Pearl I. Young Scholarship

The North Dakota Space Grant Consortium established the prestigious Pearl I. Young Space Grant Award for a student at the University of North Dakota. This $2,500 award honors the ideals of scholarship as exemplified by Pearl I. Young. Undergraduate and graduate students who meet the criteria are encouraged to apply, with applicants ideally being involved in a research project of NASA relevance. Pearl I. Young grew up in North Dakota and graduated from UND in 1919 as a Phi Beta Kappa with a triple major in physics, mathematics, and chemistry. After teaching physics at UND, she accepted an appointment at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton, Virginia, where she was hired as a technical employee and physicist for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the agency that later became NASA. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate high levels of service to the STEM community through various engagements, programming, and/or research. Recipients must be enrolled at the University of North Dakota, be U.S. citizens, maintain good academic standing, and be pursuing a STEM or STEM Education degree. The scholarship emphasizes community engagement, overcoming adversity in STEM, and breaking down barriers for others in STEM fields. The application process requires a comprehensive resume, letter of recommendation, and five essays addressing topics including problem-solving experiences, academic and career goals, overcoming systemic barriers, helping others in STEM, and advising younger individuals about STEM careers. The deadline is February 15th annually.