WSU Honors College Junior Patterson Receives Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship
PULLMAN, Wash.— Washington State University Honors College student Whitney Ann Patterson has been named one of six students from the state of Washington to receive the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for the next academic year.
Patterson, a junior majoring in materials science engineering at WSU, will be awarded the $7,500 Goldwater for her senior year.
The national Goldwater Scholarship is considered to be one of the nation’s most prestigious awards given to undergraduates studying in the sciences. It is awarded to about 300 U.S. college sophomores and juniors every year. Established by Congress in 1986, the goal of the Goldwater Scholarship is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.
Currently, Patterson is working with M. Grant Norton, professor of mechanical and materials engineering, to study the characteristics of gold nanoparticles applied to the surface of silica nanosprings to continue developments in alternative energy technology. She hopes to gain experience in industry before attending graduate school with a focus on renewable energy. During the 2006-2007 school year, Patterson worked with professor Kip Finley to create an educational Web site about steel for the Ferrous Metallurgy Education Today initiative.
Patterson is the treasurer of the Material Advantage (MA) club and last year volunteered her time as the College of Engineering and Architecture Coordinating Committee representative for MA. She enjoys participating in community outreach activities with the group, such as making educational kits for middle school students and teaching nanoscience to children at the Palouse Discovery Science Center.
April 6, 2009
CONTACT: Merik Metos, Communications Intern, WSU Undergraduate Education, 509-335-8070, mmetos@wsu.edu