Biological Station Scholarships

​We award scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students majoring in biology each year. These include awards for incoming freshmen and transfer students who are planning to major in biology at CMU and students taking summer classes or doing research at the Central Michigan University Biological Station on Beaver Island. 

To apply for any of our scholarships,  fill out the scholarship application. After filling out your personal information at the top of the page, remember to read the descriptions and qualifications for each scholarship listed, then check the box for each scholarship that you would like to be considered for. In addition to the application form, all applications require a personal statement outlining your qualifications and financial need, copies of current transcripts, a curriculum vita (c.v.), and two completed recommendation forms. Some scholarships have additional application requirements (see the application form). You can use the C.V. template​ to create your c.v.  ​For letters of recommendation, use the recommendation form. Your application will be stronger with a recommendation from a professor, teacher or professional supervisor, if possible.

Return all applications materials to the Biology Department (only complete applications will be reviewed) by email to  BioSc​holarships@cmich.edu. Applications for the CMU Biological Station Scholarships will be forwarded to the Director of the CMU Biological Station for selection.

Tuition scholarships

Purpose: Tuition scholarships are awarded to students who enroll for Biology summer classes at the CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island.

Qualifications: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students are eligible to apply for tuition remission for one biology class each summer.

Renewal Status: This award is renewable upon reapplication.

Scholarship/Donor Information: This scholarship was established in the late 1970s by the first director of the CMU Biological Station, Dr. Matthew Hohn, and Emeritus Professor of Biology, Dr. Roy Burlington. Its function was and continues to be to encourage students who could otherwise not afford tuition, to enroll in credit courses offered at CMUBS. To this day it has been funded by private donations and the deposit return of aluminum cans at CMUBS.

Suzanne and Raymond Baber, Jr. Endowed Scholarship for Beaver Island Students

Purpose: This award is for a biology major or minor who is taking a course or courses at the CMU Biological Station.

Qualifications: Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate financial need, and be enrolled in at least one course at CMUBS.

Renewal Status: This award is not renewable.

Scholarship/Donor Information: Mrs. Suzanne Baber established this scholarship for Beaver Island students in 2007, in her name and that of her late husband, Bud. Sue ('48) has visited the Biological Station on Beaver Island and was impressed by the experience a student has while taking classes there. Knowing that taking classes on the Island has added expenses, she chose the criteria for the Scholarship to meet that need. This award may be used for tuition, books, food and housing, and travel expenses associated with the enrollment in a CMUBS course.

Roy and Alice Burlington Beaver Island Endowed Award

Purpose: This award is for an undergraduate majoring in biology to support research at the CMU Biological Station.

Qualifications: Applicant must have a GPA of at least 3.0. Preference will be given to students with financial need. Applicant must provide a detailed research prospectus with application.

Renewal Status: This award is not renewable.

Scholarship/Donor Information: Established in 2007 by Dr. Roy F. Burlington, professor emeritus, and his spouse, Alice Burlington. The award will support a student participating in an Independent Study in Field Biology on Beaver Island. The recipient will be a Biology major with a GPA of at least 3.0 and a sophomore, junior or senior with financial need.

Arthur E. and S​ibyl M. Ellis Biology and Field Biology Endowed Scholarship

Purpose: This award is for a biology major who is taking a biology or field biology course at the CMU Biological Station.

Qualifications: Applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate financial need, and be enrolled in at least one course at CMUBS.

Renewal Status: This award is renewable upon reapplication.

Scholarship/Donor Information: This endowment was established in memory of former president Arthur Sibyl and his wife after his passing in 2013. Arthur and Sibyl loved the outdoors and Beaver Island in particular, consequently their son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Theresa Ellis, wanted to honor them by helping students with the added expenses of taking a course at the Biological Station on Beaver Island. This award may be used for tuition, books, food and housing, and travel expenses associated with the enrollment in a CMUBS course.

Norvall C. and Evelyn Gagnon Bovee Scholarship

Purpose: This award is for biology majors or minors demonstrating financial need and taking courses at the CMU Biological Station.

Qualifications: Applicant must be a junior or senior full-time undergraduate student enrolled in at least one course at CMUBS. Applicant must have demonstrated care and concern for others and shown positive human relation skills and leadership. Selection of the recipient will also be based on academic performance.

Renewal Status: This award is not renewable.

Scholarship/Donor Information: This endowment was established in memory of former Vice President of Business and Finance Norvall C. Bovee by his family. Norvall and Evelyn Bovee were great friends of the CMU Biological Station. Mrs. Evelyn Bovee still resides in Mount Pleasant but maintains strong ties to the CMU Biological Station and often spends much of her summer at her cottage on Beaver Island. This scholarship may be used for tuition, books, food and housing, and ferry travel.

