By Chrystina Rago
Two Texas A&M Students have been recognized for their outstanding academic achievements in electrical engineering and chemical engineering by the Goldwater Scholarship Foundation. Daniel Miller, junior electrical engineering major, has been selected as a Goldwater Scholar and John Rogers, sophomore chemical engineering major, has been named a Goldwater Honorable Mention.
Miller, an Undergraduate Research Scholar as well as University Honors Student, plans to pursue a career in research. Miller has published his original undergraduate research on the optimization of solar water heaters in Explorations: The Texas A&M Undergraduate Research Journal. This interdisciplinary project involves mathematical analysis and modeling as well as engineering design and optimization. The goal of his project is to optimize a solar water heater’s efficiency. Along with planning, executing and writing a research thesis, Miller will present his work at Mathfest with Pi Mu Epsilon, the Mathematics Honors Society. The Goldwater Scholarship will support Miller’s completion of a double major in mathematics and electrical engineering.
Rogers, also an Undergraduate Research Scholar, plans to pursue an M.D. /Ph.D. in biostatistics after graduation. He envisions himself developing rapid, more cost effective methods for diagnosing and treating patient infections. Rogers has worked on several research projects including his work with Dr. Zhilei Chen, Department Head for chemical engineering. With Chen, Rogers researched inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus. Rogers has not only had a successful Undergraduate Research career, but he is also a part of the Singing Cadets, Honors Program, Aggie Toastmasters and the Texas A&M chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established on November 14, 1986. The scholarship program honoring Senator Barry 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. There were 271 scholarships awarded from 1,107 applications for the 2013-2014 academic year. Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of their commitment to a career in research within the math, science or engineering discipline – with the average awardee having a 3.9 GPA. Since 1991, Texas A&M students have received 39 Goldwater Scholarship Foundation awards.
Since its first award in 1989, the Foundation has bestowed over 6,550 scholarships worth approximately 40 million dollars. The Trustees plan to award about three hundred scholarships for the 2014–2015 academic 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 80 Rhodes Scholarships, 118 Marshall Awards, 110 Churchill Scholarships and numerous other distinguished fellowships. Current juniors and seniors interested in applying to the 2014-2015 Goldwater Scholarship should contact Jamaica Pouncy, Program Coordinator, National Fellowships and Honors Academic Advisor, jamaica.pouncy@tamu.edu.
From Promise to Achievement 