VCU news

By Mike Porter

A Virginia Commonwealth University student has been awarded the Goldwater Scholarship, the premier national scholarship for undergraduate science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students.

Nicolas “Nico” Andrade, a sophomore, will receive scholarship funding to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. Andrade, a member of the VCU Honors College, is majoring in electrical engineering through the School of Engineering and physics through the College of Humanities and Sciences. He is the 10th VCU student to be awarded a Goldwater Scholarship since 2007.

“We are excited for Nico on his well-deserved selection as a 2014 Goldwater Scholar. He joins a distinguished group of outstanding VCU undergraduate research students who have received this honor,” said Michael Rao, Ph.D., president of VCU. “We also want to acknowledge the important role of Nico's research mentor, Dr. Ümit Özgür, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. VCU's emphasis on the undergraduate research experience ensures that future students will continue to be competitive for Goldwater Scholarships and admission to the top graduate programs in their field of study. It is another benefit of the university’s status as a top research university."

Andrade, who is from Mechanicsville, is a 2012 graduate of the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. In graduate school, he intends to conduct research in optoelectronics to improve the efficiency of light emitters. After his graduate studies, he plans to continue to pursue translational research in optoelectronics devices while teaching at a university level.

The Goldwater Scholarship Program, which honors the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, was designed to foster and encourage outstanding undergraduate students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.

Andrade applied for the Goldwater Scholarship through the National Scholarship Office, which assists VCU students and alumni who wish to compete for prestigious national and international scholarships.