Scholarships & Awards

Support for your studies

There are many options available to help fund your undergraduate experience. In addition to scholarship opportunities offered by Indiana University and the College of Arts and Sciences, you might find employment in a work-study position or paid internship.

The College of Arts and Sciences, of which Math is a part, offers more than 350 scholarships and awards to students. Incoming students who are directly admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences with Math as their intended major may be eligible for a number of merit-based scholarships within the College.

High achieving students may also be recognized for Academic Excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences, or be eligible for admission to the Hutton Honors College.

Indiana University also offers many resources to help you fund your education. Visit the Office of Scholarships website for information on these and other opportunities.

Annual Mathematics department awards

The following scholarships are given by the Mathematics department to outstanding students in the spring of each year. Selections are based on faculty nominations followed by an application to help us match students to appropriate awards, many of which have restrictions on them.

Thelma Abell Prize

Established in 1996, this prize rewards either undergraduate or graduate students who intend to teach at the high school level, have high scholastic merit, and demonstrate financial need.

Ciprian Foias Prize

Established in 1995 by Paul and Miriam Biss, this award reflects appreciation for Professor Ciprian Foias and the Mathematics department for their generosity and talent in guiding the mathematical education of their son, Daniel Biss. The prize is given to an outstanding undergraduate Math major.

Trula Sidwell Hardy Scholarship Fund

This scholarship was established in 1993 by Trula Sidwell Hardy, a 1924 graduate with a B.A. in Mathematics. The fund was created to support students in the Mathematics department.

Cora B. Hennel Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1958 by Cecilia Hennel Hendricks as a memorial to her sister. In 1912, Cora Hennel received the first Ph.D. awarded in Mathematics at Indiana University. Throughout her 42-year career at Indiana, Professor Hennel was known for her love of learning, excellent teaching, and commitment to being an advisor and friend to students. Hennel Scholarships are awarded to worthy students who have demonstrated high ability in mathematics. The recipient(s) shall be majoring in Mathematics with at least a junior standing in credit hours, and demonstrated scholastic achievement and has financial need.

Ruth E. Gilliatt Memorial Scholarship

Established in 1987 by Harold, Donald, Paul, and David Gilliatt, this scholarship is a memorial to their sister, whose outstanding achievements reflect her hard work and dedication to education. The Gilliatt Scholarship is awarded to a student in mathematics who has performed at the highest level in a rigorous curriculum. The scholarship must be awarded to a resident of the state of Indiana who is enrolled in at least 12 hours with an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 basis. Preference shall be given to female students who meet these criteria. Students may receive this scholarship more than once, but it must be used to complete work at the undergraduate level. No one student may receive the scholarship more than three times.

Gail Homan Adele Mathematics Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2018 by Professor Adele who obtained her B.A. and M.A. in Mathematics in 1962 and 1963, respectively. She earned her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1968 and went on to a long career as a faculty member in Mathematics at Western Washington University and the University of Idaho, teaching and mentoring students at those institutions. Income from this gift is used to support a minimum of three annual scholarships for at least one sophomore, one junior, and one senior undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Mathematics with a strong preference for female students. Because, as part of its mission, Indiana University is committed to diversity, special consideration will be given to underrepresented populations, including but not limited to financially challenged students, and/or students with diverse cultural experiences.

Jeffrey and Deborah King Scholarship in Mathematics

Income from this gift is used to support scholarships for undergraduate students who are majoring in Mathematics. Jeffrey graduated in 1970 with a B.A. in Mathematics and Deborah graduated with a B.S. in Nursing (IUPUI) in 1976. They established this scholarship to give back and acknowledge the strong educational foundation Jeffrey received at IU.

Rainard Benton Robbins Prize in Mathematics

This prize was established in 1951 by Helen S. Robbins in memory of her husband, who received his A.B. and A.M. in Mathematics from Indiana (1909, 1910) and his Ph.D. from Harvard (1914). The Robbins Prize is given to a student who shows promise in the study of mathematics.

The Marie S. Wilcox Scholarship

This scholarship was stablished in 1981 by Marie S. Wilcox. After graduating from Indiana University, Mrs. Wilcox distinguished herself as a teacher, lecturer, and author. For many years, she also directed Indiana University’s Summer Institute for Teachers of Mathematics. The Wilcox Scholarship was established to recognize students who demonstrate a deep understanding and appreciation of mathematics and who maintain a record of high academic achievement. Preference is given to female students who have financed their own education either individually or with family assistance and who therefore are not relying on other financial aids.

William P. Ziemer Student Assistance Fund

Professor Ziemer was an excellent teacher, a distinguished researcher, and a gifted expositor of mathematics. He served twice a chair of our department, leading the department into the computer age in the 1980's, and he also served as the associate dean of the Graduate School. Suzanne Ziemer, Bill’s wife of 60 years, established this fund to honor Bill and his devotion to his students. The income is used to support both undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Mathematics within the College of Arts and Sciences, including undergraduate and/or graduate scholarship support, conference attendance, and program-related travel expenses.