http://www.mediarelations.ksu.edu/WEB/News/NewsReleases/accomplishmentsindex.html
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415
Thursday, March 20, 2003
WITH THREE WINNERS, K-STATE STUDENTS CONTINUE RANKING FIRST AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
MANHATTAN -- Three Kansas State University students have won $7,500 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships and a fourth nominee received honorable mention in this national scholarship competition. According to scholar adviser James Hohenbary, students winning Goldwater scholarships are Sarah Meyer, Aaron Wech and Jonathan Whitmer. Justin Dyer received honorable mention.
K-State President Jon Wefald said, "K-State students have won 48 Goldwater scholarships since the program began in 1989, ranking our students first in the nation among public universities in America in the number of Goldwater winners. This is an incredible achievement for a state university, and attests to the strong work ethic of our excellent students and the dedicated faculty members, who mentor them."
Wefald said that among all colleges and universities in the nation, only Princeton with 52 winners and Harvard with 50 have produced more Goldwater scholars. Duke University is tied with K-State with 48 winners.
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. Meyer will receive one year of funding, Wech and Whitmer will receive two years of scholarship support.
Meyer, Goddard, is a junior in microbiology. She plans to earn a doctorate in molecular genetics and pursue research in the field of genetic engineering, specifically genetic transformation of agricultural crops. She is a member of Silver Key and Phi Eta Sigma honoraries. She received the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholarship, and the Division of Biology Most Promising Student Award. She accepted an engineering scholarship and the Putnam Scholarship to attend K-State. She is a member of Students for Life, and tutors children at the Douglas Community Center. She also plays intramural volleyball. A 2000 graduate of Garden Plain High School, she is the daughter of Mary and Kenneth Meyer.
Wech, Hill City, is a is a senior in physics and mathematics. He plans to earn a doctorate in atomic physics and conduct theoretical research in industry or at a national laboratory before pursuing a career as a university professor.
At K-State, Wech is a member of the Physics Club, and was a participant in the 2002 Physics Research Experience for Undergraduates program. He also conducts atomic, molecular, optical physics research with professor Lew Cocke. A McNair Scholar, he is a member of Golden Key International Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi honor society. He has received a KSU Foundation Scholarship, an Engineering Scholarship, James R. Macdonald Memorial Scholarship, Dane G. Hansen Scholarship and a Rush Foundation Scholarship. A 2000 graduate of Hill City High School, he is the son of Jean Greggs, Chesterfield, N.H., and Gregory Wech, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Whitmer, Wilson, is a senior in physics and mathematics. He plans to earn a doctorate in physics/condensed matter and conduct research in condensed matter physics at a research university. He plans to study nanoscale phenomena, with possible applications regarding the development of techniques for creating advances in materials and nanotechnology devices. He is active in the Physics Club, and does research with professor Bruce Law and the liquid surface physics group. Last summer he attended a research experience for undergraduates at the University of Illinois, and performed condensed matter physics research. He received the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, the Dane G. Hansen Scholarship, Elks Scholarship, Engineering Scholarship and the Putnam Scholarship to attend K-State. A 2000 graduate of Wilson High School, he is the son of Alice and Eldon Whitmer.
Dyer, Manhattan, is a senior in electrical engineering and Spanish. He plans to earn a doctorate in communication systems and conduct research in the fields of communication systems and artificial intelligence. His goal is to contribute to modern communication systems, particularly in the areas of signal detection, identification, and classification. He received an engineering honors scholarship and the Putnam Scholarship to attend K-State. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi , Phi Kappa Phi and Eta Kappa Nu honor societies. He was elected to Engineering Student Council. He also has been active in IEEE -- the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, French Club, and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Dyer spent a semester studying abroad at the University of Costa Rica, and another studying at the Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica. A 1999 graduate of Manhattan High School, he is the son of Ruth and Stephen Dyer, Manhattan.
Goldwater Scholars
Top 10 of the 2,000 four-year colleges in America: 500 state; 1,500 private
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1. Princeton University 52
2. Harvard University 50
3. *Kansas State University 48
4. Duke University 48
5. California Institute of Technology 44
6. University of Chicago 42
7. *Penn State University 42
8. *University of Illinois-Urbana 40
9. Cornell University 39
10.*Montana State University 39
* denotes state schools