SPS and AAPT Mary Beth Monroe Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Overview

The SPS and AAPT Mary Beth Monroe Memorial Scholarship was established by the Society of Physics Students and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) to recognize the outstanding academic and leadership accomplishments of physics majors who began their studies at a regionally accredited community college and who intend to pursue a career in physics education.

This scholarship honors Mary Beth Monroe, who was a physics professor and SPS advisor at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, TX for over 38 years. She was highly regarded by friends and colleagues for her inspiring lifelong commitment to the support and encouragement of physics students and her dedication to service at all levels in the Society of Physics Students and the American Association of Physics Teachers.

Scholarship at a Glance

One $2,500 award may be made each year
Awarded to undergraduate students in their junior year of study who are majoring in physics or physics education, on the basis of scholarship, SPS participation, attendance at a community college, and intent to pursue a career in education
Established in memory of the late Mary Beth Monroe

Eligibility

Applicants must be students in their junior year of college who are majoring in physics or physics education
Applicants must have started their education at a regionally accredited community college (this must be evident on their official transcripts)
Applicants must demonstrate intent to pursue a career in education
Applicants must be undergraduate members of the SPS national organization

Application Procedure

Applicants must complete an online application no later than March 15 (if this date falls on a weekend, the application is due the following Monday). The online system will guide applicants through completing the individual steps of the application process listed below, including requesting letters of recommendation. All pieces of the application must be in by the deadline in order to be considered for the scholarship.

The application consists of several parts:

General information form
Transcript: An official, current transcript must be sent directly to the SPS Scholarship Program by the applicant’s college or university. Transcripts must be postmarked by the application deadline and mailed to:

SPS Scholarship Program
1 Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740

Outline of the physics and related courses the applicant has taken and plans to take
Written statement of the applicant’s career objectives
Written statement of the applicant’s participation in SPS activities
Certification from the Department Chair that the applicant is in good standing with the department and making satisfactory progress toward the degree
Two letters of recommendation from faculty members familiar with the applicant and his or her qualifications. The recommenders should comment on the applicant in light of each of the three criteria:
- high scholarship performance both in physics and overall studies,
- the exhibition of the potential and intention for continued scholastic development in physics, and
- active participation in SPS programs.

Selection Criteria

In determining the recipients, the SPS Scholarship Committee shall consider with equal weight:

high scholarship performance both in physics and overall studies,
the exhibition of the potential and intention for continued scholastic development in physics, and
active participation in SPS programs.