Two YSU students among Goldwater Scholars

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University juniors Andrew Morgan of Vienna and Jenna Wise of Hubbard have been selected as Goldwater Scholars for the 2016-17 academic year, marking a first in YSU history for two students to receive the prestigious award in the same year.

In all, only 11 Ohio residents were chosen.

Selected on the basis of academic merit, Morgan and Wise are two of 252 total sophomores and juniors in the United State chosen from a field of 1,150 mathematics, science and engineering students from 415 colleges and universities.

YSU sophomore Zack While of Austintown was recognized as a Goldwater Honorable Mention.

“Since 1997, we’ve had seven students, all members of YSU Honors, named Goldwater Scholars, along with four honorable mentions,” said Amy Cossentino, director of the YSU Honors College. “It really speaks to what outstanding potential our students continue to have in the STEM fields.”

Established in 1986, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program is named in honor of the former U.S. senator who served for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. The purpose of the program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding one- and two-year scholarships – covering the cost of tuition, books and room and board up to $7,500 a year – to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields. The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

Earlier this academic year, senior Ashley Orr was also nationally recognized. She is the university’s first Rhodes Scholar. YSU is one of only two public universities in Ohio with two Goldwater and one Rhodes scholarship winners this year. Ohio State University is the other.