University Honors Program

National Recognition & Awards

Goldwater Scholarship
Truman Scholarship
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship
Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship

Goldwater Scholarship

The Goldwater Scholarship Program is 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. More than 300 Goldwater Scholars and 150 Honorable Mentions are selected from a field of approx. 1,100 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.

Rachel Smith

Rachel Smith

Rachel Smith, as a sophomore Agricultural Biochemistry major, was awarded a 2006 Goldwater Scholarship for two years of funding. 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.

Kyle Wardlow

Kyle Wardlow

Kyle Wardlow, a junior majoring in both Physics and German, was selected as a 2007 Honorable Mention by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Kyle intends to pursue a doctoral degree focused in physics, specializing in either high energy particle or nuclear physics. He combines a great passion for engagement in research with an interest in teaching. While still an undergraduate, he has been involved with the tutoring program at ISU—tutoring other students in introductory to intermediate physics and math courses. Initially as a freshman, Kyle conducted physics research in the Freshman Honors Mentor Program, and more recently has been an active participant in the experimental nuclear physics research group at ISU.

Truman Scholarship

The Truman Foundation awards 65-75 scholarships annually for college students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Scholars are selected (among several hundred Finalists) 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.

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.

Clark Richardson

Clark Richardson

Clark Richardson was recognized as a Finalist for the 2007 Truman Scholarship. Clark is a triple major in Agricultural Business, Economics and Political Science, with a minor in Spanish. Clark intends to pursue a career in public service focused on educational policy development and literacy enhancement, with a strong desire to ultimately work with policymakers to empower communities to end illiteracy. Clark has been engaged in leadership roles on and off-campus, including the ISU Student Government, Dance Marathon, Acacia Fraternity, Memorial Union Advisory Board, and the Freshman Honors Program, and active in lobbying state and local government on various issues. Clark was selected to participate in the ISU Uganda Service Learning Program in rural Uganda, and did a 10-week teaching assignment in rural Costa Rica.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship

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.

Ramsey Tesdell

Ramsey Tesdell

Ramsey was selected as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in 2006. Ramsey was a Technical Communication major, and during his time at ISU was 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 is studying Arabic and Hebrew at the Rothberg International School of Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Rohini Ramnath

Rohini Ramnath

Rohini has been selected as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar for 2007  Rohini is a Political Science, International Studies and Spanish major. While at ISU, she has been engaged with the Government of the Student Body, the Committee on Lectures, got ignorance? campaign network, YWCA Ames-ISU and the Student Foundation Commitee.  During her tenure as a Rotary Scholar, Rohini will be studying International Affairs at the University of Ghana in Accra.

Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awards graduate scholarships to help U.S. and international students with exceptional promise and demonstrated financial need achieve their full potential through education at U.S. universities. The scholarships cover tuition, room, board, fees and books—up to $50,000 annually—for up to six years. The recipients pursue graduate study in wide ranging fields, including medicine, law, theology, education, journalism, business, architecture, as well as fine and performing arts, the latter fields reflecting Mr. Cooke’s passion for the arts.

Eric Stroud

Eric Stroud

Eric Stroud was selected as a recipient of the 2006 Graduate Scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Eric is currently working toward a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Pennsylvania. Eric received his Bachelor of Architecture in May 2006 from ISU, with a minor in Philosophy. At ISU, Eric participated in a Study Abroad architecture program in Central America and received an award from the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Education Foundation that enabled him to study in Greece. He served as Chapter President for Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, was active in with the ISU Dance Marathon and Habitat for Humanity, and was a student mentor at the American School in Quito, Ecuador. He conducted research for three years as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the ISU Department of Architecture.

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