CONWAY, Ark. (April 1, 2009) – Hendrix College students Emily Marie Harris and William James “Jay” Porter III have been named Goldwater Scholars by the Board of Trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
Harris, a junior biochemistry and molecular biology major from Benton, plans to become a doctor, conduct research in neurology and teach at the medial university level. Porter, a sophomore physics and mathematics major from Hamburg, plans to conduct research in theoretical physics.
Harris and Porter are the 20th and 21st Hendrix College students to receive the scholarship in the program’s 21-year history. They 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, two Hendrix students received Honorable Mention as Goldwater Scholars. They are:
- Laura Ann Johnson, a junior from Roswell, N.M..
- Daniel Christopher Totten, a junior from Wynne.
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.
Mrs. Peggy Goldwater Clay, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, announced Tuesday that the Trustees awarded 278 scholarships for the 2009-2010 academic year to undergraduate sophomores and juniors from the United States.
The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,097 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. One hundred sixty-three of the Scholars are men, 115 are women, and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their degree objective. Thirty Scholars are mathematics majors, 190 are science and related majors, 51 are majoring in engineering, and seven 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. In its 21-year history, the Foundation has awarded 5,801 scholarships worth approximately $56 million. The Trustees plan to award approximately 300 scholarships for the 2010–2011 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.