A&S adds 3 Udall, 3 Goldwater scholars

Arts & Sciences undergraduates made another impressive showing in their annual quest for prestigious national scholarships and fellowships, including three students receiving the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and three receiving the Morris K. Udall Scholarship for the 2007-08 academic year.

Recently, two students were named recipients of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship (see story in April 5 print Record and in April 2 Record Monday at record.wustl.edu).

WUSTL had two honorable mentions, one each in the Goldwater and Udall scholarship competitions.

“Washington University’s combined success in the Truman, Udall and Goldwater scholarship competitions is very significant since these are the three major national scholarship competitions for non-seniors,” said Ian MacMullen, Ph.D., assistant dean in the College of Arts & Sciences.

“Being selected for two Trumans, three Udalls (plus one honorable mention), and three Goldwaters (plus one honorable mention) puts us right at the top of any ‘league table’ of American universities this year,” MacMullen added.

MacMullen noted that the University is one of only four universities to win three Udall Scholarships this year.

Udall Scholarship winners are Emily Dangremond, a junior majoring in environmental studies and Spanish; Paul Moinester, a junior majoring in political science and in environmental studies; and A.J. Singletary, a junior majoring in earth and planetary sciences and minoring in environmental studies and ballet. Kelley Greenman, a sophomore majoring in environmental studies, received an honorable mention.

Moinester and Singletary also are recipients of 2007 Truman scholarships.

“I congratulate Emily, Paul, A.J. and Kelley on their recognition by the Udall Foundation,” MacMullen said. “They are outstanding young environmentalists, and they collectively represent an area of extraordinary academic strength at Washington University.”

Goldwater Scholarship winners are Kevin M. Mercurio, a junior majoring in physics; Eric R. Wofsey, a junior majoring in mathematics; and Dafang Zhang, a sophomore majoring in chemistry and in philosophy. The honorable mention is Aashish Manglik, a junior majoring in biology.

“Kevin, Eric, Dafang and Aashish fully deserve their success in the Goldwater Scholarship competition,” MacMullen said. “They are all deeply committed to pursuing scholarly careers in science or mathematics, and they evidently have the gifts to help shape the future of their respective fields.”

The Goldwater is considered one of the most prestigious awards for undergraduates planning careers in the sciences, engineering or math. It covers as much as $7,500 annually toward tuition, fees and books in their junior or senior year.

Virtually all of the Goldwater Scholars say they intend to earn doctorates.

The U.S. Congress established the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation in 1986 to honor Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, who served in the Senate for 30 years.

The Goldwater foundation, a federally endowed agency, awarded 317 scholarships for the 2007-08 academic year, selecting recipients on the basis of academic merit from a pool of 1,110 undergraduate sophomores and juniors nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide.

Udall scholarships are granted to those who demonstrate a commitment to fields related to the environment or to Native American or native Alaskan students in fields related to health care and tribal public policy.

It covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board to a maximum of $5,000 per year.

The U.S. Congress established the Morris K. Udall Foundation in 1992 to honor Morris K. Udall, who served in the House of Representatives for 30 years.

The Udall scholarship program is administered by the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation.

A total of 80 2007 Udall Scholars were selected from among 434 candidates nominated by 221 colleges and universities.

Goldwater Scholars

Mercurio plans to pursue advanced degrees in particle physics and to conduct research that furthers the fundamental understanding of the universe. He’d also like to foster the growth of the physics community at the university level as an adviser and resource for students. His research, with Lee G. Sobotka, Ph.D., professor of physics and of chemistry, explores the decays of Carbon-10 from above the 2-alpha 2-proton threshold.

Wofsey plans to pursue a doctoral degree and a career in mathematics research within an academic institution. He was a member of the University’s math team for the 2006 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, which placed ninth in the nation out of 402 teams.

Zhang plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. with an emphasis in bioorganic chemistry and conduct research at a leading research university. His career interests include investigating the various chemical pathways of diseases and teaching the next generation of scientists and doctors. Research with John-Stephen A. Taylor, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, involves nucleic-acid-triggered processes. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Zhang is a recipient of the Burton M. Wheeler Freshman Book Award

Manglik (honorable mention) plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in microbiology and to conduct research in the basic biology necessary for the development of better tools for fighting bacterial and viral pathogens. He’d also like to teach in a university setting. Research with principal investigator Jeffrey S. McKinney, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular microbiology and of pediatrics in the School of Medicine, involves using bioluminescent Salmonella to identify neoplastic tumors. Manglik received the University’s Hoopes Undergraduate Research Award.

Udall Scholars

Dangremond, a 2006 and 2007 Howard Hughes Fellow, is a member of the Pathfinder Program in Environmental Sustainability in Arts & Sciences. She is president of Green Action, a student organization for environmental action and awareness, and is former chair of the Committee on Environmental Quality, which focuses on the environmental sustainability of the University community.

She is captain of the women’s club water polo team and a member of Chi Omega. Her research, conducted with Tiffany M. Knight, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, explores the role of seed predation on the conservation and restoration of an endangered coastal sand dune plant, Lupinus tidestromii.

Moinester, a former captain of the men’s varsity soccer team, is founder of several campus environmental groups, including the Green Council and the Hybrid Living Sustainability Committee, which educates students about how to live sustainably. As president of Student Union and speaker of the Congress of the South 40, he worked to unite the campus environmental movement and lobby the administration for large-scale environmental change. He plans to pursue graduate degrees in public administration and in agricultural, environmental and nutritional science.

Singletary, a Danforth Scholar, helped found the Roosevelt Institution, a national public policy think tank. Singletary is a resident advisor and undergraduate student representative on the Board of Trustees. He is active in a service group that teaches environmental science at St. Louis public schools.

He will travel to India this summer with the Village India Program in Arts & Sciences teaching a course to local students and performing research on environmental concerns. He plans to pursue a joint master’s degree in public policy and environmental science and would like to work on environmental problems that affect the developing world.

Greenman (honorable mention) is a program leader with VERDE (Volunteers for Environmental Restoration, Development and Education), a Campus Y group focused on environmental education in local elementary and middle schools. She is active in lobbying campaigns about climate-change legislation at the federal level. She will travel to India this summer to teach and perform research, which will follow her internship with World Wildlife Fund International in Washington.