Scholarships for incoming students

First-year students are automatically considered for the CBS scholarships listed below.

College of Biological Sciences Advancement of Biology Scholarship

The Advancement of Biology Scholarship is a four-year award recognizing incoming first-year students with outstanding achievements in high school and demonstrated financial need. This award is made possible by annual gifts from CBS alumni and friends.

Dvergsten and Bauermeister Scholarship

The Dvergsten and Bauermeister Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. Denny received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in education from the University of Minnesota in 1956 and 1971, respectively. He was a distinguished science teacher in the Roseville school district for many years. He was the first president of the Minnesota Science Teachers Association and was selected Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 1975. From 1986 until his retirement in 1991, Denny served as director of outreach for the College of Biological Sciences. Joan graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in elementary education. This scholarship reflects their lifelong, shared commitment to science education in Minnesota. It benefits promising students new to the College of Biological Sciences who have demonstrated academic merit and financial need.

Denneth C. and Joan L. Dvergsten Scholarship

The Denneth C. and Joan L. Dvergsten Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. Denny received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in education from the University of Minnesota in 1956 and 1971, respectively. He was a distinguished science teacher in the Roseville school district for many years. He was the first president of the Minnesota Science Teachers Association and was selected Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 1975. From 1986 until his retirement in 1991, Denny served as director of outreach for the College of Biological Sciences. Joan graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in elementary education. This scholarship reflects their lifelong, shared commitment to science education in Minnesota. It benefits promising students new to the College of Biological Sciences, and who may have financial need.

Robert Elde and Bonnie Baskin Scholarship

The Robert Elde and Bonnie Baskin Scholarship is a one-year undergraduate award. Robert Elde and Bonnie Baskin are biologists with a long-standing passion for creating access for high-quality education in the sciences for all. Elde served as dean of the College of Biological Sciences from 1995 to 2014, as well as the JB Johnston Land Grant Professor of Neuroscience. Baskin was the founder and chief executive officer of two biotechnology companies. They currently operate the Hill Country Science Mill, a science center designed to inspire young people to imagine themselves in careers in science. Elde obtained his B.S. degree from North Park College and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Baskin obtained her BS and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Miami. The scholarship was established to support a promising undergraduate student entering the College of Biological Sciences who demonstrates high academic ability.

David Grantham Burbee Memorial Scholarship

The David Grantham Burbee Memorial Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. Clark Burbee (Ph.D. Agricultural Economics ’72) established this award to honor the memory of his son David, who earned a B.S. in biochemistry from CBS in 1977. David went on to Cornell University and had a successful career in biochemistry and human genetics. He died in 2005 at the age of 55. This scholarship supports undergraduate biochemistry students who have demonstrated financial need or hardship.

Edward B. Lewis Memorial Scholarship

The Edward B. Lewis Memorial Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. Nobel Laureate Edward B. Lewis earned a B.S. in biostatistics from the University of Minnesota in 1939 and a Ph.D. in genetics from the California Institute of Technology in 1942. He served on the Cal Tech faculty for his entire career. Known for establishing the field of developmental genetics, Lewis received the 1995 Noble Prize in Medicine for his work on fruit fly genetics. His scholarship supports undergraduate students with strong academic ability and an interest in research.

Sadie and Wayne Luchsinger Scholarship

The Sadie and Wayne Luchsinger Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. Wayne and Sadie Luchsinger created this scholarship to express appreciation for the education they received at the University of Minnesota. Wayne earned B.S. (’51), M.S. (’55), and Ph.D. (’56) degrees in agricultural biochemistry, and Sadie earned an associate of arts degree. Wayne was a professor of biochemistry at Arizona State University for 35 years. This scholarship supports new undergraduate students with academic promise and an interest in biochemistry.

Richard C. Nelson Endowed Scholarship for Biochemistry

Alumnus Richard Nelson, who earned a B.S. in 1934 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1937, was a biochemistry professor at Northwestern and Ohio State universities, and was successful in industry. His daughter, Sara Nelson Cook, created this scholarship to honor his memory and support high-achieving biochemistry students. The Richard C. Nelson Endowed Scholarship for Biochemistry is a four-year award.

Kien T. Nguyen and Julie A. Warren Scholarship

The Kien T. Nguyen and Julie A. Warren Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. This scholarship was established by alumnus Kien Nguyen (B.S. Biology ’90) and his wife Julie Warren, who met at the University of Minnesota. They created the scholarship to express their gratitude for scholarships Kien received while attending the College of Biological Sciences. Kien, who earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience at the University of Colorado and an MBA from Columbia University, is an executive for a Texas biotechnology company.

Dr. Venkateswarlu Pothapragada and Family Undergraduate Scholarship

The Dr. Venkateswarlu Pothapragada and Family Undergraduate Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. Venkateswarlu Pothapragada earned a Ph.D. in physiological chemistry and microbiology from the University of Minnesota in 1962, and became a research scientist for 3M. His family scholarship benefits new students at the College of Biological Sciences who show academic promise.

Richard and Ethel Rapp Scholarship

The Richard and Ethel Rapp Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. C. J. Rapp Pittman created this fund in 2010 in honor of her parents. The fund supports students in the College of Biological Sciences who are interested in medicine, medical research, or neuroscience, with special consideration given to veterans or members of the ROTC programs. The Richard and Ethel Rapp Scholarship is a four-year award.

Clare and Jerome Ritter Scholarship

The Clare and Jerome Ritter Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. Alumna Clare Ritter (M.S. Biochemistry ’72), who became a research scientist, and her husband, attorney Jerome Ritter, established this scholarship to assist new undergraduate students. The award supports efforts to diversify the student body of the college and is awarded to high-potential students from greater Minnesota.

Robert L. Wortz Scholarship

The Robert L. Wortz Scholarship is a four-year undergraduate award. Robert L. Wortz received his BS degree in Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota in 1954. Robert’s sister, Betty L. LaPlant Rick, chose to fulfill her brother’s intent to provide a scholarship to assist undergraduate students with significant financial need by establishing this scholarship in his name.