Calvin tops all liberal arts colleges for # of Goldwater Scholars since 2008

Since 2008, 14 Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Mich.) students have been named
Goldwater Scholars. During that six-year stretch, no other liberal arts college
in the United States has had more than 11.

"The level of consistency is incredible," said Carolyn Anderson, a chemistry
professor at Calvin who also serves as the college's liaison with the Goldwater
Foundation. "It's a testament to the work the faculty does, the level of
students we have, and of how integral they are to what we do. It's nice to see
them get the recognition they deserve."

The Goldwater Scholarship is the premiere undergraduate award of its type in
the field of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. The program was
designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in
those areas.

In 2013, three Calvin students were honored as Goldwater Scholars, with a
fourth receiving honorable mention status, putting Calvin in elite company
again this year. (Only three colleges and universities nationwide have more
Scholars than Calvin in 2013.) And, Calvin finds itself on a short list of
colleges and universities that have three recognized scholars, which includes
the likes of Harvard, John Hopkins University and University of Michigan, to
name a few.

Equally as impressive is Calvin's nomination success rate. According to
Anderson all colleges and universities are able to nominate up to four
students. Since 2008, 22 of the 24 nominations submitted by Calvin students
have received recognition. (This includes eight students who received honorable
mention status.)

“To have three honorees from one institution is unusual; to have four is
almost unheard of,” said Matt Walhout, Calvin’s dean for research and
scholarship. “Calvin students have had great success in the Goldwater
competition in recent years. This is one of the big payoffs of our extensive
undergraduate research program.”

“I think what it does is it gives us external validation of what we already
know," said Anderson. "We know we have excellent students that do excellent
research that is cutting edge ... . This gives us a certain foothold and
credibility. We say we can do things. Goldwater agrees. Our students have done
it."

The 2013 Goldwater Scholars include biochemistry and engineering double major
Nicole Michmerhuizen (Holland), chemistry major John Strikwerda (Grandville)
and biology major Abigail Streelman (Holland). Physics major Jacob Lampen
(Zeeland), received honorable mention status. The four students, all in their
third year at Calvin, are researching and publishing articles alongside
faculty, and then sharing their research outcomes at national and regional
conferences.

Michmerhuizen is working with biochemistry professor Kumar Sinniah researching
a region of DNA associated with a person's predisposition to developing type 1
diabetes.

"Research is so fascinating to me because there is so much we don't yet
understand about this complex world and our place in it," said Michmerhuizen,
"and I feel so incredibly blessed to be honored in this area that I am also so
passionate about."

Strikwerda is working with chemistry professor Roger DeKock on research
concerning the atom and its electronic structure. He says through his research
he's learned that "when you overcome one challenge, the answer that you find
can bring about several more questions and several more challenges.

"My research experience at Calvin ... has taught me not to shy away from these
challenges and these difficult questions; rather, to embrace them as the nature
of scientific research and then earnestly seek their answers, no matter where
those answers may lead."

Streelman is working with biology professor John Wertz on a project that
integrates computer science and biology. She is developing new techniques for
researching bacterial communities (like those found in a water sample or in the
human intestine) using one of Calvin's new state-of-the-art instruments, the
MALDI TOF mass spectrometer for analysis.

"It is such an honor to be put in this group of talented students and to
represent Calvin in this way," said Streelman. "I'm really excited where this
will take me in the future. Grad schools like to see things like this on
applications, which makes me a lot less nervous about the application process
next year."

Lampen is working with Walhout on studying the formation of sparks between
electrically charged plates. The project connects with various subfields of
fundamental physics, and its applications could range from water purification
to the production of ultraviolet radiation.

The students all share in the excitement of being able to do such high-level,
cutting-edge research at Calvin. But, they are equally as impressed with the
context in which they are able to do it.

"The professors here care so deeply not only about science, but also about the
God who orchestrated it and the students that they mentor," said
Michmerhuizen.

This year, a total of 271 scholarships were awarded from a nationwide pool of
1,107 mathematics, science and engineering nominees. Each of the Goldwater
Scholars will receive $7,500 to be used toward tuition, room and board, books
and supplies.

For more information on the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in
Education Program, visit http://www.act.org/goldwater

Contact Carolyn Anderson at 616-526-6343.

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Received on Fri Apr 5 10:05:58 2013