Three Hope College students have received prestigious Goldwater Scholarships for the 2001-02 academic year.
Those honored are sophomore Lee Kiessel of Suttons Bay, sophomore Jody Murray of Grant and junior Betty Tang of Holland. It is the fifth year in a row that at least one Hope student has received one of the scholarships, and the second consecutive year that the college has had two or more recipients.
The scholarships were awarded by the Board of Trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation to 302 undergraduate sophomores and juniors from the 50 states and Puerto Rico. The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,164 mathematics, science and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide.
The scholarships are for one or two years, and cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
Kiessel is majoring in physics and mathematics. He plans to complete a doctorate in nuclear physics and then conduct research and possibly teach at the college level.
He has participated in research in nuclear physics at Hope during both the school year and summer. His academic honors have included the John H. Kleinheksel Mathematics Award and the Freshman Physics Book Award, in addition to being named to the Dean's List.
He is the son of Jana Kiessel of Suttons Bay and Alan Kiessel of Traverse City. He is a 1999 graduate of Suttons Bay High School.
Murray is majoring in biology. She plans to pursue a doctorate in biology and ultimately to obtain a position at a college or university that emphasizes research.
She has participated in research in biology at Hope during both the school year and summer. Her academic honors have included the Freshman Biology Book Award and being named to the Dean's List.
She is the daughter of Dan and Nancy Murray of Grant. She is a 1999 graduate of Grant High School.
Tang is majoring in chemistry. Her goal is to complete a doctorate in chemistry and develop research in the field of technologically advanced materials.
She started participating in research while still in high school, through a Hope program funded through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and as a Hope student has participated in research during both the school year and summer. Her academic honors include being named to the Dean's List.
She is the daughter of Chhy and Kuoy Tang of Holland. She is a 1998 graduate of Holland High School.
Of the students selected for awards this year, 157 are men and 145 are women, and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their degree objective. A total of 25 are mathematics majors, 198 are science majors, 26 are majoring in engineering, six are computer science-related majors, and 47 have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering and computer disciplines.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established by Public Law 99-661 on Nov. 14, 1986. The Scholarship Program honoring Senator Barry M. Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.
The foundation, now in its 13th year, has to date awarded 3,323 scholarships worth approximately $33 million. The trustees plan to award about 300 scholarships for the 2002-03 academic year.