MU Junior Earns Goldwater Scholarship
COLUMBIA, Mo.- Recognized for her accomplishments and potential, Missouri junior Amanda Prasuhn has been named a 2011 Goldwater Scholar. The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has announced that 275 sophomores and juniors from across the United States have earned the honor for the 2011-2012 academic year.
“It feels great to be a part of not only this year's national Goldwater Scholarship winners, but of all the past Goldwater winners from Mizzou,” Prasuhn said. “I have read a lot about past Mizzou winners and know that they have participated in cutting edge research and gone on to do exciting things.”
Prasuhn, a native of Kirkwood, Mo., is the 22nd Goldwater Scholar at MU since 1995. She is a biological science major and intends to work towards her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology. Prasuhn would like to pursue a career in conservation and hopes to make an impact in the conservation of endangered species.
Prasuhn is currently conducting research in Dr. Lori Eggert’s lab focusing on the evolutionary history of African elephants.
“Being involved in undergraduate research has been the single most important aspect of my undergraduate career,” Prasuhn said. “Besides the obvious benefits, like researching novel and interesting research questions, researching has led me to strong relationships with faculty and staff members who act as mentors, friendships, scholarships, publicity, opportunities to present my research at different venues and more.”
Missouri has had at least one recipient in 15 of the last 17 years.
“MU’s accomplishments with the Goldwater competition is very impressive, especially among public universities,” said Dr. Theodore Tarkow, associate dean of arts and science and MU’s campus coordinator for the Goldwater Scholarship. “Our success with the Goldwater Scholarships is indicative of the high-quality of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) students MU trains and of the national recognition our STEM students regularly earn.”
The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,095 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. One hundred seventy of the Scholars are men, 105 are women, and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their degree objective.
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.
Goldwater Scholars have very impressive academic qualifications that have garnered the attention of prestigious post-graduate fellowship programs. Recent Goldwater Scholars have been awarded 77 Rhodes Scholarships (including four for 2011), 108 Marshall Awards, 98 Churchill Scholarships and numerous other distinguished fellowships.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established by Public Law 99-661 on November 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 Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.
