These full-tuition scholarships help financially needy women and men who are single parents pursuing their degree in STEM. The Van Nostrand Scholars simply would not be able to afford their education and transform their trajectory without this scholarship.
Kathy Kitto and Dennis Waller established this scholarship in honor of Dennis' mother, Marion Van Nostrand, who unexpectedly became a single parent of two children, aged nine and five months, when her husband, a pathologist, was tragically killed in an auto accident six weeks after completing his residency. Everything emotionally and everything financially had been invested in his education and one July day in 1952 that was swept off the board. After her husband's death, she continued to work full time: completed her MS degree in genetics and six years later her PhD in clinical pathology. At her death in 1984 from colon cancer she was a Professor of Medicine.
Through the years, Kathy and Dennis have helped students, who like Marion did, are working very hard to achieve their dreams of an education and career in STEM, but struggling to make ends meet. Often these students end up working multiple jobs while trying to juggle the demands of parenting and studying, making it nearly impossible to graduate in a timely manner, if at all.
Thank you for helping us provide even more financial support for these amazing, hard-working students. The Van Nostrand award covers the full direct cost of education including tuition, fees and books.
Marion Van Nostrand Scholarship for Single Parents
The Marion Van Nostrand Scholarship is for undergraduate women who are custodial single parents with dependent children, who are majoring in a STEM* field, have demonstrated financial need via the FAFSA, are in good academic standing, making progress towards a degree and have a minimum GPA of 2.0. However, men who are custodial single parents with dependent children who meet all of the financial and academic criteria applied to women recipients will also be considered.
The scholarship pays the full cost of in-state tuition and student fees. Each recipient also receives $1000 per year towards textbooks, supplies and child care. Recipients will be supported to graduation if they remain in good academic standing and are making progress towards their degree.
*Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering (ABET accredited programs only), Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy, and CSE Science Education. Interdisciplinary programs such as Marine Science and Energy Science and Technology are also accepted.
Marion Van Nostrand Scholarship for First Generation Students
The Marion Van Nostrand Scholarship is for first generation students, who are majoring in a STEM* field, have demonstrated financial need via the FAFSA or WAFSA, are in good academic standing, making progress towards a degree, have a minimum GPA of 2.0, and have demonstrated success in serving the needs of others (examples include but are not limited to: mentoring/tutoring students of all ages, outreach through student/Western/community organizations, workshops to help students prepare for collegiate level academic studies, contributions to non-profit organizations, and leadership of student organizations and clubs.)
The scholarship pays the full cost of in-state tuition and student fees. Each recipient also receives $1000 per year towards textbooks, and supplies. Recipients will be supported to graduation if they remain in good academic standing and are making progress towards their degree.
*Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering (ABET accredited programs only), Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy, and CSE Science Education. Interdisciplinary programs such as Marine Science and Energy Science and Technology are also accepted.
More information and scholarship applications can be found here: https://cse.wwu.edu/scholarships
