DePauw Sophomore Awarded Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

March 29, 2004

March 29, 2004, Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw University sophomore Sara M. Smaltz is the recipient of a 2004 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the premier undergraduate award of its type in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. Smaltz is one of 310 undergraduate sophomores and juniors throughout the United States to receive scholarships for the 2004-2005 academic year. The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,113 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. 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.

A geology major, Sara Smaltz plans to continue her education after DePauw and earn a Ph.D. in geology. She hopes to someday conduct research and teach at the university level. "This recognition means a lot to me, and really gives me confidence to continue pursuing my goals," Smaltz says of her two year scholarship. "I spent last summer on a geology research project and will work on another this summer. I love geology and the opportunities DePauw has given me and am more excited than ever about the future."

"I have had the pleasure of working with Sara in class, on geologic fieldtrips, and as a summer research student," says M. Scott Wilkerson, associate professor of geosciences at DePauw and chair of the department. "She exhibits all of the characteristics that we admire in our students here at DePauw: she is extremely bright, inquisitive, articulate, hard-working, personable, and has impeccable character. I can honestly say that in my 9 years at DePauw, I can think of no one more deserving of this honor," adds Dr. Wilkerson, who is Smaltz's faculty adviser.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the US Senate. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.

Of this year's Goldwater Scholars, 161 are men, 149 are women, and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their degree objective. Twenty-nine Scholars are mathematics majors, 223 are science majors, 44 are majoring in engineering, 12 are computer science related majors, and 2 are in other related fields. Many of the Scholars have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering, and computer disciplines.

Recent Goldwater Scholars have been awarded 56 Rhodes Scholarships (6 of the thirty-two awarded in the United States in 2004), 66 Marshall Awards (6 of the 40 awarded in the United States in 2004), and numerous other distinguished fellowships. The Goldwater Foundation, in its sixteen-year history, has awarded 4,272 scholarships worth approximately forty-two million dollars. The Trustees plan to award about three hundred scholarships for the 2005-2006 academic year.

Learn more about the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program by clicking here. Access a complete list of this year's scholarship recipients here.

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