Six Named Goldwater Scholars

Six undergraduates were recognized for their outstanding achievements and potential in math, science and engineering this week.

The students, who received Goldwater Scholarships, were among a select group of 250 to 300 college sophomores and juniors chosen annually by the Goldwater Scholarship Foundation, Office of Career Services Director of Fellowships Paul A. Bohlmann said yesterday.

Daniel K. Biss '98 of Dunster House, Charlene S. Ahn '98 and Rhiju Das '98 of Lowell, Jonathan L. Weinstein '98-'97 of Pforzheimer, Supinda Bunyavanich '99-98 of Quincy and Isabel K. Reichardt '98-'97 of Winthrop all netted awards this year.

The scholarships, which provide about $7,500 per year toward college tuition for one to two years, are designed "to identify and encourage promising academics," Bohlmann said. The program is not aimed at pre-medical students, he said.

Students in their second or third years are eligible to apply through the fellowships office. The office may then nominate up to four men and four women annually, he said.

The number of recipients this year was "about average," Bohlmann said. He added that female applicants did particularly well this time around, noting that only eight women from the College applied this year.

In addition to a strong academic record, successful applicants must have a demonstrated interest in careers in academia or research.

Weinstein, who said that previous research is an important part of qualifying, said it "felt good to get a reward for all the work this summer."

A math concentrator, he spent his summer working at a program called "Research Experience for Undergraduates" at the University of Minnesota at Duluth.

Weinstein plans to continue his study of math in a graduate program.

Bunyavanich, an Environmental Science and Public Policy concentrator, said she hopes to do graduate work combining the fields of environmental studies and biochemistry.

"I worked on a research project in high school on waste water treatment and ways of tackling it," she said, adding that she is yet undecided on what type of project to pursue now.

Ahn, who plans to go to graduate school in physics, said she "feels great" about the scholarship.

Ahn said that in her application essay she discussed her work in Professor of Physics Gerald Gabrielse's lab, where she was involved in building a circuit to stabilize a laser.

Das, who is working on a neutrino experiment at Harvard and in a high energy physics lab in Geneva, Switzerland, said that he is also sticking with physics in graduate school.

Das said that his commitment to the study of physics dates back to high school when he realized "that physics outshone the other disciplines."

The Goldwater Scholarships were established by the U.S. Congress seven years ago in honor of former Sen. Barry M. Goldwater's commitment to education

Bunyavanich, an Environmental Science and Public Policy concentrator, said she hopes to do graduate work combining the fields of environmental studies and biochemistry.

"I worked on a research project in high school on waste water treatment and ways of tackling it," she said, adding that she is yet undecided on what type of project to pursue now.

Ahn, who plans to go to graduate school in physics, said she "feels great" about the scholarship.

Ahn said that in her application essay she discussed her work in Professor of Physics Gerald Gabrielse's lab, where she was involved in building a circuit to stabilize a laser.

Das, who is working on a neutrino experiment at Harvard and in a high energy physics lab in Geneva, Switzerland, said that he is also sticking with physics in graduate school.

Das said that his commitment to the study of physics dates back to high school when he realized "that physics outshone the other disciplines."

The Goldwater Scholarships were established by the U.S. Congress seven years ago in honor of former Sen. Barry M. Goldwater's commitment to education