Four K-State students selected as 2005 Goldwater scholars

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Source: Jim Hohenbary, 785-532-6900
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/NewsReleases/accomplishmentsindex.html
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415

Saturday, March 26, 2005

FOUR K-STATE STUDENTS SELECTED AS 2005 GOLDWATER SCHOLARS

MANHATTAN -- Four Kansas State University students have been awarded $7,500 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships. The students are David Thompson, Burlingame; Mike Higgins, Manhattan; Meg Fasulo, Olathe; and Matt Basel, Overland Park.

K-State students have now won 53 Goldwater Scholarships since the program began in 1989. K-State is ranked first in the nation among all 500 four-year state universities in the number of Goldwater winners. Including both the 500 public schools and 1,500 private colleges and universities in the nation, only Princeton, Harvard and Duke have produced more Goldwater scholars.

"This is the ninth year in the 17-year history of the Goldwater Scholarship competition that K-State has had four winners in one year. It's also the 15th time K-State has had multiple winners of this national honor," said K-State president Jon Wefald. "Our congratulations to these four students on this outstanding accomplishment."

Thompson is a senior in electrical engineering with an emphasis in biomedical engineering and minors in physics and Japanese. He plans to earn a doctorate in biomedical engineering and conduct research and teach in a university setting, focusing on biomedical engineering and the new opportunities emerging in the field. A K-State honors list student, he is a member of the College of Engineering honors program and has received the James A. Branson Memorial Scholarship. He has been active with Powercat Masters Toastmasters, where he served as secretary. Thompson is currently conducting research under the supervision of Tim Bolton, professor of physics. His project is a simulation program to help measure neutrino oscillation. He is a 2001 graduate of Burlingame High School and Allen County Community College, which he attended concurrently. Thompson is married to Amity I. Smith Thompson and is the son of David W. and Judith B. Thompson.

Higgins is a senior in mathematics and statistics. His career goal is to earn a doctorate in mathematics or statistics and to conduct research in a university setting in the fields of topology, analysis, linear models and probability theory. A member of the National Dean's List and the K-State honors list, he also was a member of the K-State team that received meritorious honors in the 2004 Mathematical Modeling Competition and placed in the top 18 percent of the 2004 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.

Higgins is a recipient of the K-State Putnam, Mathematics and Statistics Team scholarships, and a member of Pi Mu Epsilon, the honorary mathematics society. Higgins' current research includes working with David Yetter, professor of mathematics, on 3-manifold variants with a framed link. He also plays trumpet in the K-State Marching Band and in the Cat Band, the basketball pep band. He is a 2002 graduate of Manhattan High School and the son of James and Mary Lou Higgins.

Fasulo is a senior in chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology. She plans to earn a doctorate in supramolecular chemistry and then teach and conduct research at the university level. She is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Research Scholar, a K-State honors list student and a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key honor societies. She is the recipient of several scholarships, including the Kenneth D. and Ellen M. Lewis Science Opportunity Scholarship, Future Chemists Scholarship and a June D. Hull Cancer Center Scholarship and Education Fund. She also is a member of Alpha Chi Sigma, a professional fraternity in chemistry. Fasulo is conducting supramolecular chemistry research on the formation of co-crystals. Her project is under the supervision of Christer Aakeroy, associate professor of chemistry. She is the daughter of Joe and Lanie Fasulo and a 2003 graduate of Olathe North High School.

Basel is a sophomore in chemistry. His career goal is to earn a doctorate in analytical chemistry/biochemistry and would like to conduct pharmaceutical chemistry and biotechnology. He would ultimately like to be involved in basic research at a university or within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical firm. An honors list student, he is a recipient of K-State's Putnam Scholarship and the King Scholarship from the department of chemistry. He is involved in analytical chemistry and material science research, working in the laboratory of Maryanne Collinson, associate professor of chemistry. He also has been a leader with Awana and the Boy Scouts of America. Basel is the son of Christopher Basel and the late Kathy Basel. He is a 2003 graduate of Kansas City Christian School in Prairie Village.

The Goldwater Scholarship competition is for students who major in science, math or engineering and plan a career in research. The scholarship provides up to $7,500 annually for a student's final one or two years of undergraduate studies. To be eligible, students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average. They also must complete four mini-essays and write a longer essay about a significant area of research in their field of study.

K-State students have now won 53 Goldwater Scholarships since the program began in 1989. K-State is ranked first in the nation among state universities in the number of Goldwater winners. Among all colleges and universities in the nation, only Princeton, Harvard and Duke have produced more Goldwater scholars.