Scholars at SIU
Recent Scholars at SIU
Elijah Jones
Elijah “Eli” Jones, majoring in chemistry with a specialization in chemical catalysis, is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Jones, a senior from Jackson, Missouri, hopes to become a chemistry professor, applying data science and programming tools to unveil trends in reactivity that would be impossible to observe through traditional means.
Aleida Iriarte
Aleida Iriarte, majoring in zoology and chemistry, is a recepient of two major scholarships: the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in 2024 and the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Award, 2023. Ultimately, Iriarte wants to study the interplay of evolution, animal behavior and chemical ecology and use her research to advocate for the conservation of biodiversity and the diversification of STEM.
Taegan Carpenter
Taegan Carpenter, a freshman majoring in Anthropology and Chinese with a minor in Spanish, has been selected to receive the Boren Scholarship. The Boren Awards are an initiative of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office at the U.S. Department of Defense, which focuses on the combined issues of language proficiency, national security, and the needs of the federal workforce. Taegan will use the Boren Scholarship to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan for one year.
Lincoln Weber
Lincoln Weber, a senior physics major with a concentration in materials and nanophysics from West Lafayette, Indiana has won the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Award (2021). Weber is a 2017 Chancellor’s Scholarship recipient and member of the University Honors Program. He will be applying to Ph.D. programs this fall and making a decision next spring. He plans to complete a five-year program in materials physics, continue his research and publish his work.
Amanda Leppert Gomes
Amanda Leppert Gomes, a senior in anthropology, wins the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Award 20-21. Leppert has participated in several research projects, including the social impacts of a green energy mega project on the local people in Oaxaco, Mexico. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in medical anthropology, which she hopes to use to further explore the impact of the green mega-development in Mexico, looking particularly at the way those with type II diabetes make new claims for care in front of new actors.
Haley Hostetter
Haley Hostetter, a senior in civil engineering, wins the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Award 20-21. Hostetter completed last summer a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program during which she studied at the University of California-Berkeley’s Simulation and Computational Modeling Center – also known as “the SimCenter.” The research project focused on geotechnical earthquake engineering, which later became the center of her NSF fellowship application. She will use her NSF fellowship to pursue her master’s degree in structural engineering at Clemson University.
Allison McMinn
Allison McMinn, a senior in electrical engineering, wins the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Award 20-21. McMinn has participated in research aimed at improving early detection of breast cancer. She will use the NSF fellowship to pursue a doctorate in electrical engineering.
Madison McMinn
Madison McMinn, a Chemistry major, is the recipient of a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 2019-20. She has previously received (2016) an honorable mention for the Goldwater scholarship for Math, Science and Engineering. Madison will graduate Spring 2019 and is currently planning on attending Northeastern University.
Past Scholars
2010s
Austin Weigle
Austin Weigle, a Biology major, received an honorable mention for the 2016 Goldwater scholarship for Math, Science, and Engineering.
Nathan Colley
Edith Ortiz
Edith Ortiz, a Math Education major from Joliet, IL, was named a 2013 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar. She studied abroad in Chile and, upon her return, produced a bilingual educational video to promote study abroad programs.
Lee Stewart
Lee Stewart, a Political Science major from Dowell, IL, was named to the 2011 USA Today All-USA College Academic First-Team.
Jessica Stout
Jessica Stout, a Physiology major from Taylorsville, IL, was named to the USA Today All-USA College Academic First-Team.
Jordan Kabat
Jordan Kabat, a Civil Engineering major from Waltonville, IL, was named to the 2011 USA Today All-USA College Academic Third-Team.
Derrek Langwith
Derreck Langwith, a Linguistics major from Sparta, IL, was chosen to present his research at the 2011 "Posters on the Hill" in Washington D.C.
Jennifer Murray
Jennifer Murray, a Political Science and Economics major from O'Fallon, IL, was named to the 2010 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team.
Lucas Pulley
Lucas Pulley, a Mechanical Engineering major from Gibson City, IL, was named to the 2010 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team.
Andrew Dennhart
Andrew Dennhart, a Zoology major from East Moline, IL, was named to the 2010 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team. In 2009 he was selected as a recipient of Posters on the Hill competition.
2000s
Joe Batir
Joe Batir, a Geology major from Channahon, IL, was named a 2008 Morris K. Udall Scholar, a 2009 Fulbright Scholar, and a 2009 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team Member.
Lisa Furby
Lisa Furby, a Mechanical Engineering major from Carbondale, IL, was named to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team. She is also a 2009 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar Honorable Mention.
Sean Goodin
Sean Goodin, a Physiology and Philosophy major from Red Bud, IL, was named to the 2009 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team.
Chris Williams
Chris Williams, a Civil Engineering major from West Frankfort, IL, was awarded a 2009 Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship and a 2009 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention.
Jared Burde
Jared Burde, a Physics and Electrical Engineering major from Carbondale, IL, was awarded a 2008 Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship and a 2007 Barry M. Goldwater.
Erin Shanle
Erin Shanle, a Biochemistry major from Cobden, IL, was named a 2007 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar.
Fahran Robb
Fahran Robb, an Agricultural Information and Political Science major from Pinckneyville, IL, was named to the 2007 USA Today All-USA College Academic Honorable Mention Team and was awarded a 2007 Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship. In 2006, she was named to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Third Team and was named a Morris K. Udall Honorable Mention in 2005 and 2006.
Kathleen Lask
Kathleen Lask, a Physics and Mathematics major from Mendon, IL, was named a 2006 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar.
Austin Mohr
Austin Mohr, a Mathematics and computer science major from Marion, IL, was named a 2006 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar.
Donald Tempinson
Donald Tempinson, a Civil Engineering major from Lebanon, IL, won a 2005 "rising junior" scholarship from the Department of Homeland Security.
Teresa Gisburne
Teresa Gisburne, a Zoology major from Elmhurt, IL, was named a 2004 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar.
Ralphi Rechitsky
Raphi Rechitsky, a Sociology and Philosophy major from Kiev, Ukraine, was named a 2004 Morris K. Udall Scholar.