The year 2014 again yielded a smaller list of Udall Scholars than in the past, only 50 nationwide, versus 80 awarded in previous years. Only two universities, public or private, had more than one Udall scholar in 2014–Green Mountain College, a private institution in Vermont, and Montana State University, which also had four Goldwater winners this year.
Udall scholarships valued at up to $5,000 are awarded to sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. Many of the awards are for environmental research.
Below are the public universities in the continental U.S. that have Udall scholars this year:
Houston, Central Florida, North Georgia, Texas A&M, Connecticut, Virginia Tech, Ball State, Minnesota-Morris, Wisconsin, Utah, Ohio, West Virginia, Nebraska, UC Berkeley, New College of Florida, Ohio State, Montana, Alabama-Birmingham, South Florida, College of Charleston, Montana, Montana State (2), New Hampshire, Purdue, S. Dakota School of Mines, and Oregon State.
Editor’s Note: This is another in a series about 2014 Goldwater scholars who are also undergraduates in public university honors colleges or programs. The following post is from LSU news….
Two LSU Honors College students, Brandon Oubre and Paxton Turner, have been named 2014 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars. Two other LSU Honors students, Rachael Keller and Paul Koenig, were selected as Honorable Mentions by the prestigious scholarship competition.
“The Honors College is exceptionally proud of these students for earning such impressive recognition on a national stage,” said LSU Honors College Dean Nancy Clark. “Their outstanding scholastic achievements in science, math and engineering are a credit to themselves and the university as a whole, and this is further proof of the academic excellence of LSU.”
From left to right, Brandon Oubre, Paul Koenig, Paxton Turner, and Rachael Keller
Honors College junior Brandon Oubre, a LaSTEM scholar, is pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Mathematics. He is currently working in LSU’s Robotics Research Lab on the creation of a low-cost robot that can be used in the classroom to provide students with hands-on electronics and programming experience. He is also working on a collaboration between Microsoft and LSU to develop a geometry tutoring web application system. He plans to obtain a Ph.D. in Computer Science and is interested in conducting research on robotics for an academic or government organization.
Paxton Turner is also an Honors College junior and is pursuing a major in Mathematics. He is currently researching an Honors Thesis on cluster algebras with Dr. Milen Yakimov in LSU’s Department of Mathematics. Paxton has previously received National Science Foundation funding (through the Research Experience for Undergraduates program) to research cluster algebras and graph theory at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics and ultimately hopes to conduct research in number theory and combinatorics, and teach at the university level.
Rachael Keller is a junior in the Honors College and is pursuing a major in Mathematical Sciences. She plans to research coal-combustion processes with a goal of producing pollutant-dispersal models that can be used to inform policy makers on the environmental impact of various energy-extraction methods. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Studies with a Masters in Public Policy.
Paul Koenig is a sophomore at the Honors College and is pursuing a major in Chemistry. His research interests include experimental organic chemistry—specifically the synthesis of novel, useful molecules—and to that end plans to pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry. He hopes to teach chemistry at the university level.
This is the third year in a row that all of LSU’s candidates nominated to the competition were recognized by the Goldwater Foundation. All of the nominees worked closely with their faculty research mentors and the LSU Honors College Office of Fellowship Advising throughout the application process.
“We are incredibly proud of Brandon, Paxton, Rachael, and Paul,” said Dr. Drew Lamonica Arms, Director of Fellowship Advising at the Honors College. “This national recognition is a testament to the students’ initiative and to the outstanding undergraduate research that is happening at LSU. We hope their success encourages other students to pursue national fellowships and awards. Congratulations to all four!”
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesmen, including 30 years of service in the US Senate. The Foundation’s mission is to assist undergraduate students in becoming professional scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. To that end, its scholarships provide one and two-year $7500 stipends to sophomore and junior undergraduate students pursuing research in these fields. Goldwater Scholarships are widely considered one of the most prestigious undergraduate awards available to students of the sciences.
Editor’s Note: This is another in our series on 2014 Goldwater scholars who are undergraduates in public university honors colleges or programs. The following piece is from Iowa State University….
AMES, Iowa — Four Iowa State University Honors students have received Goldwater Scholarships, the nation’s premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
Iowa State’s University Honors Program, which coordinates nominations and applications, announced the scholarships today. They are awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
A total of 283 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,166 applicants nationwide. The Iowa State students are:
Jacob William Harry, a senior in aerospace engineering from Clive, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. and conduct research in advanced spacecraft propulsion.
Thomas Ray Knief, a senior in physics from Cedar Falls, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics and conduct research in materials science.
William Robin Lindemann, a senior in materials science engineering and mathematics from Champaign, Ill., who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and conduct research in and teach advanced ceramics.
