2026 C.W. Gear Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

In recognition of the longtime contributions and services of Charles W. Gear, a pioneer in numerical analysis and scientific computing, to the University of Illinois and to the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, contributions from alumni, friends, and former students established an endowed fund to annually honor two undergraduates who intend to pursue graduate studies.

Eligibility: Applicants must be graduating seniors planning to attend graduate school. In the past, two awards have been given, one for a student in the College of Engineering and one for a student in LAS (Math/CS, Statistics/CS, CS + X).

Required Materials:

- Unofficial transcripts for your current degree program at U of I. Unofficial transcripts can be obtained for free at: https://apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice/

- Up-to-date CV or resume.

- Essay that answers the following (500 words maximum):

Please explain your current plan for attending graduate school. Include, if known, your intended school, program (e.g., MCS, MS, or PhD), and/or topic of study.

Award
$1,500.00
Deadline
04/26/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. Please confirm the following: "I am a senior graduating in May 2026 who plans to attend graduate school."
  2. Please provide unofficial transcripts for your current degree program at U of I.
  3. Please upload your current CV or resume.
  4. Please provide an answer to the following: explain your current plan for attending graduate school. Include, if known, your intended school, program (e.g., MCS, MS, or PhD), and/or topic of study.