Galileo Circle

The Galileo Circle is a community of engaged individuals whose support is vital to the continued excellence of the University of Arizona's College of Science.

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As a member, you are supporting student scientists as well as groundbreaking research by distinguished faculty. Nurture the future of science today!

Join The Galileo Circle  

Your Galileo Circle Membership Supports:

Galileo Circle Scholars

Galileo Circle Student Scholarships

The Galileo Circle awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate exceptional potential in the physical, mathematical, environmental, cognitive, and life sciences. 

Your gift recognizes and supports outstanding College of Science students. For every $1,000 scholarship you support, you will be matched with a student and given the opportunity to meet at the Galileo Circle Scholars Celebration held each fall. 

Over the last 18 years, 2,082 students have been recognized with more than $2.1 million in Galileo Circle scholarship funds. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Galileo Circle will support 148 outstanding College of Science students with over $200,000 in funds.

2024 Galileo Circle Awardees

Galileo Circle Faculty & Staff Awards

The College of Science annually recognizes 5-7 Galileo Circle award recipients who have shown exceptional contributions to teaching, research, mentoring, outreach, and overall excellence. 

These awards are given to some of the college’s most distinguished faculty/staff and are one of the highest honors the College can bestow. 

The Galileo Circle awards are made possible by the generosity of Galileo Circle members. Since 2004, members have supported 95+ College of Science faculty/staff with over $480,000 in funds. These awards are celebrated at the Galileo Circle Faculty and Staff Awards Dinner held each spring.

Membership Options:

All memberships allow two people to participate in member benefits.

Your gift supports the Galileo Circle Fund for Excellence and faculty/staff awards.

Your gift supports the Galileo Circle Fund for Excellence, faculty/staff awards, and a student scholarship. Each additional $1,000 funds an extra student scholarship. You are invited to specify a College of Science department preference.

Often given in the form of an endowment, your gift provides a continuous stream of annual support for Galileo Circle scholars and faculty/staff awardees. A gift of $1,000,000+ to any College of Science fund or a $100,000+ planned gift to the Galileo Circle also qualifies for Lifetime Membership.

A gift of $5,000+ to any department within the College of Science provides you with a complimentary one-year Galileo Circle Membership.

Membership Benefits:

All Galileo Circle members receive exclusive invitations to special engagement opportunities including College of Science presentations and special events. We have three signature Galileo Circle events:

GC Scholars

Galileo Circle Scholars Celebration

This event honors our outstanding students, selected by their department, as Galileo Circle Scholars.

It’s an opportunity for scholars to meet and engage with the Galileo Circle members and patrons who make these awards possible.

The evening includes a student poster session, drinks, dinner, remarks from Dean Carmie Garzione, and special student presentations.

Lecture

College of Science Lecture Series Opening Night Galileo Circle Reception

Held backstage at Centennial Hall, this exclusive event provides a unique opportunity to interact with the four renowned University of Arizona faculty speakers of the series, College of Science Leadership and Department Heads, University of Arizona Leadership, and Lecture Series sponsors before the commencement of the 2025 Lecture Series. 

The evening includes heavy appetizers, drinks, remarks from Dean Carmie Garzione, and reserved seating in Centennial Hall.

GC Awards

Galileo Circle Faculty and Staff Awards Dinner

This event celebrates exceptional faculty and staff whose outstanding contributions to teaching, research, mentoring, outreach, and overall excellence are supported through the generous funding of Galileo Circle members.

This evening offers a special opportunity for Galileo Circle members to come together and honor the extraordinary individuals we recognize as the epitome of excellence in the College of Science.

The evening includes cocktail hour, dinner, and awards program.

Questions about the Galileo Circle?

Kasey Barghout
Assistant Director, Donor Stewardship & Alumni Engagement
College of Science
kaseybarghout@arizona.edu
(520) 621-7187

 

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Kasey Barghout