Peggy Dixon Two-Year Scholarship

The purpose of the Society of Physics Students scholarship program is to encourage the study of physics and the pursuit of high scholarship. The Peggy Dixon Two-Year Scholarship is intended for students transitioning from a two-year college into a physics bachelor's degree program. The scholarship is named in memory of Dr. Peggy A. Dixon , SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma Historian from 1992-2003. The award consists of a $2,500 scholarship.

Scholarship at a Glance

• One $2500 award may be made each year
• Awarded to undergraduate students that have attended a two-year college, on the basis of scholarship and SPS participation
• Intended for students transitioning from a two-year college into a physics bachelor's degree program

Eligibility

• Applicants must be undergraduate members of the SPS national organization
• Applicants must have completed at least one semester or quarter of the introductory physics sequence
• Applicants must be transitioning from a two-year college into a physics bachelor's degree program

Application Procedure

Applicants must complete an online application no later than March 15 (if this date falls on a weekend, the application is due the following Monday). The online system will guide applicants through completing the individual steps of the application process listed below, including requesting letters of recommendation. All pieces of the application must be in by the deadline in order to be considered for the scholarship.

The application consists of several parts:

• General information form
• Transcript: An official, current transcript must be sent directly to the SPS Scholarship Program by the applicant’s college or university. Transcripts must be postmarked by the application deadline and mailed to:

SPS Scholarship Program

1 Physics Ellipse

College Park, MD 20740

• Outline of the physics and related courses the applicant has taken and plans to take
• Written statement of the applicant’s career objectives
• Written statement of the applicant’s participation in SPS activities
• Certification from the Department Chair that the applicant is in good standing with the department and making satisfactory progress toward the degree
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members familiar with the applicant and his or her qualifications. One of these letters must be from a current two-year physics faculty member. The recommenders should comment on the applicant in light of each of the three criteria:
  • high scholarship performance both in physics and overall studies,
  • the exhibition of the potential and intention for continued scholastic development in physics,
  • and active participation in SPS programs.

Selection Criteria

In determining the recipients, the SPS Scholarship Committee shall consider with equal weight:

1. high scholarship performance both in physics and overall studies,
2. the exhibition of the potential and intention for continued scholastic development in physics, and
3. active participation in SPS programs.

Details for Awardees

• Awardees will be required to submit a completed W-9 federal tax form (or equivalent for international students) before funds dispersal.
• The award will be granted in two equal installments, the first after satisfactory completion of the two-year college introductory physics sequence and the second after verification from the SPS advisor at the physics BS institution that at least one semester or quarter of appropriate physics courses has been completed.