Scholarships

The Michael Tamburro Scholarship

The Michael E. Tamburro Undergraduate Scholarship is named for a fondly remembered geography student in the Geography Department at CSU Northridge.  Mr. Tamburro was an actor, stunt man and helicopter pilot who loved geography. This scholarship is the result of the generous donations of Mrs. Tamburro and Michael’s friends.

Criteria

The Tamburro Scholarship pays all normal university fees to fulltime, undergraduate geography majors who will or already have transferred to CSUN from a community college. Awards will be made to students who demonstrate a passionate interest in geography, a good understanding of the discipline of geography, and an ability to connect classroom studies with the real world.

This scholarship is not granted solely on the basis of Grade Point Average or other conventional academic indicators, but was purposefully created to aid those students who apply geography to the wider community and world. Merit may be demonstrated by involvement in geographical associations, field trips, research, community work, and university or community college life. Award duration is four consecutive semesters.

What to Submit

Enclose a current resumé/CV that includes: 1) your name, address, phone number, email address; 2) education; 3) work experience; 4) personal interests and hobbies; 5) personal involvement with geography; 6) participation in organizations whose activities touch upon the wider world; 7) special skills and abilities.

Transcripts

Enclose transcripts documenting your post high school education. These are required to verify that you are a community college transfer student, and are/will be a geography major at CSUN.

Essay

Please include a two-page essay which addresses your 1) life experiences (work, travel, etc.) in which the you have directly applied geographic knowledge and/or 2) personal interests in geography, especially what specific aspects of geography excite you and/or 3) university or college activities related to geography (e.g., clubs, volunteer work etc.).

Letters of Recommendation

Obtain two letters of recommendation from faculty members at your community college and/or CSUN. The letters should be submitted directly to CSUN’s geography department in a sealed and signed envelope, or emailed directly to geography@csun.edu from the instructor’s university email account.

This fund award was initially established by Professor Robert Newcomb to recognize students who demonstrate excellence and creativity in their academic work.  Over the years, many alumni and faculty have contributed generously to the fund.

Criteria

High standard of academic performance and academic creativity as demonstrated through class performance.

What to Submit

• A sample of your work from a class; a project or writing assignment and/or research document

The Geography and Environmental Studies Department Alumni Award- $1000

This fund is made possible by the generous donations of alumni, former faculty and friends of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies to a general fund to recognize academic excellence and to support ongoing community building within the Department.

Criteria

High standard of academic performance and helpful departmental citizenship.

What to Submit

• A sample of your work from a class; a project or writing assignment and/or research document

This fund is made possible by the generous donations of alumni, former faculty and friends of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies to a general fund to recognize academic excellence in Geotechnical courses (GIS, Remote Sensing, Spatial Data Analytics) and projects.

Criteria

High standard of academic performance in geotechnical courses and positive departmental citizenship.

What to Submit

• A sample of your work from a GIS, Remote Sensing or course that relies heavily on geospatial analytics, data processing or other similar technological skills.  Independently produced work samples are preferred over class assignments provided by an instructor.

Professor Russell was a long-time professor at Pierce College, occasional CSUN instructor, alumni and steadfast friend of the CSUN Geography Department.  

Criteria

This award recognizes the efforts of geography students, with high standards of academic performance and worthy departmental citizenship.

What to Submit

Include in your application:

• One-page document detailing your aspirations as a geographer.

Robert Provin was a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley who worked in many capacities for the CSUN Geography Department for more than 40 years. Among other things, Robert filled roles as technical support staff, part-time instructor, and staff cartographer. In his spare time, Robert was a world-class Astro-photographer who gladly shared his passions with students.

This award is made to the student submitting the most outstanding, original map composition to the competition committee. Students who have taken G.I.S. or Cartography should consider applying. 

Criteria

The committee will consider the creativity, cogency of design, and adherence to sound cartographic principles for each submission.

What to Submit

• An outstanding example of your work in a cartography or G.I.S. course.  Cartographic samples created for an ordinary class assignment are not acceptable. Cartographic samples created for an ordinary class assignment are not acceptable. Work samples created for an end-of-semester class project, conceived and executed by the student are welcome.

This award is presented in memory of Shoshana Sokol, a former graduate of the Geography Department. Books are particularly important to the Sokol family, and they would love this award to go towards the purchase of books.

Criteria

This scholarship recognizes the efforts of geography students with academic merit, intellectual curiosity, and academic / career persistence.

