THREE UA STUDENTS NAMED GOLDWATER SCHOLARS; U OF A RANKED AMONG TOP SCHOOLS IN NATION

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ranking among Ivy League universities and nationally-recognized private schools, the University of Arkansas is one of only a dozen universities to produce multiple winners of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Award.

Along with such prestigious institutions as Johns Hopkins, Harvard and Columbia, the U of A boasts three Goldwater Scholars for the 1999-2000 academic year. UA students, Michael Berumen of Fort Smith, James McCarley of Hot Springs, and Elizabeth Dunn of Maben, Miss., will each receive up to $7,500 per year for tuition, books and room and board — a gift that enables them to devote other funds to individual research projects in zoology and biochemistry.

The last time the University of Arkansas received three Goldwater awards was in 1994. At that time, ten other institutions nationwide matched the accomplishment. The first such scholarship was awarded to a UA student in 1991, and since that time, the University has produced 12 Goldwater scholars.

According to the Goldwater Foundation, scholars are selected for their outstanding academic records and their commitment to pursue careers in the disciplines of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.

The scholarship committee targets high-ability students with GPAs of 3.9 and above, said Dr. Suzanne McCray, director of the office of post-graduate fellowships. But the main determinant hinges on an applicant's research project proposal.

"The Goldwater Foundation looks for projects that are both feasible and significant," said McCray. "The research not only should be integral to the student's field of study but also significant to the world of science as a whole."

One example of such research is characterized by Michael Berumen's project proposal. With the financial support of a Goldwater scholarship, Berumen — a sophomore zoology student from Fort Smith — will travel to Australia to study at James Cook University's research station on the Great Barrier Reef. His research will examine the causes and implications of coral bleaching, a phenomenon that can offer clues about global warming and about increases in ultra-violet radiation on a world-wide scale.

James McCarley, a biochemistry major from Hot Springs, says the Goldwater award will enable him to expand his research with UA chemist Dr. Joshua Sakon. By examining and manipulating the three-dimensional structure of an enzyme called cellulase, the two have succeeded in increasing the enzyme's activity rate by more than 10 percent. This breakthrough may allow chemists to more efficiently produce ethanol — an environmentally "clean" fuel.

Sophomore biology and biochemistry student Elizabeth Dunn from Maben, Miss., will use her scholarship to continue research on amino acids — the building blocks of proteins. By examining the configuration of amino acids within a protein molecule and the ways that they bond together, Dunn is contributing to a better understanding of protein structure which may enable medical scientists to design more effective drugs.

These projects exemplify the type of specific and significant research proposal that the Goldwater Foundation looks for, but they also represent fields of study that will occupy these students many years into the future. Such long-term investment of time and energy reveals the true reason that students compete so heavily for Goldwater scholarships, according to McCray.

"The real purpose of competing for this scholarship is not the money but that it represents the premier undergraduate award in math and science," she said. "Ultimately, the Goldwater will position these students to get valuable NSF [National Science Foundation] grants later down the line."

In fact, many Goldwater recipients go on to win prestigious post-graduate fellowships, including Rhodes scholarships, Marshall awards and Fulbright fellowships. One such success story is Nam Le who received a Goldwater scholarship in 1994. Le used the prize to study proteins channels in cell membranes — structures that govern the exchange of substances into or out of a living cell. This research led Le to a full scholarship at Washington University Medical School.

Though McCarley, Dunn and Berumen won their Goldwater awards based on the merit of their own research and academic excellence, the attention and advice they received from UA faculty gave them an advantage over other students across the nation.

Each applicant goes through a rigorous evaluation process within the University before an application is even mailed, explained McCray. A committee of UA faculty members from a variety scientific fields examines each student's application and project proposal and offers advice on how to present the material in an intelligent, clear manner.

"The entire honors office of Fulbright College was of great assistance to me throughout the application process," said Berumen. "Quite simply, I am not sure I could have done it without their help. They offered encouragement and inspiration the whole way through."

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