4 Clarkson undergrads are Goldwater scholars

POTSDAM — Four Clarkson University undergraduates are getting a pat on the back — with a sack of money for three of them — for their academic acumen.

The students have been named Goldwater scholars, a fund set up in honor of former U.S. Sen. Barry M. Goldwater. Competition for the program — one of the most prestigious in the country for science, math and engineering students — is fierce.

Three of the four will receive $7,500 scholarships every year until they graduate. The fourth will not receive any money, but will still be able to call himself a Goldwater scholar and tap into the reputation of the organization.

"To have three Goldwater scholars and one honorable mention, for such a small school, was an amazing accomplishment," said Kenneth G. Yancey, Lowville, a chemistry and biomolecular science double major. "It's sort of a validation for scientists, especially for undergraduates. It's a mechanism to go forward and to show that the government supports your work and your research."

Mr. Yancey earned the honorable mention. Because he is graduating a year ahead of schedule to pursue graduate studies, he would not have been able to accept the money had it been offered to him.

Those receiving the money for the duration of their undergraduate education are Mr. Yancey's roommate, Jeevaka I. Somaratna, a civil and mechanical engineering double major from Sri Lanka; Devon J. Jedamski, aeronautical and mechanical engineering double major from Holley; and Guangtao Zhang, a mechanical engineering and applied math and statistics student from Acton, Mass.

The money "is going to come in more than handy; it's just awesome," Mr. Somaratna said. "It's going to wipe off a lot of debt. More than that, I'm happy about the prestige. It will open a lot of doors into grad school."

All four of the students are part of the college's Honors Program, which accepts 30 of the college's best students each year.

The Goldwater program only allows four applicants from each university. This is the first time all four of Clarkson's applicants have been recognized.

The university has had at least one Goldwater scholar every year for the past 12.

"It's the world-class institutions who are receiving these," Honors Program Director Jonathan D. Goss said. "Princeton basically gets four every year, but we're catching up."

All of the Goldwater scholars say they plan to attend graduate school, and most said they expect to go straight into a doctoral program that will allow them to continue their current research projects, which include attempts to understand and control indoor air pollution, designing more efficient turbines to creating a less-energy intensive binder for concrete, and advanced tissue engineering.

They also said they expect the Goldwater nod will help with graduate-school applications and future careers.

"It's definitely helpful for my career plan, my dreams," Miss Zhang said. "It's very encouraging, but at the same time, it's a step forward. That's not the end of this, and I think all of us are aware of that."