University Honors Program

National Recognition & Awards

Goldwater Scholarship
Truman Scholarship
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship

Goldwater Scholarship

Rachel Smith

Rachel Smith

Rachel Smith, a sophomore Agricultural Biochemistry major, was awarded a 2006 Goldwater Scholarship. Rachel began her research that was the basis of her selection as a Goldwater Scholar in the 2005 Freshman Mentor Program and was awarded a 2005 Honors Summer Research Grant to continue her research. Working with her mentor, Dr. W. Allen Miller, Rachel’s research involves collecting and sequencing isolates of Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and introducing BYDV resistance into small grain cereal crops. Rachel plans to continue her education to obtain a Ph.D. in Biochemistry or Immunology.

The Goldwater Scholarship Program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields. 323 Goldwater Scholars were selected from a field of 1,081 sophomores and juniors who were nominated by colleges and universities nationwide. The one and two year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

Truman Scholarship

Amber Herman

Amber Herman

Amber was selected as a Truman Scholar in 2006. A Public Service and Administration major in the College of Agriculture, Amber has been very active in working on problems related to hunger in the United States and in Africa. In 2005, Amber represented Oxfam America at the G8 Summit in Scotland and at the United Nations Youth Assembly. Amber has volunteered in rural Kenya and is conducting research for her senior Honors Project on youth farmers in Uganda. Amber plans to pursue a M.S. and Ph.D. in Food Policy and International Rural Development.

The Truman Foundation awards 75 scholarships annually for college students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Scholars were selected on the basis of leadership potential, intellectual ability, and likelihood of 'making a difference.' Each Scholarship provides $30,000 for graduate study. Scholars also receive priority admission and supplemental financial aid at some premier graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship

Ramsey Tesdell

Ramsey Tesdell

Ramsey was selected as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in 2006. Ramsey is a Technical Communication major, and has been actively involved in Time for Peace, Uhuru Magazine, the Society for Technical Communication, the Studio for New Media, the Iowa State Daily, the Committee on Lectures, and Iowa State Admissions. As a Rotary Scholar, Ramsey will be studying Arabic and Hebrew at the Rothberg International School of Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships are designed to further international understanding and goodwill among people of different countries. Ambassadorial Scholarships fund one year of study abroad and are intended to help cover round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and educational supplies up to $26,000.

For more information about these and other scholarship opportunities, visit our list of scholarships.