VCU Life Sciences and VCU School of Engineering students receive honorable mentions for Goldwater Scholarships

By Loreal Bond
University News Services

Virginia Commonwealth University students Derek Austin and Elizabeth Proffitt have received honorable mentions from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.

The foundation presents more than 300 scholarships annually to students throughout the United States who have outstanding potential and intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.

Austin, 17, a sophomore in VCU Life Sciences, is majoring in bioinformatics. His career goal is to earn a Ph.D. in human genetics. He hopes to lead a research lab focusing on the issue of celiac disease, a genetic digestive disease, and other immunological disorders that have strong genetic components.

Proffitt, 16, is majoring in biomedical engineering and chemistry. She wants to conduct research that will improve peoples’ lives and well-being, bringing together medical care and lab research to advance the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.

Students in their sophomore or junior years are nominated for the Goldwater scholarship by their universities. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, books and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 annually.

Students who receive honorable mentions are encouraged to apply the following year.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering and to foster excellence in those fields. Congress authorized the foundation in 1986 in honor of Sen. Barry M. Goldwater.

For more information about the foundation and to view a complete list of scholars and honorable mentions, visit www.act.org/goldwater.