Ten undergraduates win prestigious merit scholarships

Ten Stanford undergraduates recently were selected for the 2002 Harry S. Truman, Beinecke, Barry M. Goldwater and Morris K. Udall Scholarships, national merit awards that support undergraduate and graduate education.

This year's Truman Scholarship winners were juniors Nina Robertson and Theresa Bridgeman. The 77 winners nationwide were chosen on the basis of leadership potential, intellectual ability and likelihood of "making a difference." Funded by a special trust fund in the U.S. Treasury, the scholarships provide $30,000 -- $3,000 for the senior year and $27,000 for graduate study -- as well as special internship opportunities in the federal government and priority admission and supplemental financial aid at some graduate schools. In the 27-year history of the scholarship, Stanford has had the largest number of Truman winners.

The Stanford winner of the 2002 Beinecke Scholarship, endowed by the Sperry and Hutchinson Co. to reward highly motivated students across the country who want to pursue graduate education, was junior Valarie Brar. Brar and the other 19 recipients of the scholarship will receive $2,000 prior to graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school.

Sophomores Yvonne Y. Chen and Tejaswini K. More and junior Melinda K. Munos were picked as 2002 Goldwater Scholars. Sponsored by the federally endowed Goldwater Foundation, the nationwide scholarships are designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. The 309 winners will receive one- and two-year scholarships that will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

This year's Udall Scholarship winners were juniors Felicia Y. Frizzell, Jonathan A. Neril and Linda E. Orie. Junior Joshua I. Herlands was awarded an honorable mention. Funded by the Udall Foundation, the scholarships are granted to those who demonstrate a commitment to fields related to the environment and to Native American and Alaska Native students in fields related to health care and tribal public policy. Eighty students were selected nationally on the basis of academic merit and faculty nominations. The one-year scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to $5,000 for winners. Students receiving honorable mention are awarded $350.