TEAM-UP Together Scholarships

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Application deadline: March 8, 2024

We’re excited to announce that the 2024 TEAM-UP Together Scholarship application is scheduled to open on Wednesday, November 15, 2023until Friday, March 8, 2024

Please share this announcement with other eligible students in your network. 

Start Your Application Today

The TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Program (TUTSP) developed by TEAM-UP Together Lead Partners and administered by SPS, will support African American students in the pursuit and attainment of their bachelor’s degrees in physics and astronomy. These awards of up to $10,000 aim to reduce the financial barriers that prevent Black students from completing their undergraduate degree programs in physics and astronomy.

These scholarships are generously supported by Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International.

Scholarship at a Glance

  • Awards of up to $10,000 per academic year will be available. 
  • Awards are for current US African American/Black physics and astronomy undergraduate students
  • Awards are for physics and astronomy majors or prospective majors at accredited US colleges or universities.
  • Scholarships will be awarded based on need and commitment to pursue a bachelor’s degree in physics or astronomy. Minimum GPA of 2.0 is required. 
  • Students may receive only one award per academic year and may reapply in subsequent academic years. 
  • Funds are for expenses that assist students in continuing or completing their undergraduate education. Funds should be used for tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the educational institution. 
  • Awardees will be required to submit a completed W-9 federal tax form before disbursement, which will be provided upon notification. 
  • Membership in the SPS national organization will be included as a part of the scholarship award.  

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be African American or Black undergraduate students who are majoring or pursuing a major in physics or astronomy in the United States (US). 
  • Must be enrolled at any accredited US college or university at time of the award.
  • Applicants must demonstrate financial need. 
  • Applicants must be a second-semester Freshman or higher.
  • Applicants must be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.0. 
  • Applicants must agree to receive correspondence from the TEAM-UP Together program throughout their entire engagement with the scholarship process and after funding, provide contact information annually, and respond to surveys.
  • If you are a graduating senior or will have graduated by or before August 2024, you are not eligible to apply for the scholarship, as funding is disbursed in August 2024.

Application Procedure

Applicants must complete an  online application. The online system will guide applicants through completing the individual steps of the application process listed below, including requesting one letter of recommendation. All sections of the application must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for the scholarship (see section below for information on deadlines).

The application consists of:

  • A general information form and acknowledgement that the student agrees to receive and respond to correspondence and surveys from the program
  • A set of written statements addressing the following:
    1. Why you are pursuing a physics or astronomy degree and how this relates to your career goals and objectives (up to 300 words)
    2. How these funds will address your financial need (including undergraduate education costs such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, essential needs) and support your continued scholarly development) (up to 300 words)
    3. Optional: any on- or off-campus activities that relate to your education, career plans, or financial need (up to 300 words)
  • An outline of the physics, astronomy and/or related courses the applicant has taken and plans to take 
  • Transcript: An unofficial, current transcript can be directly uploaded to the Scholarship Program application (preferred). Transcripts may also be physically sent, if postmarked by the application deadline and mailed to:

AIP TEAM-UP Together Scholarship c/o SPS
1 Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740

  • Certification from the department that the applicant is in good standing and making satisfactory progress toward the degree. A form generated by the scholarship application platform must be completed, signed, and submitted by a department administrator or faculty member. 
  • One letter of recommendation from a faculty member (or equivalent) who is familiar with the applicant and their qualifications. The recommender should comment on the applicant considering the two criteria listed below, and optionally, the student’s financial need. 

Recommendation should address:

  1. The student’s progress toward a physics or astronomy degree 
  2. The student’s potential and intention for continued scholastic development in physics or astronomy
  3. Optional: The student’s financial need if known

Selection Criteria

In selecting awardees, the TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Committee shall consider with equal weight: 

  1. Student’s potential, intention, and commitment to continued academic development toward a bachelor’s degree in physics or astronomy
  2. Student’s level of financial need

Details for Awardees

Awardees will be required to submit a completed W-9 federal tax form (or equivalent for international students) before funds are disbursed to the student.

Deadlines

  • March 8, 2024
  • Students will be notified by August 2024 
  • Funds are expected to be disbursed within 2 weeks of receiving completed W-9 and ACH information.

Questions

If you have any questions or concerns regarding eligibility or other scholarship processes, please contact teamupscholarships [at] aip.org.

More information on the TEAM-UP Together Scholarship

This scholarship program is an integral part of TEAM-UP Together (TU-T), a collective impact program to promote and support the success of African American undergraduate students in physics and astronomy. TEAM-UP Together provides direct funding to student scholars and physics and astronomy departments for initiatives focused on ensuring that African American undergraduates thrive and obtain their degrees. As one of the TU-T Lead Partners, the Society of Physics Students will administer the TU-T Scholarship Program, and together with the other Lead Partners1, build a robust program aimed at realizing the TEAM-UP goal of doubling the number of Black bachelor’s degree earners in physics and astronomy by 2030. 

 

[i] Lead Partners are the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), American Astronomical Society (AAS), American Institute of Physics (AIP), American Physical Society (APS), Society of Physics Students (SPS). These awards are sponsored in part by the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International