Arts & Sciences undergraduates made another impressive showing in their annual quest for prestigious national scholarships and fellowships, including three students receiving the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and three receiving the Morris K. Udall Scholarship for the 2007-08 academic year.
Last week, two Washington University students also were named recipients of the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. (see April 2 Record article)
Washington University also had a student selected for honorable mention in both the Goldwater and Udall scholarship competitions.
“Washington University’s combined success in the Truman, Udall and Goldwater scholarship competitions is very significant since these are the three major national scholarship competitions for non-seniors,” said Ian MacMullen, Ph.D., assistant dean in the College of Arts & Sciences.
“Being selected for two Trumans, three Udalls (plus one honorable mention), and three Goldwaters (plus one honorable mention) puts us right at the top of any ‘league table’ of American universities this year.”
MacMullen noted that Washington University is one of only four universities to win three Udall Scholarships this year..
Udall Scholarship winners are Emily Dangremond, a junior majoring in environmental science; Paul Moinester, a junior majoring in political science and environmental studies; and A.J. Singletary, a junior majoring in earth and planetary sciences and minoring in environmental studies and ballet. Kelley Greenman, a sophomore majoring in environmental science, received an honorable mention.
Moinester and Singletary also are recipients of 2007 Truman scholarships.
“I congratulate Emily, Paul, A.J., and Kelley on their recognition by the Udall Foundation,” MacMullen said. “They are outstanding young environmentalists, and they collectively represent an area of extraordinary academic strength at Washington University.”
The University’s Goldwater winners are Kevin M. Mercurio, physics major; Eric R. Wofsey, mathematics major; and Dafang Zhang, a chemistry and philosophy major. The honorable mention is Aashish Manglik, a junior majoring in biology.
“Kevin, Eric, Dafang, and, Aashish fully deserve their success in the Goldwater Scholarship competition,” said MacMullen. “They are all deeply committed to pursuing scholarly careers in science or mathematics, and they evidently have the gifts to help shape the future of their respective fields.”
The Goldwater is generally considered to be one of the most prestigious awards for undergraduates planning careers in the sciences, engineering or math. It covers up to $7,500 annually toward tuition, fees and books in their junior or senior year. Virtually all of the Goldwater Scholars intend to earn doctorates.
The U.S. Congress established the Goldwater scholarship program in 1986 to honor Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, a statesman who served in the U.S. Senate for more than 30 years. The Goldwater Foundation, a federally endowed agency, awarded 317 scholarship for the 2007-2008 academic year, selecting recipients on the basis of academic merit from a pool of 1,110 undergraduate sophomores and juniors nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide.
The Morris K. Udall Scholarship is administered by the Udall Foundation and the Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $5,000 per year.
Udall Scholarships are granted to those who demonstrate a commitment to fields related to the environment, or to Native American or native Alaskan students in fields related to health care and tribal public policy. Congress established the foundation in 1992 to honor Udall and his legacy of public service.
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Goldwater Scholars:
Kevin M. Mercurio, a junior majoring in physics, plans to pursue advanced degrees in particle physics and to conduct research that furthers the fundamental understanding of the universe. He’d also like to foster the growth of the physics community at the university level as an advisor and resource for students. His current research, with Lee Sobotka, Ph.D., professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences, explores the decays of Carbon-10 from above the 2-alpha 2-proton threshold.
Eric R. Wofsey, a junior majoring in mathematics, plans to pursue a doctoral degree and a career in mathematics research within an academic institution. He was a member of the university’s math team for the 2006 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, which placed ninth in the nation out of 402 teams participating.
Dafang Zhang, a sophomore majoring in chemistry and philosophy, plans to earn an M.D./Ph.D. degree with an emphasis in bioorganic chemistry and conduct research at a leading research university. His career interests include investigating the various chemical pathways of diseases, and teaching the next generation of scientists and doctors. Recent research, with mentor John-Stephen Taylor, Ph.D., professor of chemisty in Arts & Sciences, involves nucleic acid triggered processes. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Zhang is a recent recipient of the Burton M. Wheeler Freshman Book Award
Aashish Manglik (honorable mention), a junior majoring in biology, plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in microbiology and to conduct research in the basic biology necessary for the development of better tools for fighting bacterial and viral pathogens. He’d also like to teach in a university setting. Recent research, with principal investigator Jeffrey McKinney, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in pediatrics and molecular microbiology in the School of Medicine, involves using bioluminescent Salmonella to identify neoplastic tumors. Manglik is the recent recipient of a Hoopes Award from the Howard Hughes Medical Insitute.
Udall Scholars:
A.J. Singletary, a Danforth Scholar, helped found the Roosevelt Institution, a national public policy think tank. Singletary is a resident advisor and undergraduate student representative on the Washington University Board of Trustees. He is active in a service group that teaches environmental science at St. Louis public schools. He will travel to India this summer with the university’s Village India Program, teaching a course to local students and performing research on environmental concerns. He plans to pursue a joint master’s degree in public policy and environmental science, and would like to work on environmental problems that affect the developing world.
Paul Moinester, a former captain of the men’s varsity soccer team, is founder of several campus environmental groups, including the Hybrid Living Sustainability Committee and the Green Council. As president of Student Union and speaker of the Congress of the South 40, he worked to unite the campus environmental movement, lobby the administration for large-scale environmental change, and create a committee that educates students about how to live sustainably.He plans to pursue graduate degrees in public administration and in agricultural, environmental and nutritional science.
Emily Dangremond, a 2006 and 2007 Howard Hughes fellow, is a member of the Pathfinder Program for Environmental Sustainability. She is the current president of Green Action, a student organization for environmental action and awareness, and is the former chair of the Committee on Environmental Quality, which focuses on the environmental sustainability of the Washington University community. She is also captain of the women’s water polo team and a member of Chi Omega. Her current research, conducted with WUSTL biologist Tiffany Knight, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, explores the role of seed predation on the conservation and restoration of an endangered coastal sand dune plant, Lupinus tidestromii.
Kelley Greenman, (honorable mention), a native of Marathon, Fla., is a program leader with V.E.R.D.E. (Volunteers for Environmental Restoration, Development, and Education), a Campus Y group focused on environmental education in local elementary and middle schools. Additionally, she is actively involved in many lobbying campaigns about climate change legislation at the federal level. She is traveling to India this summer as well in order to teach and perform research, which will follow her internship with World Wildlife Fund International in Washington DC.