EUGENE–Three University of Oregon science students were recognized recently as among the nation’s top undergraduate sophomores or juniors in science and mathematics when they received the nationally renowned Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.

Nisha B. Makadia of Beaverton, Todd L. Blevins of Eugene and McMinnville, and Benjamin J. Paxton of Newberg were among the 304 students–179 men and 125 women–nationwide awarded the scholarship for 1999—2000. The one- and two-year scholarships are specifically awarded to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

The 1999 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,181 mathematics, science and engineering students, nominated by the faculties of 521 colleges and universities nationwide.

Seventeen scholars are mathematics majors, 184 are science majors, 42 are majoring in engineering, 4 are majoring in computer science and 57 have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering and computer disciplines. Virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. degree.

The federally endowed recognition program was established in 1986 by the U.S. Congress to pay tribute to Sen. Barry M. Goldwater. Its purpose is to foster and encourage excellence in science and mathematics by encouraging outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. The scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

In the past 11 years, trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation that administers the program have awarded 2,711 scholarships worth approximately $28 million.

• Makadia is a junior biochemistry major and a resident of 8640 S.W. Thoroughbred Place, Beaverton. After finishing her undergraduate degree in biochemistry, Makadia plans to enter graduate school and earn a Ph.D. in biochemical engineering. With this background, she plans to pursue a career in biotechnology research emphasizing the development of gene therapy and pharmaceutical therapeutics.

"The scholarship will allow me to start saving money for graduate school," she says. "However, the honor of being named a Goldwater scholar means more to me than the money. I consider this to be one of the greatest achievements of my academic career."

Makadia says if it were not for Alice Barkan of the Institute of Molecular Biology, she probably would not have received the scholarship. Barkan provided Makadia with a research opportunity after her freshman year, while other professors turned her away for lack of experience.

The recipient of Presidential and Rotary scholarships, she has been secretary of the Presidential Student Scholars Association, project chair and senior adviser for Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies, and historian of the Ancient Order of Druids honor society.

• Blevins is a junior chemistry and German major and a resident of 2476 Portland St., Eugene, who formerly lived at 1683 S.W. Bonnie Jean Place, McMinnville. He is interested in "chemistry that affects people’s lives." After Blevins earns his doctoral degree and finds an academic position, he would like to teach and to conduct pioneering research using probe microscopy to manipulate and characterize macromolecules at tiny, nanometer scales. One type of large molecule, conducting polymers, could be used in future electronic devices to aid in monitoring chemical water quality.

Blevins says receiving the scholarship will make his fifth year at the university less economically stressful. With a double major, he says this last year will allow him to complete requirements as well as to explore more areas of interest in both chemistry and German.

"Scholarships such as the Goldwater are so important because they help students pursue special-interest topics and allow them to extend their degree program if necessary," he says. "I think people should be allowed the time to learn a foreign language and receive economic support for international study."

The recipient of a Kiwanis Achievement Award for Biology, he organized spring trips to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for the Robert D. Clark Honors College and designed a water quality education project in conjunction with middle school students.

• Paxton is a junior chemistry and mathematics major and a resident of 812 Green Valley Dr., Newberg. He says he will use the scholarship money toward his fifth and final year at UO.

Paxton plans to pursue a Ph.D. in physical chemistry and hopes to become a university research professor. In such an environment, he could both teach and do research, he says.

"The scholarship will enable me to attend the UO next year for the entire year," says Paxton. "This will allow me to take more classes and gain more research experiences, better preparing me for graduate school and shaping my scientific interests."

An undergraduate research assistant for UO solid-state chemist Catherine Page and physical chemist Geraldine Richmond, Paxton is an officer in the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society who helped to plan and coordinate the first undergraduate research symposium for Oregon colleges and universities. He also is the recipient of UO Presidential and Beck-Rocchi scholarships.

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