Raymond E. Hampton Excellence in Biology Research Award

Purpose: This award is for a second-year biology graduate student who is doing summer research at the CMU Biological Station.

Qualifications: Applicant must be a second-year graduate student enrolled at CMU in the Department of Biology with an earned overall GPA of 3.5 or higher. Applicant must submit a prospectus defining the research project to be accomplished while at the CMU Biological Station and a budget of expected research expenses. The awardee must also submit a statement of research progress and accomplishment to the Department of Biology by the following September 15.

Renewal Status: This award is not renewable.

Scholarship/Donor Information: The endowment was established in memory of Dr. Raymond E. Hampton, who dedicated 24 years of service, loyalty, and positive influence to CMU and the Department of Biology. For many years he taught a variety of courses at CMUBS including Nature Photography, a popular student favorite. The award may be used for tuition, books, and food and housing expenses at the CMU Biological Station. It may also be used for expenses involved in presenting research results at a meeting or conference.

The JoAnn Hinds Fund for Beaver Island Experience

 

Purpose: The purpose of this fund is to provide financial assistance to all students enrolled for the annually offered class "Introduction to Field Biology at Beaver Island" (or its future equivalent) that takes place in the summer on Beaver Island.  The intent is to off-set the out-of-pocket costs (i.e. food and housing, ferry transportation, etc.) these students incur to participate.

Qualifications: Recipients must enroll and attend "Introduction to Field Biology" (or its future equivalent). * Please email cmubs@cmich.edu for application information.

RenewalStatus: This award is not renewable.

Scholarship/Donor Information: After receiving her undergraduate and graduate degrees from CMU, JoAnn taught science at Clifford Smart Junior High School in Walled Lake and at Linden Middle School. In 1982, she went to work with her father at Diamond Die & Mold who was hearing retirement and later bought the company from him. JoAnn has chosen to establish this fund with the intention of giving students the opportunity to have an introduction to field biology at the Biological Station on Beaver Island. JoAnn’s love for Beaver Island and passion for the sciences is something that she would like all students to have an opportunity to experience.

Gil and Kay Starks Endowed Scholarship

Purpose: This award is for any student majoring in biology, who has an outstanding academic background, and is enrolled in a class at the CMU Biological Station.​

Qualifications: Applicant must have a class status of sophomore, junior or senior, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Preference will be given to a student seeking secondary education certification.​

Renewal Status: This award is not renewable.

Scholarship/Donor Information: This endowment was established by retired Biology faculty member Dr. Gil Starks and his wife, Dr. Kay Starks. Drs. Gil and Kay Starks were impressed by the quality of education in the courses offered at CMUBS and established this award to encourage students to choose teaching as a career so as to continue such quality instruction in biology. This award may be used for tuition, books, food and housing, and travel expenses associated with the enrollment in a CMUBS course.

Corey Paul Woiteshek Beaver Island Endowed Award

Purpose: This award is for an undergraduate biology major or minor enrolled in at least one class at the CMU Biological Station on Beaver Island.

Qualifications: Applicant must be a junior or senior with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Applicants must write a paragraph on their interests and goals relating to their love of nature.

Renewal Status: This award is not renewable.

Scholarship/Donor Information: Established in 2007 by the family and friends of the late Corey Woiteshek, this award will be used to fund expenses for a student to take a class or classes at the CMU Biological Station. Corey was a 1997 CMU alumnus who died as a result of injuries received in an auto accident in April 2007. Corey was a biology major and loved his experience taking classes and visiting Beaver Island. His family chose to honor his memory by helping others share that experience. Applicants must write a paragraph on their interests and goals relating to their love of nature. The award may be used for tuition, books, food and housing, and/or travel-related expenses.

Joanisse-Richard Endowed Scholarship for Study on Beaver Island

Purpose: This award is to support any College of Science and Engineering undergraduate enrolled in a course or pursuing research on Beaver Island.

Qualifications: Applicant must be College of Science and Engineering undergraduate enrolled in a course or research project on Beaver Island with a GPA of 2.5 or better.

Renewal Status: This award is renewable upon reapplication.

Scholarship/Donor Information: This scholarship was established in 2021 by Robert and Dina Richard to honor their fathers and to support Beaver Island programming which benefits the Great Lakes. Robert and Dina are life-long residents of the Great Lakes region and are water enthusiasts. They recognize the importance of the Great Lakes to the State of Michigan and its communities. Dina has served on the CMU Advancement Board and Robert is very involved in the College of Science and Engineering. Their daughter, Kayla, is a 2016 graduate of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions. They believe the Beaver Island Biological Station is an important research facility and a great asset to CMU and it is their hope that people who receive the scholarship will pursue a career that benefits and protects the Great Lakes.