Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Physics Teachers

The AAPT Board of Directors offers scholarships for future high school physics teachers. These scholarships, supported by an endowment funded by Barbara Lotze, are available only to U.S. citizens attending U.S. schools.

Undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in physics teacher preparation curricula and high school seniors entering such programs are eligible. Successful applicants receive a stipend of up to $3,000 and a complimentary AAPT Student Membership for one year. The scholarship may be granted to an individual for each of four years.

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for the Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Teachers.  Applicants must declare their intent to prepare for, and engage in, a career in physics teaching at the high school level and must, at the time the scholarship funds are received by the student, be:

  • an undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited two-year college, four-year college or a university; or a high school senior accepted for such enrollment.
  • pursuing, or planning to pursue, a course of study leading toward a career in physics teaching in the high schools.
  • showing promise of success in their studies, and
  • a citizen of the United States of America.

Applications can be submitted online, accepted at any time, and will be considered for recommendation to the Board of Directors at each AAPT Winter Meeting. All applications in which all materials, including letters of recommendation, are received by December 1 will be considered for recommendation at the winter meeting of the AAPT Board of Directors.

Scholarship Winners

  • 2023 Serenity Baruzzini, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA; Ahmad Dayeh; Mya Johnson, Ball State University, Muncie, IN; Emily Kite, University of Colorado, Boulder;  Evan Magill; Gerkariah Shine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
  • 2022 Tamara Watson, Wheaton College, IL; Ian Carter, University of Wisconsin - River Falls, WI; Naomi Satoh, Illinois State University, IL; Joseph Koenig, Lewis University, IL; Michaela Moon, Appalachian State University, NC; Colin Hobart, Illinois State University, IL; Serenity Baruzzini, Drexel University, PA; Jason Logan, Brigham Young University, UT
  • 2021 Tamara Watson, Wheaton College, IL; Ian Carter, University of Wisconsin - River Falls, WI; Naomi Satoh, Illinois State University, IL; Joseph Koenig, Lewis University, IL; Breanna Epperson, Morehead State University, KY; Nicholas Blakeney, University of North Georgia, GA; Jack Beckley, Lafayette College, 
  • 2020 Tamara Watson, Wheaton College, IL; Anna Gaughan, Cedarville Univiversity, ; Sydney Dunlap, Illinois Wesleyan University, ; Breanna Epperson, Morehead State University, ; Laura Ortiz, East Stroudsburg University, ; Logan Saenz, Pembroke Pines Charter High School, 
  • 2019 Krystina Williamson, Barnard College, ; Matthew Salinas, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, ; Tamara Watson, Wheaton College, IL; Greer Vincent, Texas State University, 
  • 2018 Melissa Kovar, Boston University, ; Marika Fox, Clark University, ; Chloe Schmidt, Illinois State University, ; Krystina Williamson, Barnard College, ; Jason Holbrook, Wright State Univ - Main Campus, ; Genna Brunetta, Rowan College At Burlington County, ; Marianna Carella, The College of New Jersey, ; Kaelin Fabian, Florida State Univ, ; Danielle Schurhammer, University of Wyoming, ; Nathan Wildenberg, University of Wisconsin - River Falls, 
  • 2017 Melissa Kovar, Boston University, ; Marika Fox, Clark University, ; Jamie Lehnen, University of Houston - Downtown, ; Chloe Schmidt, Illinois State University, ; Krystina Williamson, Barnard College, ; Destiny Withrow, Slippery Rock - Univ of Penn, 
  • 2016 Shannon Armstrong, Grove City College, ; Raven Hernandez, University of Wisconsin - River Falls, ; Brett Powell, Littlestown Senior High School, ; Jason May, Boise State University, ; Jessica Kjeldgaard, Drury University, ; Janea Edgel, Brigham Young University, ; Wesley Morgan, Brigham Young University, 
  • 2015 Shannon Armstrong, Grove City College, ; Raven Hernandez, University of Wisconsin - River Falls, ; Brett Powell, Littlestown Senior High School, ; Bryan Battaglia, Utica Academy for International Studies, ; Amanda Casner, Colorado School of Mines, ; Jessica Kjeldgaard, Drury University, ; Jason May, Boise State University, 
  • 2014 Alexandra Trunnell, Vassar College, ; Raven Hernandez, University of Wisconsin - River Falls, ; Nicholas McKinley, Towson University, ; Leah DeWeez, Southern Adventist University, 
  • 2013 Rebecca Napolitano, Connecticut College, ; Michael Yohn, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, ; Logan Nelson, Illinois State University, ; Angela Moore, Chicago State University, ; Lauren Albert, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 
  • 2012 Elizabeth Olson, , ; Rebecca Napolitano, Connecticut College, ; Kristin Kellar, University of Washington, ; Margarita Kelly, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
  • 2011 Erin Marshall, Le Moyne College, ; David Mcardle, University of Rhode Island, ; Julia Carson, SUNY Coll At Plattsburgh, 
  • 2010 Mitchell Ambrose, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, ; Erin Slupski, Ridge High School, 
  • 2009 Sarah Pfluger, Illinois State University, ; David Mcardle, University of Rhode Island, ; Matthew Colavita, University of Rhode Island, 
  • 2008 Shaun Piazza, Univ of Colorado At Boulder, ; Douglass Endrizzi, Yale University, 
  • 2007 Ashley Tabb, Virginia Polytechnic Inst and State Univ, ; William Wiseman, Fairmont St Univ, ; Melissa Nemeth, Loyola University of Chicago, ; Jeremy May, Colorado State University, 
  • 2006 Logan Kimberly, , ; Brianne Boland, Marquette Univ, ; Alex Silverman, Gwinnett County Public Schools, 
  • 2005 Emily Zeringue, Louisiana State University, ; Michael Zitolo, School of the Future High School, 
  • 2004 Rebecca Wenning, Illinois State University, 
  • 2003 Brett Guisti, Davidson Academy of Nevada, 
  • 2002 Christine Litoborski, Ripon Coll, 
  • 2001 Mary Ann Polityka, University of California - San Diego, 
  • 2000 Daniel Lappenga, Hope College, 
  • 1999 Christie Delzer, Century HS