FoTO, Friends of Tucson Optics
Scholarships in Optical Sciences

Scholarships are at the heart of our ability to attract and retain the world's most talented and promising graduate students into our educational program.  For many students, scholarship awards are the deciding factor in their choice of a graduate school and many of the world's leading engineering schools offer generous scholarships to their best applicants.

The Friends of Tucson Optics Graduate Scholarships in Optical Sciences are established for two reasons:  first, to help young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education, and second, to help ensure the future of Arizona's Optics Valley by enrolling some of the world's most promising scholars in the University of Arizona's internationally renowned program in Optical Sciences.

The Scholarships will support recipients over the two-year period required to earn a Master's degree in the College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona.  Applications will be sought from talented students worldwide and selection will be based on academic excellence.  Ideally, candidates will hold a Bachelor's degree in the physical or biological sciences, optics, engineering, mathematics, computer science, or a related field, have a GPA of 3.7 or better on a 4.0 scale, as well as demonstrated proficiency in English and an outstanding record of participation in extracurricular activities.

Scholarship recipients will be required to complete the two-year MS degree program in Optical Sciences (thesis required). After graduation, the scholars will be free to pursue a PhD degree at the College of Optical Sciences or elsewhere, they may choose to return to their home state or home country, they may work in Tucson or relocate to another city -- the choice will be theirs.  It is our hope and belief, of course, that most of our scholars will remain in the area and contribute to the economic growth and well-being of the State of Arizona.

The Friends of Tucson Optics' goal is to support as many as 30 talented students through separate Scholarship funds. 

Establishing a Scholarship fund is one of the most enduring and meaningful ways an individual or an organization can make a difference, both in the lives of students and to the worldwide scientific community.  The University of Arizona Foundation will open individual accounts for anyone who may like to start a Scholarship fund. The fund will remain open but inactive until it reaches the $500,000 level, at which point the associated Scholarship will officially commence.  The interest earned from the investment of each fund (by the University of Arizona Foundation) will cover the student's living costs and stipend, while the University will match each donation by covering the required tuition, fees, and health insurance costs for the two year period of the Master's degree program in Optical Sciences.

A Scholarship fund may be named after the donor, in memory of a friend or family member, in honor of an individual or an organization, or in any other way the donor may wish to name the Scholarship.  Plans also include the establishment of special Scholarship funds honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the discipline of Optics.  Once a special fund is established, colleagues, former students, and other interested individuals may contribute to the fund until it reaches maturity.  More

The endowed Scholarships are meant to exist in perpetuity, so scholarship donations will be invested for long-term growth.  Each year, a portion of the fund's earnings will be made available in the form of a Scholarship payout.  In the eventuality that inflation and the rise of living costs require increases in stipend levels that exceed the fund's earnings, the Scholarship will be withheld temporarily for one or two years to allow earnings to build up the principal value of the endowment. Following this hiatus, the awarding of the Scholarship will resume in subsequent years.

Donations to Scholarship funds are completely tax deductible. Scholars will acknowledge the source of their support (i.e. the named Scholarship) in their published theses, in scholarly publications, and in conference presentations.

The College of Optical Sciences announces the establishment of a series of Scholarships honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of optics.

Fully Endowed Scholarships

Opportunities for Volunteers
Friends of Tucson Optics, we welcome your assistance.  If you want to make a difference by helping to spread the message or by recruiting sponsors for the scholarship fund, we want to hear from you. 

Customizing Your Scholarship
A Scholarship sponsor may choose to impose certain restrictions on the recipient of a named Scholarship. These restrictions, for example, may limit the recipient to female students, students from certain geographic regions, minority students, students with physical disabilities, or students with demonstrated financial need.

Administrative Rates
The University of Arizona Foundation and The University of Arizona in collective agreement have established a policy to withhold a small percentage of most private gifts to support the effective management of donor funds and the execution of a professional development effort.  Additionally, the expertise necessary to manage endowment funds and achieve positive net gains rests within the UA Foundation and is supported in part by University benefactors.  The Director of Development is available to discuss this policy in detail at the request of any potential donor.

Selection Process
Scholarship recipients will be selected annually by a committee of Optical Sciences faculty and Friends of Tucson Optics.  Committee members will also serve as supervisors, counselors, and mentors to the recipients of the Scholarships.