Berry College junior Aaron Ostrander has been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for his work in physics and mathematics.

Congress established the Goldwater Scholarship in 1986 to honor Barry M. Goldwater, a long-time United States senator. The scholarship promotes research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (the STEM disciplines) and is regarded  as the most prestigious undergraduate award in the STEM disciplines. The 2012-2013 Goldwater Scholars were selected from a pool of 1,123 students who received nominations from faculty members. The scholarship is given to sophomores and juniors and covers as much as $7,500 per year for tuition, fees, room and board, and books.

According to Berry Professor of Mathematics Eric McDowell, Ostrander’s “application was markedly strengthened by the fact that he has already done scientific research and has established a research agenda.” The research agenda proposed by Ostrander in his Goldwater application consisted of an original extension of the computational physics research that he has conducted with Assistant Professor of Physics Daniel Robb during the past two years.

Ostrander, of Woodstock, is majoring in physics and math and eventually plans to pursue a doctoral degree. He has also conducted research with fellow student Terry Henderson under the advisement of Assistant Professor of Mathematics Jill Cochran.