National scholarship programs come calling for Baylor students

With recognizable names like Goldwater and Fulbright, some of the most prestigious scholarships in the nation have revealed their winners in recent weeks — and it should come as no surprise that Baylor is again well-represented among the recipients.

These awards provide the students with a means to pay for ongoing studies while shining prestige on the university, the recipient, and his or her individual department. The following Bears, each of whom is either a senior or 2014 graduate, will use their awards to fling green and gold afar in many different disciplines:

• Ian Boys, a University Scholar from Allen, Texas, won a Goldwater Scholarship and will pursue his doctorate in molecular biology.
• Jeff Cross, BA ’14, a University Scholar from Flower Mound, Texas, received a Fulbright Scholarship and will teach English in Germany next year.
• Thomas Gibson, a mathematics and Russian double major from Houston, received Goldwater Scholarship honorable mention recognition. He plans to pursue a PhD in mathematics.
• Rebecca Holden, a chemistry major from Allen, will pursue her doctorate in chemistry after receiving a Goldwater Scholarship.
• Jonathan Keim, BS ’14, a chemistry major from Salisbury, Md., was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and will pursue a master’s degree in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of Nottingham.
• Elijah Maletz, BA ’14, an international studies and economics double major from Hood River, Ore., will teach English in Mongolia after receiving his U.S. Student Fulbright Award.
• Erin McInerney, BME ’14, a choral music major and French minor from Fairview, Texas, received a French Government English Teaching Assistantship.
• Jesus Sotelo, BS ’14, a biology major from Houston, received a Rotary Global Grant Scholar award and will pursue a master’s in public health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Maybe someday we’ll be hearing about these students eradicating disease or influencing a new generation to study in America, armed with an understanding of the English language. For now, we wish them the best as they represent Baylor around the globe.

Sic ’em, scholarship winners!

[Pictured above: Boys, Holden and Gibson, courtesy the Baylor Arts & Sciences blog]