VT Physics - The Alice Estes Martin Scholarship

The Alice Estes Martin Endowed Scholarship was established in the Physics Department in 1991 to provide incentive and support to qualified physics majors who are committed to teachings physics in secondary school. Mrs. Martin, for whom the scholarship is named, was a teacher in Louisa County High School (Virginia) from 1941 through 1970. The awarding of this scholarship holds before new teachers those qualities that Mrs. Martin embodied in her love and dedication to teaching: knowledge of her subject, concern for her students, and the ability to inspire her students to learn, all of which led to the utmost respect from students and colleagues. Mrs. Martin now lives in a retirement community in Charlottesville, Virginia.

This scholarship was initiated by Professor Dale D. Long, who contributed the funds from his 1991 Wine Award for Excellence in Teaching and named the scholarship for his esteemed former high school teacher. Additional funds needed to endow the scholarship were donated by former students, friends, and family of Alice Estes Martin, as well as alumni and friends of the Physics Department. Donations to the fund have also been made in memory of Thelma L. Roper, the late wife of Professor Emeritus L. David Roper.

The award is made annually to a qualified physics major who is committed to teaching physics in secondary school. The recipient must be a rising junior or senior with a cumulative QCA of at least 2.7, and is chosen on the basis of (1) evidence of dedication to excellence in the teaching profession and (2) academic achievement. The first award was made in 1995 to Gary P. Foulks, Jr. of Middletown, NJ.