Oklahoma State University Students Awarded $246,500 For Undergraduate Research

Press release from Oklahoma State University:

September 29, 2021

Media Contact: Jessica Sullins | Director, Office of Scholar Development | 405-744-7313 | jessica.sullins@okstate.edu

Fifty-three Oklahoma State University students were awarded scholarships totaling $246,500 for research projects for the 2021-22 academic year.

The Lew Wentz Foundation and OSU’s Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research provided the funds.

The Lew Wentz Foundation gave $4,500 awards to 40 Wentz Research Scholars across a variety of academic disciplines, who will conduct original research projects under the guidance of OSU faculty members during the 2021-22 academic year.

The students submitted research proposals that underwent a rigorous blind review process by the 20-member Wentz Research Selection Committee in the spring of 2021.

The Wentz Research Scholars are listed below by college with their hometown and major:

College of Arts and Sciences

College of Education and Human Sciences

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Ferguson College of Agriculture

Spears School of Business

In addition to the Wentz Research Scholarships, a gift from a generous donor has enabled significant research scholarships to support undergraduate research in the physical sciences (chemistry, geology, and physics).

This new program honors Dr. Neil Purdie, whose years of distinguished service in the OSU Department of Chemistry were cut short in 2014 after an extended illness. The inaugural class of four 2021-22 Purdie Research Scholars received $6,500 each to continue his legacy of discovery through original research conducted in collaboration with OSU faculty members.

All four are students in the College of Arts and Sciences:

For the first time this year, the Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research also provided funding for continuing Wentz Research Scholars. Nine additional students were awarded Wentz Research Extension grants in the amount of $4,500, matching their previous funding to support their continuing research efforts.

The Wentz Extension Scholars are listed below by college with their hometown and major:

College of Arts and Sciences

College of Education and Human Sciences

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Ferguson College of Agriculture

The Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research coordinates the competitive selection process for these awards.

Applications for the Wentz and Purdie Research Scholarships are due Feb. 9, 2022.

For more information about the Wentz or Purdie Research Scholars Programs and other academic opportunities at Oklahoma State University, contact the Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research at 334 Student Union, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 405-744-7313, schdev@okstate.edu or universitycollege.okstate.edu/scholars.

This press release was produced by Oklahoma State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.