Williams College Students Win Goldwater Scholarships

Media contact: Noelle Lemoine, communications assistant; tele: (413) 597-4277; email: [email protected]

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., July 22, 2003–Two Williams College juniors, David E.W. Arnolds, a biology major from Chicago, Ill., and Sarah M. Iams, a mathematics and physics double major from Bethesda, Md., have been awarded Barry M. Goldwater scholarships for their outstanding performance in science and mathematics. Steven T. Scroggins was awarded an honorable mention.

Three hundred scholarships were awarded for the 2003-04 academic year to undergraduate sophomores and juniors from a field of 1,093 applicants. Students were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. One hundred sixty-one of the scholars are men, 139 are women, and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their degree objective. Thirty-one scholars are mathematics majors, 210 are science majors, 45 are majoring in engineering, and 12 are computer science related majors.

Arnolds, a member of the men’s varsity swim team and captain of the water polo team, says that one of his main reasons for choosing Williams was its all around academic excellence wrapped in a small college atmosphere. The idea of small, engaging classes and the opportunity to get to know and work with his professors drew him to the Berkshires–plus the added appeal that at Williams, a Division III school, Arnolds can be fully committed academically and still make time to compete on the varsity swim team.

During the past two summers, Arnolds has been involved with neurobiology research with Williams Professor of Biology Steven Zottoli at the Marine Biology Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. This summer he received a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship from the American Physiological Society to support the research he is doing at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Mass. He is studying changes in glucose metabolism produced by exercise with the goal of gaining a better understanding of the physiological process and uncovering pathways that could be targeted in the treatment of diabetes. Arnolds plans to use his Goldwater Scholarship to study intracellular signaling mechanisms.

Iams joins the ranks of Goldwater Scholars who have dual majors in a variety of disciplines–her areas of study are mathematics and physics. She plans to use the scholarship to continue her pursuit of physics while at Williams next year. Iams, who runs on the track and cross country teams and plays in the college band, Rude Cider, says she was first drawn to Williams College because it is small and personable with an excellent science program. Last summer she participated in SMALL, an intensive math research program on campus in which students work in small groups directed by individual faculty members to investigate open mathematics problems. The previous summer she worked with Professor Kevin Jones, chair of the Williams physics department, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The prestigious scholarship program was established by Congress in 1986 in honor of Senator Barry M. Goldwater. The program strives to foster and encourage excellence in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. Its objective is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.

Goldwater Scholars have had very impressive academic qualifications that have captured the attention of prestigious post-graduate fellowship programs. Recent Goldwater Scholars have been awarded 50 Rhodes Scholarships (six of the thirst-two awarded in the United States in 2003), 55 Marshall Awards (eight of the 40 awarded in the United States in 2003), and numerous other distinguished fellowships.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, in its 15-year history, has awarded 3,962 scholarships worth approximately 39 million dollars. The trustees plan to award about 300 scholarships for the 2004-2005 academic year.

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Published July 22, 2003