Awards and Scholarships

Thomas B. Fomby Graduate Award of Excellence

This scholarship is awarded annually to one SMU Economics master’s student and provides funding toward tuition and fees. Students may receive the scholarship only once, with priority given to those who are not currently receiving other scholarships, fellowships or awards.

Murphy Fellowship Award

Made possible by J. Carter Murphy Endowment Fund, this fellowship is designed to attract outstanding applicants during the admissions process, including both SMU (4+1) students and external candidates pursuing a Master's degree in Economics. The fellow provides funding towards SMU tuition fees. 

Melody Rice Award

The Melody Rice Memorial Award is given annually to an Economics PhD student on the basis of academic excellence and service to fellow students. The Melody Rice Fund honors the memory of Melody Rice, a longtime member of the Economics Department staff and Administrative Secretary for the Graduate Program in Economics. She passed away unexpectedly because of cancer on October 20, 2002. Melody had a special personality—warm, friendly and upbeat, that was infectious and touched those who met her. To graduate students in the department she was especially close, providing encouragement and comfort to students over the course of their study. In memory of the outstanding service that Melody gave to the Economics Department and to the wider community, the Department has established this fund so that financial gifts in her name can continue to touch the lives of graduate students in Economics. The award comes with a monetary prize.