Department Of Mathematics, Kansas State University
| July 2009 : | Mike Reppert wins a Fulbright Scholarship |
| Three Kansas State University students have won 2009 Fulbright U.S. Student Scholarships for travels abroad. The students are among more than 1,500 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2009-2010 academic year through the Fulbright program. Receiving one-year fellowships from the Fulbright U.S. Student program are K-State's Mike Reppert, Manhattan, who will go to Poland; Jacque LaRue, Moran, who is going to South Korea; and Nora Johnson, Dell Rapids, S.D., who is going to Germany. K-State now has had 50 Fulbright student scholars since 1975. "I admire all three of these students for choosing to step outside their comfort zone in order to learn and live in an international setting next year," said Jim Hohenbary, K-State assistant dean for nationally competitive scholarships. "I know they will do a great job in making connections and building goodwill between their host countries and the United States, and it is exciting to think that K-State is going to be represented in Germany, Poland and South Korea though the Fulbright program this coming fall." The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for study abroad, research abroad or English teaching assistantships. The program aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement as well as leadership potential. The Fulbright program was established under legislation introduced by late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas and is administered by the Institute of International Education. Reppert, a May 2009 K-State bachelor's graduate in biochemistry, chemistry and mathematics, received a Fulbright Scholarship to study single-molecule spectroscopy at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland. Reppert has been involved in research projects with Ryszard Jankowiak, a K-State professor of chemistry who is Polish. Reppert said he has enjoyed learning the country's language, culture and history. He has previously spent a month in Poland and wanted to return to study, visit friends and practice speaking Polish. After completing his Fulbright, Reppert plans to pursue a doctorate in physical chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His career goal is to work at a university where he would conduct research on fundamental physical and chemical principles as they apply to biological systems. At K-State, Reppert also has been involved in research projects with Virginia Naibo, assistant professor of mathematics. He is a recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship for graduate studies in physical chemistry. He also has been a Goldwater Scholar and a National Merit Scholar. He has received the Presidential Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Student in Research and the Phi Lambda Upsilon award for academic performance as a sophomore. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma and Golden Key honor societies. Reppert is the son of Jay and Sue Reppert, Manhattan. Source: Jim Hohenbary, 785-532-6904, jimlth@k-state.edu Photos available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-6415 News release prepared by: Kristin Hodges, 785-532-6415, khodges2@k-state.edu |