must be registered with the Office of Student Disability Services.
The scholarship endowment was established by Dr. Jerrel K. Yates and Laura A. Yates. Dr. Yates earned the B.S. in Mathematics in 1964 and the Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1972 from UM. He served on the faculty at Columbus State University.
College of Liberal Arts
There are also scholarships available through the Office of the Dean in the College of Liberal Arts. They are available to any major in the College of Liberal Arts, but there is not an application process. Click here to see those possible scholarship opportunities.
