Two MSU students have been named Goldwater scholars and two others received honorable mention in the 2011 competition for the prestigious scholarship. Daniel Barta and Casey Donoven were awarded scholarships, while Nate Carroll and David Stevens received honorable mention.
These awards continue the university’s tradition of strong performance in national scholarship competitions.

“The excitement still hasn’t worn off,” said Donoven. The junior from Kremlin plans to pursue research in fractals. “I can’t believe I am one of 275 students to get it.”

Barta expressed similar sentiments. “I was just incredibly excited to have gotten it,” he said.

Both Barta and Donoven admitted to holding a lifelong dream of pursuing their current fields of interest. Barta, a junior studying paleontology, traveled to China last summer to research dinosaur eggs and later wrote his Goldwater research proposal about the experience. Donoven’s proposal dealt with the correlation between heartbeats and fractals.

Goldwaters are considered highly prestigious scholarships although MSU has a record of winning many, Barta’s and Donoven’s scholarships bring the number to 53. This is on par with institutions such as Harvard, Princeton and the University of Chicago.

Dr. Ilse-Mari Lee, director of the Honors Program and the advisor to many of the students applying for prestigious scholarships, considers this achievement an excellent reflection of the abilities of the students, the quality of the educators and the rigor of the studies at MSU. “These are the students that are going to make a difference in the world,” Lee said .

MSU students have won more than just Goldwaters. In the past 30 years, many different prestigious scholarships have been won by students at MSU. Students seeking these scholarships come from a variety of academic backgrounds and are encouraged to speak with the Honors Department in planning an application.

Boren Award
What you get: Up to $20,000 for study abroad. Recipients must travel to a foreign country identified as important to national security and agree to work with the federal government.
How you get it: Students of all academic backgrounds are considered, although those students with the best chance are those who propose to study a lesser known language in their country of choice.
Who has it: Two students from MSU hold a Boren Award, both of whom received the scholarship in 2010: Katy Hansen and Lara Wabrek.

Goldwater Scholarship
What you get: Up to $7,500 per year for sophomores and juniors, for use towards academic expenses. Recipients must intend to pursue a career in the sciences, engineering or mathematics.
How you get it: Students must hold either sophomore or junior standing, have a GPA equivalent to a “B” and be in the upper fourth of their class. The ideal student is very involved in research and appears to have great potential in his or her chosen field.
Who has it: 53 students since 1989. The most recent winners are Daniel Barta, Casey Donoven, LoriBeth Everts and Tim Brox.

Mitchell Scholarship
What you get: Tuition, housing and money towards living expenses, for study abroad at the postgraduate level in Ireland. Also, a sizable stipend for travel to other countries.
How you get it: Commitment to schooling, evidence of leadership and community service are considered the most important criteria.
Who has it: Shane Colvin was awarded the scholarship most recently, in 2008, and Michelle Miles received a Mitchell in 2001.

Pearson Prize for Higher Education
What you get: Depending on the level of award won, either $10,000 or $500.
How you get it: Students do not need stellar grades or a set path of study but they must have a strong commitment to community service and demonstrate leadership.
Who has it: Griffin Stevens won a Pearson Prize in 2010, the year the scholarship was first introduced.

Rhodes Scholarship
What you get: The payment of all institutional costs for attending Oxford University, travel costs to and from Oxford and a stipend to cover expenses during vacations.
How you get it: Applicants must exhibit achievements in both academics and sports. They must also prove to have sound moral character, leadership skills and a sense of community spirit tending towards duty and kindness.
Who has it: Katy Hansen won the Rhodes in 2010. Three other Rhodes Scholarships have been won by MSU students between 1995 and 2006.

Truman Scholarship
What you get: Up to $30,000, although recipients are expected to pursue a graduate degree in a public service field.
How you get it: Potential Truman Scholars must have strong grades, be involved in community service and campus activities and be service-oriented in their career plans.
Who has it: Most recently, Kathryn Connor received a Truman in 2003. From 1983 to 1990, 10 other MSU students have won Trumans.