UNT leads Texas in number of Goldwater Scholarship winners

Four UNT students — more than from any other Texas college or university — are among 302 students in the nation receiving Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships this year.

UNT also had more scholars than the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cornell, Yale and Johns Hopkins universities. UNT tied with nine other universities, including the California Institute of Technology, Princeton and Duke, in having the maximum number of scholars.

The Goldwater Scholarships are considered among the country's most prestigious scholarships awarded to students planning careers in mathematics, science and engineering. Open to college sophomores and juniors, the one- and two-year scholarships provide a maximum of $7,500 each year to cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

Universities may nominate up to four students for the award. Students are chosen on the basis of their scientific research, grade point averages and other achievements.

All four of this year's scholars from UNT — Derek Choi, Haley Hagg, Adam Horch and Shaun Stewart — are students at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science.

"The achievement of these four Goldwater Scholars is just stunning," says James Duban, director of the UNT Office of Postgraduate Fellowships and chair of the UNT Faculty Goldwater Nominating and Mentoring Committee. "Their accomplishment reflects admirably upon the intelligence of TAMS students and the opportunities for research available to them at UNT."

Richard Sinclair, dean of TAMS, says four students earning Goldwater Scholarships "is clear recognition of the excellence of reseach programs and the research faculty at UNT."

"What is so notable is that the TAMS students are two years younger than the winners at some of the most prestigious research universities in the nation," Sinclair says. "The combination of UNT research programs and TAMS students produces extraordinary results."

Choi, from Dallas, was honored for his research on combining polymers with ceramic fibers to create a new material for insulating wires. He conducted the research in the laboratory of Nandika D'Souza, assistant professor of materials science.

Choi plans to major in electrical engineering or materials engineering at one of several universities — the California Institute of Technology, Rice University or the University of Texas at Austin — after graduating from TAMS May 11. He plans to eventually earn his doctoral degree and pursue a career in research and development in the aerospace or telecommunications industry.

Hagg, from Corpus Christi, worked in the laboratory of Witold Brostow, professor of materials science. She combined two different polymers to create a new material that is low in friction and long wearing, and could be used in the automotive, aerospace and medical industries.

She has been accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to finish her bachelor's degree after graduating from TAMS in May. Hagg plans to major in chemical engineering and become a research developer and engineer.

Horch, from Willow Park, worked in the laboratory of Teresa Golden, assistant professor of chemistry. He developed a method for growing montmorillonite, a material combining a ceramic mineral with metal, on metallic thin films. Because montmorillonite is 20 percent harder than stainless steel, inexpensive to produce and can be made rapidly, it can be used for many applications, including artificial joints, industrial cutting tools and automobile parts.

Horch plans to major in biomedical studies and engineering at one of several universities – Duke, Rice, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt or Washington – after graduating from TAMS in May. He plans a career in biotechnology research.

Stewart, from Sherman, conducted his research in the laboratory of Douglas Root, assistant professor of biological sciences. Stewart developed a mathematical model of human muscle contractions, which are controlled by two proteins. Better

understanding of the interaction of these proteins could lead to a cure for familiar hypotropic cardiomyopathy, a heredity disease characterized by decreased efficiency of the cardiac muscle and an enlarged heart.

Stewart plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania after graduating from TAMS in May. He will have a double major in biochemistry and computer science, and he plans to work for the Centers for Disease Control.

Other Texas universities with new Goldwater Scholars include Texas A&M University (3), Rice University (2), and Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Trinity University, Texas Tech University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Dallas (1 each). UNT has had 17 Goldwater Scholars since 1996.

Serving on the UNT Faculty Goldwater Nominating and Mentoring Committee were Elizabeth Bator, mathematics; Duban; Jannon Fuchs, biology; David Golden, physics; Paul Jones, chemistry; and Sam Matteson, physics.

BY NANCY KOLSTI nkolsti@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT dean of music hired
• UNT hires new men's basketball coach
• Villarreal shares plans for future of UNT athletics program
• Inauguration only three weeks away
• Distinguished alumnus, Jazz Singers Voices featured April 27
• Gosh, I love working at the Mayborn Institute
• Faculty Senate approves electronic handbook posting
• Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center Planned
• UNT, state secretary build online Texas Register
• UNT's public administration program ranked 12th in U.S.
• TAMS students named Coca-Cola scholarship finalists
• UNT to host National Youth Sports Program

homepage