The University of Memphis can add two more notches to its totem pole of achievement, as two students have recently been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
The students, Michael P. Lazarowicz and Terry Lynn Harrell Jr., were selected from a highly competitive field of more than 1,000 students nationwide.
“This is a tremendous honor for the students and great recognition for The University,” said Melinda Jones, director of the honors program at The U of M. “It’s great to get one student awarded with the scholarship, but it is especially notable when we get two students in such a select field.”
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholorship Program and Excellence in Education Foundation awards students who thrive in areas of mathematics, science, and engineering.
This year, only 300 student scholars were selected from a large pool of nominees submitted by more than 540 institutions of higher education across the nation.
The two-year scholarships awarded to the students will cover the costs of tuition, fees, books and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
Lazarowicz, a senior majoring in biology was recognized for his research and academic achievement in the dynamics of physical, chemical and environmental parameters of freshwater systems and its effect on surrounding ecosystems.
“I was the last to find out I had one,” said Lazarowicz. “It’s funny, but when I finally got around to checking my e-mail, everyone had sent a letter congratulating me.”
Harrell, a sophomore majoring in geology, was recognized for his work in vertebrate paleontology and said he was honored and surprised by the award.
“They (the students) are really put through a rigorous application process to even be considered, and I could not be happier that they have been recognized,” said Jack Grubaugh, associate professor and director of the Biology Department. “They have both established amazing academic records, and they are truly deserving of this award.”
The awards mark the second consecutive year The U of M has submitted a winning applicant. The Barry M. Goldwater scholarship program was established in 1986, in honor of late U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater.
