Andre Deckrow '06, Sarang Gopalakrishnan '06 and Denise Twum '06 each received a Watson Fellowship, and Elizabeth Kuperberg '07 and Laura Strickman '07 were awarded Goldwater Scholarships.
Fellowships Coordinator Denise Gagnon said that many students compare the application process to taking a class. "The application process involves writing a personal statement and a proposed plan of study, as well as requesting letters of recommendation," she said.
"There is also an interview process at Amherst in order to receive a nomination for the scholarship and in most cases nominated candidates are interviewed by the scholarship foundations before being selected as scholar."
Gagnon added that the awards are not based solely on academic merit, with scholarship foundations focusing on a candidate's leadership skills and extracurricular activities as well. With such an extensive application process, Gagnon noted the strong relationships she forms with the student applicants. "I am very pleased when candidates are successful," she said.
In cooperation with up to 50 private colleges and universities throughout the United States, the Watson Fellowship offers college graduates of unusual promise a year of independent exploration and travel outside of the U.S., providing fellows an opportunity to explore with thoroughness a particular interest of their own devising.
Deckrow's project on the importance of Japanese gardens in their local communities evolved while doing thesis research this past summer here at Amherst. Offered the job of cleaning Yushien, the Japanese garden by Webster Center, he explained, "Since I was spending a lot of time cleaning the garden, I decided to get a better idea of what I was taking care of," he said. Deckrow's project evolved from reading several books on Japanese gardens and discovering their important symbolic and communal roles.
Congratulations came while Deckrow was in Tokyo, Japan doing thesis research. "While I was in Japan, I was invited to attend a reception for the Amherst alumni of Tokyo," he said. "As I entered the reception, I saw President [Tony] Marx, who proceeded to greet me and then congratulate me on my selection. Suffice it to say, I was surprised by the whole thing."
Deckrow, who recently received a Fulbright Scholarship as well, will accept his fellowship and study Japanese gardens in places such as Japan, China, Brazil, Australia, Argentina and Brazil. He will consider the importance of these gardens to local Japanese communities and how they serve as sources of both national and ethnic identity.
Gopalakrishnan discovered the Watson Fellowship program after his friend, Joe Rachiele '05, applied for and won the Watson last year. Describing his motivation for applying to the program, he said, "I enjoy travel, and wanted a break from physics before grad school."
Because of the early application process which begins in September, Gopalakrishnan admits that his initial application was extremely rushed. "I found out [the due date] the night before the application was due, so I wrote a hurried and incoherent ten pages-five pages of proposal, five pages of personal statement," he said.
Gopalakrishnan will conduct a literary tour through Siberia to study the impact of history and remoteness on its cultures. "I want to do a book of some sort, and use travel and isolation as both a generative and an organizing force for it," he stated.
Twum, as well, got her idea for her proposal late in the application process. "On the Thursday before the proposal was due, I got the idea of studying domestic violence cross-culturally," she said. Twum credits Prof. Bumiller's class Representing Domestic Violence for inspiration.
Twum will use her scholarship to travel to Britain, India, Sri Lanka, Uganda, South Africa and Nigeria. She will study how domestic violence is constructed and dealt with in various cultures. "I will examine different aspects of society's culture, such as government policies, religion, race and social class, in order to understand the characterization of domestic violence in these societies and the measures used, if any, to reduce or eliminate this social issue," she said.
Three hundred and twenty three Goldwater Scholarships were awarded to undergraduate sophomores and juniors from the U.S. for the 2006-07 academic year. The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,081 mathematics, science and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. The scholarship program was designed to encourage students to pursue careers in the field of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. The one- and two-year scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board for up to a maximum of $7,500 a year.
Kuperberg learned about the scholarship through a professor. "Professor Ethan Temeles of the biology department […] told me about it and encouraged me to apply," she said.
Indeed, Kuperberg credits a pair of associate professors for much of her success. "Special kudos to Associate Professors Ethan Clotfelter and Jill Miller, who are awesome in both their dedication and their enthusiasm," she said. "If I hadn't had the opportunity to do research here over the summer on a Hughes Fellowship, I doubt I would have had the research credentials to get the Goldwater."
Kuperberg hopes to eventually earn a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology and conduct research in evolution or ecology.
Strickman first read about the Goldwater Scholarship in one of the weekly e-mails from the Career Center. "I happened to notice that it was for people majoring in math and science, and thought, 'Hmm. Maybe I should apply for that,'" she said.
After speaking with Gagnon, Kuperberg spent time writing essays about her research and career goals, asking a few professors for recommendations as well. "It was like the college application process in miniature," she noted. "The most nerve-racking part was the interview with the committee. But as nervous as I was, I did have fun talking with them about my research and hearing their questions about computer science."
Strickman credits research she conducted on campus last summer for sparking her increased interest in the field of computer science. "Last summer I spent 10 weeks doing computer science research with Professors Scott Kaplan-from Amherst-and Eliot Moss and Emery Berger-from UMass-working on developing better scheduling algorithms for processes under tight memory bounds, which probably sounds like watching paint dry if you're not into computers," she admitted, "but which was actually a fascinating and incredibly positive experience for me," she said. "It was one of the main things that made me decide that I wanted to go for a Ph.D."
Strickman's ultimate goal is to become a computer science professor. "Over the past two years I've discovered that I really love to do research, and as a professor I could combine that with teaching, another long-time interest," she shared.
The Luce Scholars Program provides income and internships for 15 young Americans to live and work in Asia for a year. The program's aim is to increase awareness of Asia among future leaders in American society.
Candidates are nominated by 67 colleges and universities nationwide. After interviews with the foundation's staff, finalists meet with one of three selection panels who choose the 15 Luce Scholars. Nominees should possess a record of high achievement and exceptional leadership skills. The program begins in August and concludes the following July.
Trindle decided to apply to the program three years after graduating in 2002. "After two years working as a TV and radio reporter for the public broadcasting station in Philadelphia, WHYY," she explained, "I decided to try something I've always wanted to do: international reporting." Trindle stated that she chose to report on China after considering what country would be interesting for her and that Americans would be interested in hearing about.
Trindle then looked at the Amherst Web site for possible fellowships, discovering the Luce Scholars Program, the deadline for which was just days away. She immediately called Gagnon at the fellowship office and told her she was interested in applying.
After being selected as a finalist, Trindle prepared intensely for the final six interviews to get the fellowship. Her previous experience in the field of journalism helped as well, and for that Trindle credits her college education. "In that I was successful in getting into the Luce program because I've been able to make myself into a journalist, I owe it all to my Amherst education, which taught me how to write and how to think," she said.