Rachel Liana Philiph, a senior in materials science engineering from Wildwood, Mo., who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and conduct research on biological applications of polymers in a collaborative environment.
“This is the first time we’ve had four Goldwaters,” said Dana Schumacher, Honors Program assistant director for scholarship and research. “It demonstrates the quality of ISU’s academic programs and the university’s dedication to undergraduate research.”
Schumacher said universities can nominate up to four candidates for the national competition. ISU’s candidates are selected through an on-campus competition.
“It makes this year’s 100 percent success all the sweeter,” she said.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established in 1986. The scholarship program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
The one- and two-year undergraduate scholarships will cover the cost of tuition fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
– See more at: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/25/goldwaters#sthash.tP2IFAIv.dpuf
AMES, Iowa — Four Iowa State University Honors students have received Goldwater Scholarships, the nation’s premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
Iowa State’s University Honors Program, which coordinates nominations and applications, announced the scholarships today. They are awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
A total of 283 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,166 applicants nationwide. The Iowa State students are:
Jacob William Harry, a senior in aerospace engineering from Clive, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. and conduct research in advanced spacecraft propulsion.
Thomas Ray Knief, a senior in physics from Cedar Falls, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics and conduct research in materials science.
William Robin Lindemann, a senior in materials science engineering and mathematics from Champaign, Ill., who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and conduct research in and teach advanced ceramics.
Rachel Liana Philiph, a senior in materials science engineering from Wildwood, Mo., who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and conduct research on biological applications of polymers in a collaborative environment.
“This is the first time we’ve had four Goldwaters,” said Dana Schumacher, Honors Program assistant director for scholarship and research. “It demonstrates the quality of ISU’s academic programs and the university’s dedication to undergraduate research.”
Schumacher said universities can nominate up to four candidates for the national competition. ISU’s candidates are selected through an on-campus competition.
“It makes this year’s 100 percent success all the sweeter,” she said.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established in 1986. The scholarship program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
The one- and two-year undergraduate scholarships will cover the cost of tuition fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
– See more at: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/25/goldwaters#sthash.tP2IFAIv.dpuf
AMES, Iowa — Four Iowa State University Honors students have received Goldwater Scholarships, the nation’s premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
Iowa State’s University Honors Program, which coordinates nominations and applications, announced the scholarships today. They are awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
A total of 283 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,166 applicants nationwide. The Iowa State students are:
Jacob William Harry, a senior in aerospace engineering from Clive, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. and conduct research in advanced spacecraft propulsion.
Thomas Ray Knief, a senior in physics from Cedar Falls, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics and conduct research in materials science.
William Robin Lindemann, a senior in materials science engineering and mathematics from Champaign, Ill., who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and conduct research in and teach advanced ceramics.
Rachel Liana Philiph, a senior in materials science engineering from Wildwood, Mo., who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and conduct research on biological applications of polymers in a collaborative environment.
“This is the first time we’ve had four Goldwaters,” said Dana Schumacher, Honors Program assistant director for scholarship and research. “It demonstrates the quality of ISU’s academic programs and the university’s dedication to undergraduate research.”
Schumacher said universities can nominate up to four candidates for the national competition. ISU’s candidates are selected through an on-campus competition.
“It makes this year’s 100 percent success all the sweeter,” she said.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established in 1986. The scholarship program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
The one- and two-year undergraduate scholarships will cover the cost of tuition fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
– See more at: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/25/goldwaters#sthash.tP2IFAIv.dpuf
AMES, Iowa — Four Iowa State University Honors students have received Goldwater Scholarships, the nation’s premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
Iowa State’s University Honors Program, which coordinates nominations and applications, announced the scholarships today. They are awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
A total of 283 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,166 applicants nationwide. The Iowa State students are:
Jacob William Harry, a senior in aerospace engineering from Clive, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. and conduct research in advanced spacecraft propulsion.
Thomas Ray Knief, a senior in physics from Cedar Falls, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics and conduct research in materials science.
William Robin Lindemann, a senior in materials science engineering and mathematics from Champaign, Ill., who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and conduct research in and teach advanced ceramics.
Rachel Liana Philiph, a senior in materials science engineering from Wildwood, Mo., who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and conduct research on biological applications of polymers in a collaborative environment.
“This is the first time we’ve had four Goldwaters,” said Dana Schumacher, Honors Program assistant director for scholarship and research. “It demonstrates the quality of ISU’s academic programs and the university’s dedication to undergraduate research.”
Schumacher said universities can nominate up to four candidates for the national competition. ISU’s candidates are selected through an on-campus competition.
