Two FSU students claim prestigious Goldwater Scholarships
A pair of 糖心vlog students have been awarded Barry Goldwater Scholarships. The nationally coveted award goes to outstanding science, mathematics and engineering sophomores and juniors for their research experiences and potential.
Jack Lyons, a fourth-year dual major in physics and music from Jacksonville, Florida, and Nicole Povelikin, a sophomore biology major from New York City, will receive up to $7,500 for their next two academic years from the to be put toward tuition, fees, books and room and board.
It鈥檚 the second consecutive year that FSU has had two winners of the scholarship.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit of a shock because I came in as a music major and I am also earning my degree in brass performance,鈥 Lyons said, before noting that he found his love of condensed-matter physics at FSU. 鈥淔rom the technology in our phones and laptops to solar cells and gaming consoles, condensed-matter physics really drives our society.鈥
Lyons has completed an internship focused on quantum computing and is working toward a minor in computer science. He said the Goldwater is an affirmation that he鈥檚 on the right track.
鈥淚 am very, very thankful for this opportunity and for the advisers that just said, 鈥楪o for it,鈥欌 he said. 鈥淚 never would have guessed I鈥檇 be named a finalist, much less win. But this reaffirms for me that, yes, I can be a physicist and have a successful career in physics research.鈥
Povelikin said the Goldwater will help her continue to explore interests that began as a child when she loved to catch lizards 鈥 and any other critters she could get her hands on.
鈥淚 knew from about age five I wanted to study lizards and that I was interested in herpetology,鈥 she said. Her love was nurtured in part by regular visits to New York鈥檚 American Museum of Natural History. That interest in lizards sparked deeper curiosities.
鈥淚 questioned 鈥楬ow did they come to be?鈥 and then 鈥楬ow did we come to be where we are now?鈥欌 she said. 鈥淭he answer to that of course resides in evolutionary biology. It kind of gives you a new perspective on life to unravel these questions.鈥
Herpetology is a field without many women, and with that in mind, Povelikin said the Goldwater Scholarship is a reminder to continue following her curiosity no matter the perceived obstacles. It鈥檚 also an occasion to say thanks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big reminder for how thankful I am to everyone in the research community and all the professors here who have been so incredible to me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 am incredibly passionate about what I do. It鈥檚 what I devote most of my life to.鈥
Jesse Wieland, assistant director of the Office of National Fellowships at FSU, called this year鈥檚 Goldwater application cycle exceptionally competitive and said Lyons and Povelikin are among only 413 students selected for the award nationally.
鈥淭heir maturity, commitment to academic excellence and the clarity with which they detailed their academic futures is what, I believe, set their applications apart,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e could not continue our success with the Goldwater without the amazing faculty we have here at FSU, from those who volunteer on our Goldwater Faculty Committee, to all those who have mentored our applicants over the years, provided feedback on their research or written a recommendation letter.鈥
For more information on national awards and fellowships, visit the Office of National Fellowships website at . For more information about the Goldwater Scholarship, visit .