Before enrolling at UT as an Environmental Science major, Gianni LoVario, now an alumnus, received the Life Science Scholarship for $500 per year from the Biology Department.

When he was initially awarded the scholarship, he asked whether the scholarship would be revoked if he changed his major. At the time, he was speaking to a faculty member from the Biology Department.

“[She] said, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it. We like giving students the money,'” LoVario recalled.

After he changed his major to Computer Information Systems his junior year, he continued to receive the scholarship as part of his financial aid package every semester until he graduated last spring.

Each year, departmental scholarships are distributed across 17 majors or minors to incoming freshmen who demonstrate a high aptitude for their intended area of study. Scholarships range from $1,000 per year to $3,000 per year and are financed by “restricted departmental funding from outside donors,” according to Vice President for Enrollment Barbara Strickler.

Generally, department chairs or a “designee” within the department, reviews applications for the scholarships and selects the recipients. “Frequently, these scholarships are also used to help