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Alex Anderson
I am delighted that I chose to come to Wash U. The friendliness of the students and faculty is just what I want in a college, and the learning environment is ideal. In addition, being an honorary scholar brings with it special attention and various concrete benefits (besides the scholarship itself). Three examples. First, I enjoy seeing the other honorary scholars on a weekly basis. As a part of our own community, we hear a lecture every week and have a lunch discussion group. Second, I am about to start an independent study in group theory with one of the math professors here. I got this great opportunity partially due to the fact that the undergraduate chair of the math department recognized that I was a "Compton" and helped arrange it. Third, Iwas admitted, partly because of being a Compton scholar,into a selective freshman course sequence called "Phage Hunters." As part of of our participation in a national research project, we isolated our own viruses from the St. Louis soil. Now we are about to analyze the gene sequence of the phages that we isolated.
Educationally and socially, I think that Wash U is as strong as any university in the country, but it is even better because of the special opportunities that come with being a Compton Scholar. |
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Jeremy Diepenbrock
As a senior, it's incredible to look back and see how far I've progressed in 4 years, not only in my problem-solving ability, but also in the communication skills necessary for a successful career. |
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Rebecca Greenberger
I am a junior Earth and Planetary Sciences major. Since the spring semester of my freshman year, I have worked in Ray Arvidson's Remote Sensing Lab, and I fund my research with the Fossett Fellowship. I have worked on both Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Last summer, I was a ocumentarian and science team member for the Mars Phoenix Lander. As a documentarian, I took notes on meetings planning what Phoenix would do each day and assisted with data management. As a science team member, I helped plan some photometry observations, made a geomorphic map, and looked at the data Phoenix had just sent down from Mars. The opportunities I have had as a Compton Scholar and Fossett Fellow have been amazing. |
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Emily Lebsack
Though I discovered my love for physics in high school, my experiences at Wash U as a Compton Scholar have only increased and focused my understanding of and passion for science. The physics department is full of wonderful, intelligent, and devoted people who care deeply about their work and the students who study and work here. It was as easy as asking my freshman physics professor (who I have nothing but high praise for) to get a research position in his lab, and I’ve been working there for 3 years studying presolar stardust. I plan to go to graduate school and become a professor of physics, combining my love for teaching with my interests in research and scientific discovery. Of course, what I love best about being a Compton scholar is the close friendships I've formed with the other scholars – friendships that I feel will be life-long and my best asset gained from Wash U. |
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