A record-setting four OU students received prestigious Goldwater scholarships Thursday. The award is granted to students pursuing mathematics, natural sciences or engineering careers.

OU President David L. Boren said OU students can be proud that all of OU's nominees were named Goldwater Scholars.

Sara Francis, biochemistry junior; Wesley Ketchum, astrophysics senior; Heather Rice, zoology and biomedical sciences junior; and Sarah Lumpkins, engineering physics senior, received the scholarships based on their potential to achieve in their areas.

"We are proud to have each of these four students selected to serve as representatives of the University of Oklahoma," Boren said.

The one- and two-year scholarships provided by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program will cover up to $7,500 worth of tuition, fees, books and room and board per year. OU students received four of 323 scholarships granted, competing with 1,081 total applicants from across the country.

"The record-setting number of Goldwater Scholars selected from OU this year is evidence of the university's solid strength in the areas of science, math and technology," Boren said.

Goldwater Scholarshipso Four OU students--the maximum number of nominees allotted each university--were named Goldwater Scholars Thursday. o OU students received four of 323 scholarships granted, competing with 1,081 other applicants from across the country.o The scholarship will include $7,500 worth of tuition, fees, books and room and board per year.

Nancy L. Mergler, senior vice president and provost, said for all four nominees to succeed at this rigorous national competition is remarkable.

"I don't think we have ever gotten more than three," Mergler said. "It reflects the close collaboration our undergraduate students have with the science and engineering faculty."

Mergler said this indicates the quality of programs available to students at OU. She said she expects these students to go on to do great things.

"I've always been interested in this type of research," Lumpkins said. "This will further motivate me to pursue a degree in research."

She said the great number of scholars from OU proves the research program is nationally competitive.

In 2004, Lumpkins received a Research Experience for Undergaduates award and grant to study and develop preliminary theoretical models at the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University. She also researched the hadronization process at the European Laboratory for Nuclear Physics in Switzerland last summer.

Founder and president of the Sooner Space Society, Lumpkins is also the team leader for the American Institution of Aeronautics and Astronautics Zero-Gravity proposal group through NASA. She volunteers for an outreach program called Sooner Elementary Engineering and Science at local schools as well.

Lumpkins, who plans to achieve her doctorate in theoretical nuclear physics, will study biophysics at Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas this summer.

Francis began research on genetic markers last summer and has worked with OU chemistry and biochemistry professor Ralph Wheeler on protein folding this year. Her achievements in the academic arena include being a Regents Scholar and Outstanding Freshman and Sophomore in the Chemistry/Biochemistry Department, but extend to other aspects as well.

Francis is a captain for the OU Women's Ultimate Frisbee team, a philanthropy and disaster relief chairwoman of the Red Cross Club and a volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

She will participate in an eight-week Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Iowa this summer, at the end of which she will make a formal presentation of her research. Attaining medical and doctoral degrees in pediatric oncology or pediatric cardiology are among her future plans.

Ketchum has collaborated with OU physics and astronomy professors David Branch and Edward Baron while researching spectra of supernovae. With plans to graduate early, Ketchum will participate in the Physics Research Experience for Undergraduates Program at the University of Washington in Seattle this summer.

This Regents Scholar and Robert C. Byrd Scholar plans to obtain a doctorate in theoretical astrophysics.

Rice, who began research with the Free Radical Biology and Aging Research Program in 2004, said she hopes to work on preventing, treating and curing diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The Journal of Neuroinflammation recently accepted a paper she co-authored based on her work.

Rice has worked with OU assistant zoology professor Randall Hewes, performing genetic crosses with fruit flies, since 2004. This Regents Scholar also volunteers with Full Circle Senior Adult Day Care Center and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Lumpkins said support from her professors and OU's research tools helped her to achieve this award.

"The research they have here is great and professors help me to find research opportunities at other schools," Lumpkins said.

She said she's always been interested in science and astronomy, but encouragement from physics advisors prompted her to apply for the scholarship.
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