March 29, 2002

Contact: Barbara Schowen, KU honors program, (785) 864-4225.

KU students win 4 Goldwater Scholarships

LAWRENCE -- Four University of Kansas students have won national Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships to encourage excellence in science, engineering and mathematics.

The scholarships provide up to $7,500 for tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Winners who will graduate in 2003 receive one year of support; those graduating in 2004 receive two years of support.

The trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, Washington, D.C., announced today that the trustees awarded 309 scholarships for the 2002-2003 academic year to undergraduate sophomores and juniors from the 50 states and Puerto Rico.

KU's Goldwater Scholarship winners all plan to graduate in May 2003. They are:
 • Ryan D. Kinser, Oklahoma City senior, majoring in mathematics and philosophy; he plans to become a research mathematician.
 • Adam L. Kraus, Grantville senior, majoring in astronomy, physics and mathematics; he has a career goal of research in astrophysics.
 • Bonnie A. Sheriff, Lawrence senior, majoring in chemistry; she plans a career of research and teaching in chemistry.
 • Ian T. Tice, Tecumseh senior, is majoring in mathematics and physics; he plans to teach and conduct research in mathematics.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said: "I am proud to congratulate Ryan, Adam, Bonnie and Ian. They represent the outstanding academic excellence among KU's top students. Their research projects reflect the high-quality opportunities for undergraduates. I join their advisers and especially their parents in taking pride in this well-deserved recognition of their work and their goals."

Twenty-nine KU students have been named Goldwater Scholars since the first scholarships were awarded in 1989. Congress established the program in 1986 to pay tribute to retired U.S. Sen. Goldwater of Arizona and to ensure a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers.

The 2002-2003 scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of more than 1,155 students nominated by faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide. The new scholars include 24 mathematics majors, 198 science majors, and 27 engineering majors. Four have computer science-related majors, and 56 have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering and computer disciplines.

Only sophomores or juniors who plan to graduate in 2003 or 2004 and who were judged to have outstanding academic records, significant research experience, and high potential for a career in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering were eligible for nomination by their universities. Nominees submitted applications that included a 600-word essay, several shorter essays and faculty recommendations.

 • Ryan D. Kinser, Oklahoma City, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Kinser, 3159 Thornridge, Oklahoma City, and is a graduate of Classen School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City. Kinser is a National Merit Scholar. His essay "Parameter Space of Analytic Mappings in Two Complex Variables" described his research supervised by Estela Gavosto, associate professor of mathematics. His project goal was to create a more innovative and efficient algorithm to visualize the parameter space of an important family of analytic mappings on two complex variables known as the Henon mappings. Kinser has studied classical piano since the seventh grade and has been engaged in independent study of music theory at KU.

 • Adam L. Kraus, Grantville, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Kraus, Grantville, and is a graduate of Perry-Lecompton High School. Kraus is a National Merit Scholar. His essay "Stellar and Chemical Evolution in the Large Magellanic Cloud" describes his research supervised by Barbara Anthony-Twarog and Bruce Twarog, professors of physics and astronomy at KU. His study involved determining the ages, masses and chemical compositions of the component field stars of the Large Magellanic Cloud, one of our nearest galaxies. The goal is to determine the rate of evolution of the LMC. He has worked as a Web programmer and designer for Midwest Netconnections and worked with Web design for KU's Office of University Relations.

 • Bonnie A. Sheriff, Lawrence, is the daughter of Howard Sheriff, 500 Arrowhead Drive, and is a Free State High School graduate. Sheriff is one of 50 Watkins-Berger Scholars at KU. Her essay "Novel Biopolymers for Use as Chemical and Biological Delivery Agents" described her research with Paul Hanson, KU associate professor of chemistry. Her project examined molecular delivery of drug or genetic material to a desired site in the human body. Sheriff serves as a teaching assistant in chemistry and received one of the highest average evaluation scores given by students in general chemistry. She has played clarinet since the fifth grade and performs with the CottonWoods quintet at KU.

 • Ian T. Tice, Tecumseh, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Tice, 4748 S.E. Shawnee Heights Road, Tecumseh, and is a graduate of Shawnee Heights High School. Tice has a Southwestern Bell Foundation Scholarship. His essay "The Baryonic Decay of the B Meson" described a research project advised by David Besson, KU associate professor of physics and astronomy. Tice studied the interactions of high-energy particles that occurred following the big-bang creation of the universe. Beyond math and physics, his activities include being a co-host for a British-pop show on KU's radio station, KJHK; performing with a band at Stephenson Scholarship Hall; and assisting his mother with graphic designs for her embroidery business.