Students Recognized by Goldwater Scholarship Program
Media Contact: , (859) 257-1754, x229
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 23, 2009) − Three University of Kentucky
students have been recognized by the Barry M. Goldwater
Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. Senior Tom Dodson, of Lexington, and junior
Lesley Mann, of Calhoun, Ky., were named Goldwater Scholars. The Goldwater Scholarship is worth
approximately $7,500 per year for up to two years of undergraduate study. Additionally, UK
sophomore Jenna Shapiro, of Versailles, Ky., received honorable mention recognition by the
esteemed scholarship program.
Dodson and Mann are among 278 students nationwide awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship this year. This year's 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.
“We are thrilled that three of our students were honored by the Barry Goldwater Foundation this year. Providing opportunities for undergraduate research is a priority at UK, and these superb students have made the most of those opportunities and have enjoyed the support of dedicated and talented faculty mentors,” said Lisa Broome-Price, director of the UK Office of External Scholarships.
If accepted, the one and two year Goldwater Scholarships cover expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year for students pursuing careers in mathematics and the natural sciences, as well as many engineering fields.
Thirty of the nation's Goldwater Scholars are mathematics majors, 190 are science and related majors, 51 are majoring in engineering, and 7 are computer science majors. Many of the Scholars have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering, and computer disciplines.
Dodson, the son of Albert and Jeanette Dodson, is among the many potential scholars studying more than one major at their university. A Henry Clay High School alumnus, Dodson is currently majoring in computer science, computer engineering and physics at UK. He also is pursuing a minor in mathematics, and considering additional minors in biology and linguistics.
During his time at UK, Dodson has done undergraduate research at UK's Space Systems Laboratory under the direction of James E. Lumpp Jr., an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He also has previous research experience in the Department of Computer Science where he worked under the direction of Professor Judy Goldsmith. Both these research opportunities were through the UK College of Engineering.
An alumna of McLean County High School, Mann is the daughter of Bobbi and Charlie Mann and sister of Jami Mann. The agricultural biotechnology student has been very involved in undergraduate research since arriving on campus her freshman year and currently is doing research as part of the UK Department of Plant Pathology in the College of Agriculture.
Mann is a member of the Honors Program and president of the Society for the Promotion of Undergraduate Research (SPUR), where she works to ensure other undergraduates obtain valuable research experience in their area of studies at the university. In addition, she serves as a biochemistry tutor.
Mann is honored to receive the prestigious award and is grateful for her experiences at UK, which she feels helped make it possible. "The fact that I received this honor attests to the significant investments several faculty members and staff have made in me," says the junior. "This university and a handful of people in particular have helped me open doors that I hadn't even thought of before coming to college. This honor is not only personal, it is a compliment to UK because it is evidence of the quality education and research opportunities available to students."
Upon graduation, Mann plans to pursue a doctoral degree in plant sciences. She would like to conduct research contributing to sustainable agriculture and teach at a university level.
Shapiro earned honorable mention recognition from the national scholarship program. The Woodford County High School alumna is the daughter of Drs. Meryl and Robert Shapiro. Currently pursuing a chemical engineering major, Shapiro is a member of both the UK Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. She does her undergraduate research at UK's Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center and Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering.
Outside of the classroom and the lab, Shapiro is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, a staff editor of The Cat's Figment Literary Newsletter, a KCrew member, and vice president-elect of Golden Key International Honour Society.
After attending graduate school for a doctoral degree in biomedical engineering or a related field, Shapiro would like to conduct research involving the therapeutic uses of stem cells.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was authorized by Congress in 1986 to honor the former Arizona U.S. Senator who served the nation for 30 years. In its 21-year history, 5,801 scholarships worth approximately $56 million have been awarded.
Dodson and Mann are among 278 students nationwide awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship this year. This year's 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.
“We are thrilled that three of our students were honored by the Barry Goldwater Foundation this year. Providing opportunities for undergraduate research is a priority at UK, and these superb students have made the most of those opportunities and have enjoyed the support of dedicated and talented faculty mentors,” said Lisa Broome-Price, director of the UK Office of External Scholarships.
If accepted, the one and two year Goldwater Scholarships cover expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year for students pursuing careers in mathematics and the natural sciences, as well as many engineering fields.
Thirty of the nation's Goldwater Scholars are mathematics majors, 190 are science and related majors, 51 are majoring in engineering, and 7 are computer science majors. Many of the Scholars have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering, and computer disciplines.
Dodson, the son of Albert and Jeanette Dodson, is among the many potential scholars studying more than one major at their university. A Henry Clay High School alumnus, Dodson is currently majoring in computer science, computer engineering and physics at UK. He also is pursuing a minor in mathematics, and considering additional minors in biology and linguistics.
During his time at UK, Dodson has done undergraduate research at UK's Space Systems Laboratory under the direction of James E. Lumpp Jr., an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He also has previous research experience in the Department of Computer Science where he worked under the direction of Professor Judy Goldsmith. Both these research opportunities were through the UK College of Engineering.
An alumna of McLean County High School, Mann is the daughter of Bobbi and Charlie Mann and sister of Jami Mann. The agricultural biotechnology student has been very involved in undergraduate research since arriving on campus her freshman year and currently is doing research as part of the UK Department of Plant Pathology in the College of Agriculture.
Mann is a member of the Honors Program and president of the Society for the Promotion of Undergraduate Research (SPUR), where she works to ensure other undergraduates obtain valuable research experience in their area of studies at the university. In addition, she serves as a biochemistry tutor.
Mann is honored to receive the prestigious award and is grateful for her experiences at UK, which she feels helped make it possible. "The fact that I received this honor attests to the significant investments several faculty members and staff have made in me," says the junior. "This university and a handful of people in particular have helped me open doors that I hadn't even thought of before coming to college. This honor is not only personal, it is a compliment to UK because it is evidence of the quality education and research opportunities available to students."
Upon graduation, Mann plans to pursue a doctoral degree in plant sciences. She would like to conduct research contributing to sustainable agriculture and teach at a university level.
Shapiro earned honorable mention recognition from the national scholarship program. The Woodford County High School alumna is the daughter of Drs. Meryl and Robert Shapiro. Currently pursuing a chemical engineering major, Shapiro is a member of both the UK Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. She does her undergraduate research at UK's Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center and Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering.
Outside of the classroom and the lab, Shapiro is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, a staff editor of The Cat's Figment Literary Newsletter, a KCrew member, and vice president-elect of Golden Key International Honour Society.
After attending graduate school for a doctoral degree in biomedical engineering or a related field, Shapiro would like to conduct research involving the therapeutic uses of stem cells.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was authorized by Congress in 1986 to honor the former Arizona U.S. Senator who served the nation for 30 years. In its 21-year history, 5,801 scholarships worth approximately $56 million have been awarded.