“It makes this year’s 100 percent success all the sweeter,” she said.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established in 1986. The scholarship program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
The one- and two-year undergraduate scholarships will cover the cost of tuition fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
– See more at: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/25/goldwaters#sthash.tP2IFAIv.dpuf
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of profiles of 2014 Goldwater scholars who are undergraduates in public university honors colleges or programs. The following piece is by Abby Robinson of the University of Maryland….
Three University of Maryland students have been awarded scholarships by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, which encourages students to pursue advanced study and careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics. A fourth student received honorable mention.
UMD juniors Geoffrey Ji, Michael Mandler and Rafael Setra were among the 283 Barry Goldwater Scholars selected from 1,166 students nominated nationally this year. Junior Daniel Farias received honorable mention. The four students, who are all members of the UMD Honors College, plan to pursue doctoral degrees in their areas of study and to become university professors.
2014 University of Maryland Goldwater Scholars (l-r): Geoffrey Ji, Michael Mandler and Rafael Setra
Ji—who is majoring in physics, mathematics, economics and computer science—has been conducting quantum science research for two years in the laboratory of Chris Monroe, Bice Zorn Professor of Physics.
“Geoffrey has almost single-handedly outfitted advanced digital and analog electronic control circuits, in addition to writing impressive computer code that will soon be adopted by most of our other projects,” said Monroe.
Ji also conducted theoretical nuclear physics research with Paulo Bedaque, associate professor of physics, which resulted in co-authorship of a peer-reviewed publication in the journal Physical Review D.
Mandler, a double major in chemistry and biological sciences, published a first-author peer-reviewed paper in the journal Organic Letters in January 2014. This paper joins three other peer-reviewed publications on which Mandler is a co-author. For his research, Mandler develops novel synthesis pathways for organic catalysts that may reduce the time and/or cost of their commercial production for drug development and other applications.
“Michael is one of the most talented undergraduate students that I have mentored in my 46-year career, and that would place him among past undergraduate students who are now internationally known professors at top-ranked universities and colleges, as well as those who are prominent executives in industry,” said Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Michael Doyle, who is Mandler’s mentor.
Setra, a double major in mathematics and electrical engineering, conducts research with Thomas Murphy, electrical and computer engineering professor and director of the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics; Rajarshi Roy, physics professor and director of the Institute for Physical Science and Technology; and Wojciech Czaja, mathematics professor. Setra placed second nationally in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in 2010.
“The project we gave to Rafael was related to overcoming a nonlinear signal scattering problem that is pervasive in optical fibers, and the project was in a research direction that had never been previously tested or initiated,” said Murphy. “In the span of just 10 weeks, Rafael taught himself about fiber optic instrumentation, measurement automation, splicing, and spectrometry, and he designed, purchased and constructed an experiment to test his hypotheses.”
2014 University of Maryland Goldwater honorable mention recipient Daniel Farias
Honorable mention recipient Farias is a triple major in computer science, electrical engineering, and mathematics. He has conducted research projects with Daniel Butts, assistant professor of biology, and Neil Spring, associate professor in computer science with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies. With Butts, Farias adapted a model that was developed to describe neural signal processing in the visual midbrain to work in the auditory midbrain.
The Goldwater Scholarship program was created in 1986 to identify students of outstanding ability and promise in science, engineering and mathematics, and to encourage their pursuit of advanced study and research careers. The Goldwater Foundation has honored 47 University of Maryland winners since the program’s first award was given in 1989. Prior Goldwater scholars and nominees from UMD have continued their impressive academic and research pursuits at leading institutions around the world and have garnered additional recognition as:
National Science Foundation graduate research fellows
Gates Cambridge and Churchill Scholars (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom)
A Clarendon Fund Scholar (University of Oxford, United Kingdom)
Colleges and universities may submit up to four nominations annually for these awards. Goldwater scholars receive one- or two-year scholarships that cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to $7,500 per year. These scholarships are a stepping-stone to future support for their research careers.
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of posts on the value of Goldwater scholarships for undergraduates. Future posts will include profiles of honors students from many universities, all of whom earned Goldwater scholarships in 2014.
Our interest in Goldwater scholars “stems,” so to speak, from the conviction that public university honors students who win the awards affirm that their typically large institutions can nevertheless provide excellent, individualized instruction and research opportunities for undergraduates, while serving the national need for outstanding STEM graduates.
Goldwater scholars earn a $7,500 scholarship to help them complete their undergraduate education. The Goldwater award is undoubtedly the most prestigious undergraduate award. Public university students earned more than half of the 281 awards in 2014. Many Goldwater Scholars go on to earn Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, Churchill, or Truman awards when they graduate. Those and others also compete strongly for National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research fellowships to further their studies for advanced degrees.
Our view that public honors colleges and programs enjoy a significant relationship with Goldwater achievement is based on our analysis of Goldwater winners who attend one of the public universities we have reviewed, or will review in a new book to be published later this year.
