Collegiate Times

Michael Sutphin, City Editor

When used in casual conversation, the word ?research? might carry along clich?d preconceptions of dull hours spent in the library or a mad scientist slaving over an elaborate chemistry set.

Yet for one Virginia Tech student, an interest in research is anything but a clich?. In fact, it?s a source of both money and prestige.

The Goldwater Scholars program recently awarded Brian Skinner, junior physics and mechanical engineering double major, $7,500 a year for books, tuition, fees and housing costs until he graduates. According to a University Honors representative, such an award is a success story for both Skinner and the school.

?In order to be competitive, you would have to be very, very strong academically,? said Barbara Cowles, associate director of University Honors, who explained that Skinner is the 33rd Hokie to earn the scholarship since the school began competing in the early 1990s.

For his part, Skinner was excited about receiving the award.

?I think the fact that I won the award reflects well on the support I have received from the university,? said Skinner, who hopes to continue his education in graduate school studying physics.

Research is the crux of an application process which, Cowles said, could involve as much as 15 hours of work for each student interested in applying.

?Some of the students do a proposal that arises out of research that they?ve already done,? Cowles said.
She explained that the focus of the scholarship is on ?how well (the applicants) think in their discipline? and not their research efforts they plan after receiving the scholarship.

Skinner was not alone in receiving recognition from the program. Thomas Reppert, junior mechanical engineering major, received an honorary mention for the scholarship program.

?The school ought to be mighty proud of that youngster ? both youngsters, actually,? said Col. Gerald Smith (ret.), president of the Goldwater Scholars program. ?It?s a real feather in their cap.?

Smith said the purpose of the program, which gets its scholarship money from the interest on a $40 million trust fund allotted by the U.S. Congress in memory of late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, was to offer financial assistance to high-ranking math, science and engineering students.

Much of the motive behind the scholarship program involves supporting those who might contribute to the academic and industrial world in other ways.

?We?re looking for a future Nobel Prize winner ? a kid that?s interested in research,? Smith said.

Reppert was not available for comment Wednesday.