CONWAY, Ark. (March 31, 2008) – Hendrix College student Kelly Zalocusky has been named a Goldwater Scholar by the Board of Trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Zalocusky, a biology and psychology double-major at Hendrix, was selected from a field of more than 1,100 mathematics, science and engineering students nominated from throughout the country.
Zalocusky is the 19th Hendrix College student to receive the scholarship in the program’s 20-year history. She is a junior from Belleville, Ill.
Zalocusky received the award after being nominated by Hendrix College faculty, completing official application procedures, and submitting an essay. Applicants were required to submit an essay describing a problem in their field of study, along with proposing research ideas that would have a significant impact on the problem.
Additionally, three Hendrix students received Honorable Mention as Goldwater Scholars. They are:
- Adam M. Jacobs, a junior from Benton.
- Bethany Edwards, a junior from Little Rock.
- Luke Erickson, a junior from Chesterfield, Mo.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.
Peggy Goldwater Clay, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, announced the awarding of 321 scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year to undergraduate sophomores and juniors from the United States. Zalocusky was one of four in Arkansas to receive the award – and the only private college student to be named a Goldwater Scholar.
The scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. In its 20-year history, the Foundation has awarded 5,523 scholarships worth approximately $54 million. The Trustees plan to award about three hundred scholarships nationally for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Hendrix, founded in 1876, is a selective, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college emphasizing experiential learning in a demanding yet supportive environment. The college is among 165 colleges featured in the 2008 edition of the Princeton Review America’s Best Value Colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu.