Out of a field of more than 1,100 applicants, two MSU students, along with 280 other recipients from across the country, were awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.
The Goldwater Scholarship began in 1989 to encourage sophomore and junior students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.
The scholarship covers undergraduate tuition, fees, books and room and board up to $7,500 per year.
Biochemistry and molecular biology and English junior Craig Pearson was awarded the scholarship and said in an email that any student could apply, but MSU makes the final decision.
“The university has an internal application process because it can only nominate up to four students for the national competition,” he said.
Computer science junior Mairin Chesney also was recognized with a scholarship and said in an email that the national application can be modified after being presented to MSU.
“If MSU nominates you, you are given around a month to revise your initial application and submit it nationally,” she said.
Both MSU students who received the award are members of the Honors College and are currently out of the country.
Melissa Beumann, associate dean of the Honors College, said the recognition is valuable.
“It’s wonderful news for our students and faculty,” she said.
Both students hope to work in the medical industry after completing graduation.
“I would love to end up as a professor at a university,” Chesney said.
“Research has been a life-giving aspect of college, and I’m excited I get to continue.”
Pearson hopes to earn a graduate degree in medicine after graduation.
“I am fascinated by the body’s delicate organs, like the eyes and brain, and I want to research methods for preserving the function of these vitally important tools,” he said.
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