Student Awards & Competitions | AIChE

Student Awards & Competitions

Donald F. & Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship Awards

Details
Award

$1,000 and a certificate.

DeadlineJune 15, 2025
AdministratorsAIChE
PresentationScholarship funds are sent to recipients in the fall of each year.
Nomination Instructions

Rules, Criteria and Submission Requirements

  1. Only one nomination will be accepted from each AIChE Student Chapter. In the event that there is more than one qualified member of a student chapter or club, the advisor must select using the criteria below, which member to nominate. 
  2. Applicants must be AIChE student members at the time of the nomination and undergraduates in Chemical Engineering during the 2024 – 2025 academic year. Nominees must have completed approximately 50% of their degree requirement at the start of the 2024-2025 academic years (i.e. junior standing in chemical engineering in a 4 year program or equivalent for a 5 year co-op program). The chapter advisor may nominate a student who will complete the chemical engineering baccalaureate degree requirements in mid year (i.e. after one semester or one or two quarters), but such nominees, if selected, will receive prorated awards.  
  3. Nomination must be made by the Student Chapter Advisor.
  4. Selection of winners will be based on the following criteria:
    1. The applicant’s academic record.
    2. The applicant’s participation in AIChE Student Chapter, and other professional activities as outlined by the Student Chapter advisor in his/her nomination letter.
    3. The support of the nominee by the Student Chapter Advisor.
    4. Applicant’s career objectives and plans as outlined in his/her career essay.
  5. Cash awards totaling $15,000 will be made for use during the 2024-2025 academic year; individual awards for the full academic year will be $1,000. Awardees will be notified by October 1 and then required to provide individual tax information (social security number for U.S. residents) in order to receive payment. All award prizes must be claimed by December 31.

Instructions for submitting an application

A complete application for the AIChE Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship Award will contain a copy of each of the following items (each letter should contain an original signature to be scanned and uploaded). All applications are submitted online.
 
From the student:
  • A completed application form submitted online.
  • A statement from the nominee not to exceed 300 words, outlining career plans and objectives in chemical engineering including immediate plans after graduation and long range career objectives.
 
From the college:
  • A letter of recommendation from the AIChE student chapter advisor containing verification of nominee’s GPA and projected completion date as well as an evaluation of the student’s academic performance and participation in AIChE and other professional activities.

It's important to read and understand the above Rules, Criteria and Submission Requirements for the Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship Award before submitting your application. It is also recommended that you prepare your answers and have your supporting documents ready in advance of completing the online application (answers and supporting documents cannot be saved within the application before submission). Incomplete or unqualified applications will not be accepted.

Go to Application Form

The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship Awards of $1,000 each are awarded to chemical engineering students for their outstanding academic achievement and involvement in student chapter activities.

John J. McKetta Undergraduate Scholarship

Details
Award

A certificate and $5,000.

DeadlineJune 15, 2025
AdministratorsAIChE
PresentationThe scholarship will be formally presented during the Student Awards Ceremony at the Annual Student Conference.
Nomination Instructions

Rules, Criteria and Submission Requirements

  1. Applicants must be AIChE student members at the time of the nomination and be entering their third or final year of a 4 year program in Chemical Engineering or equivalent for a 5 year co-op program.
  2. Selection of winners will be based on the following criteria:
    1. The applicant’s academic record, minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0.
    2. The applicant’s leadership and participation in either the school’s AIChE student chapter or other university sponsored campus activity outlined in the leadership activities essay.
    3. Applicant’s career goals in the chemical engineering process industries as outlined in the career essay.
  3. Only students attending ABET accredited schools in the U.S, Canada, and Mexico* are eligible.
  4. Limited to one nomination per AIChE Student Chapter per year.
  5. Awardees will be notified by October 1 and will be required to provide tax informaton (Social Security Number for U.S. residents) in order to receive payment. Award prize must be claimed by December 31.
*Preference will be given to Mexican universities participating in ABET’s Equivalent Education Program
 

Instructions for submitting an application

A complete application for the AIChE John J. McKetta Undergraduate Scholarship Award must contain a copy of each of the following items (each letter should contain an original signature to be scanned and uploaded). All applications are submitted online.
 
From the student:
  • A completed application submitted online.
  • A maximum three page (750 word) essay outlining the applicant's career goals in the Chemical Engineering process industries.
  • It is preferred/ strongly encouraged that the nominee describe leadership activities in either the schools AIChE Student Chapter or other university sponsored campus activity. 
 
From the college:
  • A minimum of two letters of recommendation (in English). One nomination letter must be from the AIChE student chapter advisor, and the other from either a department faculty or technical work supervisor (internship or REU supervisor).
  • Official copy of student transcript sent (by the school) to AIChE.

It's important to read, and understand the above Rules, Criteria and Submission Requirements before submitting your application for this award. It is also recommended that you prepare your answers and have your supporting documents ready in advance of completing the online application (answers and supporting documents cannot be saved within the application before submission). Incomplete or unqualified applications will not be accepted.

Go to Application Form

SponsorsThe Dekker Foundation

The John J. McKetta Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to a chemical engineering undergraduate student (incoming third-year or final-year student only), planning a career in the chemical engineering process industries (CPI).

Minority Affairs Community's Minority Scholarship Awards for College Students

Details
Award

An award of $1,000 per student per scholastic year, renewable to the following year as long as the student continues to meet the eligbility requirements.

DeadlineJune 15, 2025
AdministratorsMAC | Minority Affairs Community (MAC)
PresentationStudents are recognized at the Annual Student Conference Awards Ceremony each year.
Nomination Instructions

Rules, Requirements, Selection Criteria and Application Form 

 
It's important to read and understand the Rules, Criteria and Submission Requirements for the scholarship before submitting your application. You will find them within the online application below. It is also recommended that you review the application questions and required supporting documents in advance of submitting the applictaion (prepare your answers on a separate sheet and have your supporting documents ready for upload). Answers and supporting documents cannot be saved within the online application before submission. Incomplete or unqualified applications will not be accepted.
 

The AIChE Minority Scholarship Award is presented to selected AIChE undergraduate student members annually. Applicants shall be required to be undergraduates in chemical engineering during the current academic year and be members of a minority group that is under-represented in chemical engineering.

Minority Affairs Community's Scholarship Awards for Incoming College Students

Details
Award

A one-time award of $1,000 per student. Approximately 15 scholarships are presented annually.

DeadlineJune 15, 2025
AdministratorsMAC | Minority Affairs Community (MAC)
PresentationStudents are recognized at the Annual Student Conference Awards Ceremony each year.
Nomination Instructions

Note: You can only submit an application once using this form and you cannot edit your submission after completing it. Please have all materials prepared before submitting (It is strongly recommended that you practice and prepare your application using the worksheet provided with the nomination packet below.) Duplicate applications will be disregarded. Detailed instructions are provided on the Online Submissions Form.

 Click here to access the application form.