Last modified: Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Two IU Bloomington students honored as Goldwater Scholars
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Bloomington juniors Elizabeth Adams and Robert Koffie have been named Goldwater Scholars for the 2006-07 academic year. The third student nominated by IU Bloomington for this prestigious award, Bryan Schmidt, received an Honorable Mention.
Adams and Koffie were among 323 scholars selected by the Goldwater Foundation from a field of 1,081 mathematics, science and engineering students nationwide. The foundation awards one- and two-year scholarships to sophomores and juniors on the basis of academic merit. The scholarship can be used to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
Adams, who is from LaPorte, Ind., is a junior pursuing bachelor of science degrees in astronomy/astrophysics and mathematics. She has been a participant in the IU Science, Technology and Research Scholars Program (IU STARS) since her freshman year at IU; her current area of research is in dwarf irregular galaxies. At IU, Adams has worked under the guidance of professors Caty Pilachowski and Liese van Zee. During time spent studying in Australia, Adams conducted research at Mt. Stromlo Observatory, examining binary star systems. She plans to continue studying astronomy and astrophysics in a Ph.D. program.
Koffie is a native of Ghana, Africa, and is in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. He is currently a sophomore at IU and is pursuing bachelor of science degrees in physics and biochemistry, with a minor in mathematics. He plans to enter an M.D.-Ph.D. program and also looks forward to a research and teaching career in medical physics. He expects to focus his research on neural networks, complex biological processes and neurodegenerative diseases.
Schmidt is from Chesterfield, Mo., and is a junior earning a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry and a bachelor of arts degree in history. He is a member of IU STARS and is also a Gill Scholar. Schmidt has been performing research in Professor Jim Drummond's laboratory since his first semester at IU.
Throughout its 18-year history, the Goldwater Scholars Program has garnered the attention of postgraduate fellowship programs. Recent Goldwater Scholars have been awarded 63 Rhodes Scholarships and 80 Marshall Awards. Eight of the 40 Marshall Awards given in 2006 were to Goldwater Scholars.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established in 1986 in honor of Sen. Barry M. Goldwater to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. For more information, visit the foundation's Web site at https://www.act.org/goldwater/.
