Sophomore Bethany Ehlmann, pursuing a triple major in earth and planetary sciences, in environmental studies and in mathematics, and junior Laurel Griggs, pursuing a double major in environmental studies and in systems science and mathematics, each received a Morris K. Udall Scholarship administered by the Udall Foundation and the Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $5,000 per year.

Ehlmann also received the prestigious Goldwater scholarship.

Udall scholarships are granted to those who demonstrate a commitment to fields related to the environment, or to Native American or native Alaskan students in fields related to health care and tribal public policy. Congress established the foundation in 1992 to honor Udall and his legacy of public service.

Raymond E. Arvidson, Ph.D., the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and chair of earth and planetary sciences, advises both Ehlmann and Griggs.

Dirk M. Killen, Ph.D., assistant dean, academic coordinator and fellowships adviser in Arts & Sciences, said, "They are both terrific young leaders and very strong students. We haven't had a Udall winner since 1997, so we are very exited about having two this year, especially because we have such a strong environmental studies program at Washington University.

"I think it speaks to Professor Arvidson's very able mentoring that two from his advising group were able to win the Udall this year."

Ehlmann is a product of the Pathfinder Program in Environmental Sustainability overseen by Arvidson. Griggs participated in an earlier version of the Pathfinder Program known as the Hewlett Program in Environmental Sustainability.

Junior Kristina Olson, pursuing a double major in psychology and African & Afro-American Studies, has been awarded a Beinecke Memorial Scholarship, worth $32,000 in support of her future graduate education. There were 91 nominees this year; 20 Beinecke scholars were selected by the Sperry Fund.

The scholarships were established in 1971 by the board of directors of The Sperry and Hutchinson Co. to honor Edwin, Frederick and Walter Beinecke, early leaders of the company.

The Beinecke scholars program seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a graduate course of study in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

"Washington University is one of roughly 100 institutions that have nominating privileges," Killen said of the Beinecke scholarships. "Kristina Olson is an extraordinary student who has had very strong advising from Professor Henry Roediger, Professor Alan Lambert and Professor Jeffrey Zacks. She received very strong faculty support for this award. She is an outstanding young woman and an exemplary student.

"Kristina is planning a Ph.D. in social psychology, and she's been doing a lot of first-rate research work with her faculty mentors, much of which focuses around questions of psychology and race relations. She has been investigating the cognitive processes of stereotyping, and through her work in experimental psychology she hopes to reach a 'better understanding of the ways in which racism affects our daily lives.'"

Four undergraduates also recently received a prestigious Goldwater scholarship.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and the Excellence in Education Foundation awarded 309 scholarships to sophomores and juniors. The Goldwater scholars were selected from a field of 1,155 nominees in the fields of mathematics, science and engineering.

The scholarships will cover tuition, fees, books and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. The program is designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.

University recipients were Ehlmann; Sam Gross, double-majoring in physics and computer science in the School of Engineering and Applied Science; Karen Ruff, double-majoring in chemistry and French; and Cory Simpson, majoring in biology.

"We have done very well with the Goldwater for a number of years now, in large part due to the leadership of Dr. Regina Frey and Dr. Edward Hiss in the chemistry department, and Dean Edward Macias," Killen said. "They have served on (the Goldwater) committee for a number of years, and we have had excellent nominees each year. This is the first year that all four of our nominees have won. (Nominating institutions may nominate up to four students.)

"I was truly thrilled. The Goldwater is generally considered to be, if not the most prestigious, then certainly one of the most prestigious awards for undergraduates planning careers in the sciences, engineering or math."

In recent years 44 Rhodes scholars and 39 Marshall scholars had previously been Goldwater winners; six of this year's 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholars are also Goldwater Scholars.

Killen was particularly pleased that several departments had winners.