The Kansas ChemScholars Program

The Bricker ChemScholars program is designed to identify talented high school students and undergraduates interested in pursuing a degree in Chemistry at KU.  We strongly encourage all students to apply and are particularly interested in applications from underrepresented minorities, first-generation students, and women. 

The Clark Bricker ChemScholars is a 4-year program that provides financial support and an enhanced educational experience while you are in our degree program.  The centerpiece is a scholarship providing $2000 per year for up to four years to exceptional freshmen ($8,000 total in scholarship support).  As a member of the Bricker ChemScholars, you will be paired with a faculty mentor when enrolling as a freshman at KU.  This mentor will provide advice for academic decisions, including course enrollment, during your first semester at KU.  Following this, you will have the opportunity to meet the entire faculty in the Department of Chemistry and choose an academic mentor to advise you for the remainder of your time at KU.  

You will participate in research in your academic mentor’s laboratory and be given opportunities to present the results of your research at national scientific meetings.  You will be able to apply for travel funds to help support your participation in these meetings.  You will also have opportunities to present your research in Chemistry Department Seminars and at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium sponsored by the University Honors Program.  

As a Bricker ChemScholar, you will be encouraged to enroll in the Honor’s program of the Chemistry Department.  Advanced level Bricker ChemScholars may also be encouraged to assist with instruction in introductory chemistry laboratories as a paid undergraduate teaching assistant.  Finally, in your last year as a Bricker ChemScholar, you may be eligible for selection as a Kansas ChemScholar.  This highly select one-year program provides enhanced support of $10,000 for your last year in the program.  

The criteria for selection as a ChemScholar are:

1. declaration of a major in Chemistry
2. excellent academic record in high school
3. ACT mathematics score of 30 or higher or SAT mathematics score of 675 or higher
4. two or more letters of recommendation

The requirements for retaining the ChemScholar scholarship in subsequent years are:

1. continuous enrollment as a Chemistry major
2. maintain an overall KU grade point average (GPA) of 3.25
3. maintain a 3.5 GPA in Chemistry
4. enrollment in Chemistry Honors Courses
5. participation in research or teaching each semester starting by the beginning of junior year
6. completion of CHEM 180 by the end of sophomore year

For additional information and application materials, please reach out to the people below. 

Professor Clark E. Bricker

The Bricker ChemScholars program is named in honor of Clark E. Bricker, beloved professor of chemistry at KU from 1963 to 1983.  Dr. Bricker received his B.A. from Gettysburg College in 1939, his master’s degree from Haverford College in 1940, and his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1944.  After brief periods working on the Manhattan Project and in industry, “Brick” joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins University as an Assistant Professor.  In 1948 he returned to Princeton as a professor of analytical chemistry and in 1961 was named the dean at the College of Wooster.  In 1963, Brick moved to KU to become the director of freshman chemistry, where his dedication and rapport with the students became something of a legend.  He won the H.O.P.E. award an astounding four times.  This is KU’s top award for teaching and the only one selected solely by students.  Professor Bricker passed away on June 14, 1994 from cancer, but his legacy lives on at KU.  The Bricker ChemScholars program honors his memory and contributions by supporting the deserving chemistry majors that he dedicated his life to teaching.