A total of 90 students from these universities won Goldwater scholarships in 2014, and 71 of those students (79%) were in honors colleges or programs. What is remarkable about this is that some STEM students, especially those in engineering, might be tempted to shy away from honors programs because the basic requirements of their majors are so rigorous to begin with. But, increasingly, honors colleges and programs are emphasizing undergraduate research and mentoring that can give honors students more access to top researchers.
Notably, scholars from nineteen universities with multiple winners were all honors students: Alabama, ASU, Clemson, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa State, LSU, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, U at Buffalo, and Vermont. Delaware, NC State, and Oklahoma each had two winners, with three total apiece.
With the national interest so focused on developing talent in the STEM disciplines and the “hard” social sciences (e.g., economics, behavioral sciences), we have been tracking the number of National Science Foundation Graduate Research Grants awarded to universities during the last four years.
Public university leaders in NSF grants are listed below.
NSF graduate research grants are among the most prestigious and valuable awards given to outstanding students. They also indicate the quality of faculty and facilities and the degree of attention and mentoring that may be available to high-achieving undergraduate researchers.
“Fellows share in the prestige and opportunities that become available when they are selected. Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $32,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees, opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.
“NSF Fellows are anticipated to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large.”
You may know the name Allie LaForce, especially if you’re a sports fan. Current a co-host of “Lead Off,” the nightly talk show on the CBS Sports Network, LaForce, only 25, was only a very few years ago a point guard on the Ohio University basketball team.
But her basketball days at Ohio U came after she was Miss Teen USA…after she was the valedictorian of her high school class in Vermilion, Ohio… after she was a model in New York… and after she was a guest star on a soap opera.
And another big thing came along after all those accomplishments: LaForce studied broadcast journalism as a member of the highly selective Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University, an elite group of students with an average SAT score of 1380. Just another pretty face, hardly.
“LaForce graduated in 2011 from the Honors Tutorial College with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism,” according to Ohio U. “She then became a reporter and anchor for Fox 8 in Cleveland….LaForce had also worked as a sideline reporter for the NCAA Tournament and has also been the halftime host and sideline reporter for the Sun Bowl.
As a sideline reporter during a Colts-Patriot NFL game, “LaForce was reported to be ‘killing it in her pieces every time CBS shot down to the sidelines for a report’ by Fansided, an independent online sports network.”
Each year, we provide an update of Goldwater scholarships won by public university students, and 2014 was a banner year: 149 of the 283 scholarships awarded this year went to outstanding scholars from 84 public universities.
We provide this update because Goldwater scholars are all still undergraduates, and their selection is an indication of the undergraduate research opportunities at their universities.
Iowa State, Purdue, and UW Madison led all public institutions with four Goldwater scholars each. Another sixteen public universities had three scholars: Arizona State, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts Amherst, Montana State, New Hampshire, NC State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Rutgers, South Florida, Western Kentucky, and West Virginia. Since 2008, Western Kentucky students have won 18 Goldwater scholarships.
“The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,166 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. One hundred seventy-two of the Scholars are men, 111 are women, and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their degree objective. Twenty-two Scholars are mathematics majors, 191 are science and related majors, 63 are majoring in engineering, and 7 are computer science majors. Many of the Scholars have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering, and computer disciplines.
“The one and two year scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
“Goldwater Scholars have very impressive academic qualifications that have garnered the attention of prestigious post-graduate fellowship programs. Recent Goldwater Scholars have been awarded 80 Rhodes Scholarships, 117 Marshall Awards, 112 Churchill Scholarships, and numerous other distinguished fellowships such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships.”
The 2014 Bloomberg Business Week Top Undergrad Programs list is out, and 21 of the top 50 business schools are at public universities. For the second year in a row, Notre Dame was number 1 and UVA was number 2.
Student and recruiter surveys have a major impact on the Bloomberg rankings, while the U.S. News rankings of undergrad business schools depend heavily on feedback from deans. The Bloomberg rankings can vary significantly year to year, primarily because of the responses of employers and recruiters. About 250 employers responded this year, and about 28,000 students participated, a response rate of about 33 percent.
Bloomberg considers SAT scores, student/faculty ratio, class size, internships, and hours spent on classwork to determine the academic quality of a program.
The Bloomberg rankings include test scores and, more importantly to many, median starting salaries, teaching “grade,” and placement rates. All of the top 12 programs listed below have A+ placement rates except Washington U St. Louis (A). Miami OH, Penn State, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Georgia also have A+ placement rates.
All of the public programs in the top 50 have median starting salaries of $50k or more, with UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce leading the way with $70,000 (tied with Penn’s Wharton School).
