Physics Funds

Total funds: 16

Dr. Carl J. Wenning Endowed Physics Teacher Education Scholar Award

Carl Wenning retired from Illinois State University on May 31, 2008. Pursuant to his goal of developing the best physics teacher education program in the nation, he and his wife Carolyn established the Dr. Carl J. Wenning Endowed Program for Physics Teacher Education Scholars. The purpose of this program is to provide resources for majors in the field of physics teacher education to highly qualified program graduates. The materials will be chosen by the program coordinator based on the needs of the average new physics teacher in an Illinois public school and presented to each new teacher upon their graduation from the physics teaching program or when all conditions set forth in this agreement are met.

Shang-Fen Ren Creative Thinking Award for Physics Students

Shang-Fen Ren served as the first tenured female professor in the Department of Physics at Illinois State University from 1994 to 2011 and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Scholarship: To provide financial assistance for students meeting the following criteria: - Recipient must be a junior or senior undergraduate student, or a graduate student, in the Department of Physics at Illinois State University. - Scholarships will be awarded for the following term: One-Time Award - Preference may be given to students who demonstrate strong academic achievement within their major field of study, as evidenced by performance in coursework related to the student’s academic discipline and overall academic standing. - Applicants must submit a brief written statement, not to exceed 500 words, describing a problem they have faced or are currently facing and how they approached or are approaching it using creative thinking. Clear, thoughtful responses are encouraged; formal or technical writing is not required. - Selection shall be based on the following criteria: The problem presented is meaningful and grounded in the student’s academic, personal, or research experience. The student demonstrates the ability to approach the problem from unique or unconventional perspectives and proposes original ideas or solutions. The student presents multiple ideas, approaches, or lines of thinking in addressing the problem.

Physics Department General Fund

The Physics General Fund supports the activities, programs and operations associated with the Physics Department.

Illinois State University Solar Car Team

The Illinois State University Solar Car Team is a student-led organization that designs, builds, and races solar vehicles against teams from around the world. The team consists of a multidisciplinary group of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty who volunteer time and energy to advance their skills and the promise of renewable energy. The award-winning team successfully builds a new solar car every five years. Your gift will help to provide technology and equipment, as well as cover expenses for travel to national collegiate competitions.

Charles and Susan Adamovic Physics Teaching Endowment

The purpose of the Charles and Susan Adamovic Physics Teaching Endowment is to support the recruitment and retention of students in the Department of Physics who are preparing for careers as physics teachers. The fund is intended to attract talented and motivated students to the physics teaching program and to provide ongoing support that encourages continued enrollment, academic progress, and successful completion of degree and licensure

Michael F. Canney Endowed Scholarship in Science

The Michael F. Canney Endowed Scholarship in Science was established in 2004 by Michael F. Canney, who earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Illinois State University in 1984. The scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in physics.

Twelve Thousand Bombs Seminar Fund

Robert C. Shears Endowment

The Robert C. Shears Endowment provides scholarship support for a Physics student enrolled in good standing at ISU, who has earned a minimum of 30 credit hours. Preference is given to students with demonstrated interest in energy and/or environmental issues.

George Skadron Computational Physics Fund

The George Skadron Computational Physics Fund was established in 1997 in honor of the retirement of George Skadron through gifts from colleagues and friends. The fund directly supports undergraduate physics majors, primarily in the computer physics sequence, through three awards: research, classroom achievement, as well as one competitive prize.

Additionally Supports: Skadron Computational Physics Award for Class Achievement, Skadron Computational Physics Award for Research, Skadron Prize

James and Deborah Riggs Scholarship in Physics

Provide an annual scholarship for a Physics major. Scholarship will be awarded as a one-time award.

Professor Kenneth E. Jesse Endowment Fund

This scholarship was established by Kenneth and Sandra Jesse. Ken taught in the Physics Department [from 1967 -1994] and saw the department and the University grow in size and stature, with national and international recognition. He guided the experimental work of two students who earned master's degrees, coauthored, with physics professor Glen Greenseth, the department's lab manual, and wrote three study guides to accompany general physics textbooks and a two- volume, calculus-based text titled, "University Physics." The purpose of this fund is to support student research or other significant projects as guided by faculty. It may be used to obtain hardware items. His hope is that this endowment will help to continue the Physics Department and University's growth, especially in the area of student research projects.

Dr. Robert D. Young Award

The Dr. Robert D. Young Award was established by Dr. Robert D. Young and BJ Young in 2024 in order to support undergraduate students in the Department of Physics. This scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen and is renewable for an additional year provided students are enrolled in the Department of Physics.

Physics Alumni Scholarship

This endowment was established with support of alumni and friends of the Department of Physics to provide scholarship support to physics majors. Competition is open to all students who have been conditionally admitted to Illinois State University as physics majors. Assets of this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Endowment Investment Pool.