Students Honored with Prestigious National Goldwater Scholarships

The efforts of two Georgia Southern students have been recognized by one of the nation’s most prestigious academic grants in support of science, engineering, technology and mathematics.

Georgia Southern senior Katherine Mincey of Portal, Ga., has been selected as a Barry M. Goldwater scholar and will receive up to $7,500 in scholarships.

Junior chemistry major Stephen Crooke of Claxton, Ga., received an honorable mention from the program. Both students are enrolled in the University Honors Program and in the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology (COST).

“Given that these awards are the most prestigious honor an undergraduate student majoring in science, technology, engineering or math can receive, we cannot help but be proud and inspired by their achievements.” said Bret Danilowicz, dean of COST.

Mincey, a biology major, is researching plants’ potential for drawing harmful metals from the soil without having a negative effect on the ecosystem.

Crooke’s research focuses on efficient and cost-effective ways to create chemical compounds in synthetic sponges that have the same properties as sea sponges – potentially useful in the fight against cancer.

“The natural products that have been isolated have displayed a promising amount of activity in biological testing, and my research lab will eventually be sending our synthetic ‘natural’ products to the National Cancer Institute for testing as anti-cancer treatments,” Crooke explained.

He said Georgia Southern’s strong support of research by undergraduates has been key to his success. “I feel that my close relationships with my advisers, Dr. Michele McGibony and Dr. Christine Whitlock, helped in progressing my research through the years. I feel that this close relationship with my professors here at Georgia Southern is a major advantage that I had when applying for the Goldwater Scholarship which students at larger universities might not have enjoyed.”

“All of the professors here genuinely care about how the students perform and encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities that arise,” agreed Mincey. “Their hard work and dedication is seen inside and outside of the classroom. “For me, the guidance and support of Dr. Risa Cohen and my mentor Dr. William Irby, as well as many other professors, have been influential in my accomplishments and were important in my application for the Goldwater Scholarship.”