Scholarships

Scholarship recipients are selected in the spring with the award presented in the fall and spring semesters following registration. All in-coming, undergraduate and graduate student scholarships are administered by the departmental scholarship committee and department chairperson, unless otherwise noted. Typical scholarships are in the $1,500.00 - $2,000.00 range thanks to the generosity of the many friends of the department.

The deadline for all Department of Physics Scholarship applications is February 1st. All applications should be filled out on-line using the general scholarships application procedures at TTU and the College of Arts and Sciences. Applicants do not need to apply for a particular Physics Endowed Scholarship. After the deadline has passed, the departmental scholarship committee retrieves the information corresponding to the entire pool of applicants majoring in Physics, and decides the amounts to be granted and the recipients of the Department of Physics Scholarships. In addition, the departmental scholarship committee recommends several Physics major applicants for merit-based and need-based College of Arts and Sciences scholarships.

Department of Physics Endowed Scholarships and Scholarship Donors

The Department of Physics 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 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: J. Fred Bucy is one of the most distinguished alumni of the Department of Physics and of Texas Tech University. 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.

Mrs. J.W. Day, the Day Family and Friends of J.W. Day

Donors of: 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, 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.

Drs. Shubhra and Keshab Gangopadhyay

Donors of: 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. 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.

Preston F. Gott

Donor of: 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. 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. Glen A. Mann, the Mann Family and Friends of Glen Mann

Donors of: 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. 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.

Mrs. Terry Menzel, the Menzel Family and Friends of Roland Menzel

Donors of: 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. 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.

Dr. A. Isabelle Howe, the Howe Family and Friends of David Howe

Donors of: 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. 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.

Mr. Bob Schmidt, the Schmidt Family and Friends of C.C. and Alma Schmidt

Donors of: 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. 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. Tamara Seibt, the Seibt Family, and Friends of Pete Seibt

Donors of: 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. 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.

Mrs. Sarah F. Sterne

Donor of: 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. It is awarded to students who show an interest in astronomy or to any deserving undergraduate physics majors.

Dr. and Mrs. Henry C. Thomas

Donors of: 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. 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.


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