David Beck
Outstanding Lamar University undergraduates have until Oct. 1 to apply for the university's most prestigious student award, the David J. Beck Fellowship.
The David J. Beck Fellowships were made possible by a $1 million gift from distinguished alumnus David J. Beck. A former regent of the Lamar University System, Beck is a founding partner in the Houston law firm, Beck Redden & Secrest.
A Port Arthur native, he credits Lamar University with giving him the opportunity to attend college and gain a foundation for future success.
The university's third Beck Fellow will be named in November at a ceremony that will include a presentation by Michael Zarzosa, a biology major from Lumberton who performed independent research on parasites on Ambergris Caye, Belize, this summer as Lamar University's second Beck Fellow.
Beck Fellows receive full academic scholarships to Lamar University for one year, covering all tuition, fees, books and on-campus room and board. Additionally, fellows receive up to $10,000 for summer projects, which may include research, travel, an internship or some other pursuit to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.
The university's first Beck Fellow, nursing major Jennifer Mikel of Sweeny, completed a nursing internship in rural Ghana as her summer project.
Students are encouraged to pick up application packets as soon as possible to allow adequate time to complete all required documentation and to secure necessary recommendations.
Applicants must be full-time Lamar University undergraduates in any major with grade point averages of 3.5 or higher. Because the fellowship year follows the calendar year, applicants should plan to graduate from LU no earlier than December 2011.
Fellows will be selected based upon their complete application packets, including proposed summer project, academic record and financial need.
Application packets are available in the offices of the senior associate provost (Plummer 104), Honors Program (Honors Building) or each college dean.
For more information, visit lamar.edu/beckfellowships or call (409) 880-8400.