Tag: Oklahoma State University

  • 2 Oklahoma State University Students Awarded Goldwater Scholarships

    2 Oklahoma State University Students Awarded Goldwater Scholarships

    Two Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology students have been awarded Barry M. Goldwater scholarships.

    Trey Dorrell and Sam Glenn were chosen from a competitive pool of 1,353 applications from 446 colleges nationally. The prestigious Goldwater Scholarships, which last one or two years, provide up to $7,500 in financial aid each year.

    For almost 30 years, the Goldwater Foundation has supported the development of future leaders in subjects such as natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The foundation supports research careers by offering scholarships to college sophomores and juniors. This helps to increase the number of highly qualified individuals who can defend the nation, find cures for diseases, and lead future generations of scientists.

    Dorrell and Glenn are the OSU’s 33rd and 34th Goldwater Scholars. Over the last six years alone, OSU has produced 13 Goldwater Scholars.

    Dorrell, a junior studying in mechanical and aerospace engineering with a minor in Spanish, enrolled at OSU as a Freshman Research Scholar. He stated that his Spanish minor was important to his Goldwater application since it expanded his communication abilities and cultural awareness.

    Dorrell received a Wentz Research Scholarship for his work refining 3D-printed hybrid rocket engines. He previously worked as an engineering technician at the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education and is currently the Vice President of the OSU Space Cowboys.

    In addition, Dorrell is close to finishing his Honors College Degree.To achieve this distinction, students must complete honors courses in a variety of academic areas, as well as a concentration of study in their major.

    “The Honors Degree is another indication of Trey’s impressive academic commitment and aptitude; well done, Trey,” stated Dr. Richard Frohock, interim dean of the Honors College.

    Dorrell described obtaining the Goldwater Scholarship as an important milestone in his academic career.

    “It’s a validation of my commitment to research and an incredible boost to pursue my aspirations in aerospace engineering with even greater enthusiasm,” he told the audience.

    Dorrell plans to use his OSU degree to contribute to ground-breaking innovations in aerospace technology, with a focus on propulsion systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.

    “I hope to play a pivotal role in the future of space exploration, pushing the boundaries of human ingenuity,” Dorrell said in a statement.

    Glenn, a junior studying in both mechanical engineering and mathematics, has been conducting research in the Applied Fluid Mechanics Lab since his freshman year. He was chosen as a Niblack Research Scholar his sophomore year and a Wentz Research Scholar his junior year, and he is currently researching the effect of wing structure on the aerodynamic performance of microscopic insects. Glenn has presented his findings at regional and national conferences.

    Glenn said his family had a significant influence on his decision to pursue research. His parents met while attending graduate school, and his grandfather earned a degree in chemical engineering at OSU.

    Glenn intends to pursue a doctorate in mechanical engineering and do research on hypersonic flows through computational fluid dynamics.

    “Winning the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is an incredible honor,” Mr. Glenn stated. “It shows me that all the hours I’ve spent in the lab and classroom are paying off.”

    Glenn spent his time at OSU working in Dr. Arvind Santhanakrishnan’s laboratory and has just begun working with Dr. Chitrarth Prasad as well.

    “Dr. Santhanakrishnan continually pushed me to be a better researcher, and Dr. Prasad helped me discover my passion for computational fluid dynamics,” Glenn went on to say.

    Both students believe that the guidance they got at CEAT has been beneficial to their academic aspirations.

    “Dr. [Kurt] Rouser, my research mentor, and Dr. [Jamey] Jacob and Professor [Carisa] Ramming, my other recommenders, have profoundly shaped my scholarly path,” Dorrell said in a statement. “Their advice and assistance have been helpful. OSU’s dedicated faculty and instructors constantly help students like myself reach our greatest potential.”

    Many recipients have gone on to win further honors, including the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship, the Rhodes Scholarship, the Churchill Scholarship, and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship. Such recognition exemplifies the level of Goldwater scholars.

    The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established to honor Sen.  Goldwater and his commitment to fostering excellence in the STEM fields. Since its inception, the foundation has provided scholarships to thousands of undergraduate students, empowering them to pursue careers in science, mathematics and engineering. For more information, visit the Goldwater Foundation.