When Megan Dennis was younger, she knew she wanted to make a difference in the world.

"When she was a little girl, she wanted to cure illnesses," said Harold Dennis, Megan's grandfather. "She wanted to make her place."

The chemical engineering junior said she was reassured she was headed in the right direction when she found out she was a recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship.

"It just makes me think that research is for me," Megan Dennis said. "It's very prestigious and I'm honored to receive it."

The Goldwater Scholarship was named for former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater with the intent to develop a larger pool of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by encouraging interested students to continue with their research.

"I was surprised," she said. "As much hard work as I put into it, I was still surprised. You never expect to be a Goldwater scholar."

Recipients of the scholarship receive up to $7,500 a year for the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board for the rest of their undergraduate education.

Out of 1,093 finalists who applied, 300 were chosen as recipients nationwide.

Dennis said she was never actually informed she had won, but instead found out from members of MSU's Honors College after they found out online.

"It was kind of just frantic, and they had just found out through online sources," Megan said. "I immediately called my grandpa.

"He's pretty proud."

And her grandfather said he wasn't caught off guard when his granddaughter was named a scholar.

"Am I surprised that she won? No, not at all," Harold Dennis said. "She is very good at what she does."

But she didn't get there without a lot of hard work, he said.

"She's pretty darn intelligent," he said, adding she was first in her class at Holt High School. "It may sound like I'm boasting, but the truth of the matter is that she works her butt off."

Dennis' grandfather said he's not sure where her enthusiasm for biological engineering came from.

"I'm in the lumber business, so why does she have her interest in science?" he said. "I don't have a clue. But she works very hard to get what she gets and she earns every bit of it."

Megan Dennis said she plans to study microbiology and immunology for her doctorate after graduating in May 2004.

The scholarship illustrates her passion for sciences and engineering, said Mark Worden, a chemical engineering professor and the award winner's adviser.

"This award recognizes her potential for research," he said. "She's humble despite her credentials.

"She embodies the sort of values students should have."

MSU Provost Lou Anna Simon said Megan Dennis' accomplishments reflect highly on MSU's research programs.

"We're really just absolutely delighted," she said, adding it also shows the high quality of engagement between the students and faculty at MSU.

Dennis was the only person to receive the Goldwater scholarship from MSU this year, but Jared English, an international relations and finance senior, was recently named the recipient of another prestigious award, the Truman Scholarship.

The Truman Scholarship is awarded to between 75 and 80 students nationwide for their public and community service achievements.