4 KU students compete nationally for Goldwater scholarships

LAWRENCE -- Four University of Kansas students are competing for national Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, which 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 2004 receive one year of support; those graduating in 2005 receive two years of support. Winners will be announced in early April.

KU's nominees for Goldwater scholarships are:

John J. Daniels, Tonganoxie junior in chemical engineering, wants to combine teaching and research with a goal of reducing society's dependence on fossil fuels with discoveries of environmentally benign alternatives. He plans to graduate in May 2004. He is the son of Joseph and Marilyn Daniels and is a graduate of Basehor-Linwood High School. He also attended Kansas City, Kan., Community College. He has several scholarships including a KU Summerfield Scholarship, a four-year scholarship awarded to the top 50 entering Kansas men.

Sarah E. Feldt, Norman, Okla., junior, plans to earn degrees in mathematics and in physics, and she plans a career of teaching and research in nonlinear dynamics in physics. She plans to graduate in May 2004. She is the daughter of Andy and Jan Feldt and is a graduate of Norman North High School. She also has attended Johnson County Community College. She is a National Merit scholar.

Kelly N. Flentie, Sabetha junior in microbiology, plans to graduate in May 2004. She plans a career in basic research of pathogens to better understand their vulnerability and how they cause disease. She is the daughter of Robert and Nancy Flentie and is a graduate of Sabetha High School. She also attended Highland Community College. She has several scholarships, including the KU Watkins-Berger, a four-year scholarship for the top 50 entering Kansas women.

Joshua E. Meyers, Wichita junior in mathematics, in physics and in astronomy, plans an academic research career as a particle or nuclear physicist. He plans to graduate in May 2005. At KU, he has worked as a research assistant with a group of physicists studying neutrino interactions via radio wave observation in polar ice in Antarctica. He earned a trip to Antarctica with his physics adviser, David Besson, and became the youngest researcher to visit the research station. He is the son of Evan and Jane Meyers and is a graduate of Wichita High School East. He is a National Merit scholar.

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. Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona and to ensure a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers.

The board of trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, Washington, D.C., plan to award up to 300 Goldwater Scholarships for the 2003-04 academic year. Scholars are selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of more than 1,000 students nominated by faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide.

Only sophomores or juniors who plan to graduate in 2004 or 2005 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.