Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) junior Jennifer M. Mann has been named a 2012 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The Goldwater Scholarship program fosters and encourages outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering, and is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields. Since 2002, 18 WPI students have been named Goldwater Scholars or honorable mention recipients.
Established in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the foundation has awarded more than 6,600 scholarships worth approximately $58 million dollars. This year's 282 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,123 undergraduates studying mathematics, science, and engineering who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. The one- and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
"It is particularly gratifying to have another WPI student recognized by the Goldwater Scholarship program because it recognizes both the excellence and relevance of WPI's undergraduate programs that have been so clearly demonstrated by the impressive number of our students who have been selected for this important award," said WPI Provost Eric Overström. "The accomplishments by Jennifer Mann exemplify the innovative and important work being done at WPI."
Jennifer Mann, of Chelmsford, Mass., is a junior biomedical engineering major who plans a PhD in biomedical engineering to conduct research in biomechanics. She has had several research experiences at WPI, UMass Medical School, and Genzyme. In Professor Marsha Rolle’s lab at WPI, she researched the development of blood vessel substitutes, and she presented the research at a national biomedical engineering conference.
Jennifer is currently completing an interdisciplinary project in Copenhagen, Denmark. She plays violin in the string ensemble and competes on the varsity cross-country and track teams. She has been an academic tutor and peer learning assistant, and is a member of Tau Beta Pi, as well as the biomedical engineering honor society.
Of the scholars, 174 are men, 108 are women, and virtually all intend to obtain a PhD as their degree objective. Twenty Scholars are mathematics majors, 194 are science and related majors, 58 are majoring in engineering, and 10 are computer science majors. Many of the Scholars have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering, and computer disciplines. The one- and two-year scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
Goldwater Scholars have very impressive academic qualifications that have garnered the attention of prestigious postgraduate fellowship programs. Recent Goldwater Scholars also have been awarded 78 Rhodes Scholarships, 112 Marshall Awards, 104 Churchill Scholarships, and numerous other distinguished fellowships. Since its first award in 1989, the Goldwater Foundation has bestowed more than 6,200 scholarships worth approximately $39 million.