What to Submit

Include in your application:

• A statement (several paragraphs) discussing your path toward becoming a geography major.

Students who are planning field studies as part of their research project for either Geography 490, their Master’s Thesis, or any additional worthy research effort, should consider applying for supplemental funds available via the Darrick Danta Field Studies Fund.

Awards of $200 to 400 are available each year.

Travel documents must be approved and submitted prior to traveling to your field site, and reimbursement should be applied to as soon as possible after the completion of your field work.  Funds are disbursed upon presentation of receipts following the completion of field work.

What to Submit

Include in your application:

• A proposal of no more than one-half page, outlining your planned research project. Be sure to include your research question and a hypothesis and/or thesis.
• Include a paragraph which outlines the role of your planned data collection efforts in the completion of the proposed research
• The name of instructor(s) helping you on this study.
• A detailed outline of your anticipated costs associated with the proposed field study.

Criteria for Award

Applicants will be considered on the merit of their application using the following criteria:

• Completeness of the application.
• Quality of the proposed research or research questions.
• Feasibility of proposed data collection.
• Student grades and other indicators of potential for successful completion of the proposed research.
• Priority to students who have not received the award in the past.

Award Winners will be notified at the end of each semester in which applications are accepted.  Field work should be completed in the semester or semester break following the announcement of the award.

Students who are planning field studies as part of their research project for either Geography 490, their Master’s Thesis, or any additional worthy research effort, should consider applying for supplemental funds available via the Robert Howard Field Studies Award.

Awards of $200 to 400 are available each year.

Travel documents must be approved and submitted prior to traveling to your field site, and reimbursement should be applied to as soon as possible after the completion of your field work.  Funds are disbursed upon presentation of receipts following the completion of field work.

What to Submit

Include in your application:

• A proposal of no more than one-half page, outlining your planned research project. Be sure to include your research question and a hypothesis and/or thesis.
• Include a paragraph which outlines the role of your planned data collection efforts in the completion of the proposed research
• The name of instructor(s) helping you on this study.
• A detailed outline of your anticipated costs associated with the proposed field study.

Criteria for Award

Applicants will be considered on the merit of their application using the following criteria:

• Completeness of the application.
• Quality of the proposed research or research questions.
• Feasibility of proposed data collection.
• Student grades and other indicators of potential for successful completion of the proposed research.
• Priority to students who have not received the award in the past.

Award Winners will be notified at the end of each semester in which applications are accepted.  Field work should be completed in the semester or semester break following the announcement of the award.

The Robert and Karen Newcomb Fellowship is to be awarded to graduate students. Robert Newcomb was an active participant in the life of this department since 1976, as an esteemed historical geographer, congenial friend of the faculty, editor of Historical Geography, and patient teacher and mentor of aspiring students. To show his appreciation of the department and the association that he and his wife enjoyed, Dr. Newcomb endowed a fellowship intended to partially reimburse the recipient for fees and materials necessary for graduate studies here.        

Criteria

The award is made to that meritorious graduate student who, in the opinion of the faculty, best distinguishes herself or himself in studies in the Department. Scholarly achievement is important, but excellence will not be judged solely by grade point average. This award recognizes particularly those students whose work and thought show imagination, creativity and independence, suggesting the potential for significant contribution in the field of Geography.         

What to Submit

Include in your application:

• a brief statement describing your interests at they relate to Geography and your professional or career goals over the next few years
• a copy of recent work you submitted for credit in a geography or GIS course at California State University, Northridge

You can apply if you have not already won the award

Criteria

High standard of academic performance in Geography and a desire to apply an education in Geography to an occupation in environmental planning, science, or engineering upon graduation.

What to Submit

Include in your application:

• One page of text outlining your educational and career goals as they apply to environmental planning, science or engineering.

Pearl Kissel was an alumna of CSUN who completed her baccalaureate education in 1983, with a degree in Geography.  She returned to complete a Master’s Degree in Geography after starting a family and working in the carpet industry in sales for a number of years.  Following her death in 2021, she endowed two scholarships for students majoring in History and Geography.

Criteria

High standard of academic performance and good departmental citizenship as a student in the Geography Department.

Preference given to non-traditional graduate students who have interrupted their education for “at least ten years for employment and/or to care for their family” 

What to Submit

Include in your application:

• One page of text outlining your educational and career history and trajectory.