Student Scholars Win Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, Madison Awards

Laura Balzer (right) and Kesha Ram are recipients of prestigious Goldwater and Truman Scholarships, respectively, representing nearly $40,000 in assistance for graduate studies.

Four UVM scholars — two undergraduates, a medical student and a graduate student — have won prestigious national and international awards. The four recipients will wear the mantles of Fulbright, Truman, Madison, and Goldwater scholars. Two more scholars are awaiting decisions on Fulbright and Jack Kent Cooke awards.

Kesha Ram, a double major in natural resources and political science from California, has been awarded a highly competitive Harry S. Truman Scholarship — approximately 80 are awarded nationwide — providing $30,000 to juniors planning to attend graduate school. Winners also receive leadership training, preferential admission to premier graduate institutions, and federal agency internships. Ram also was recently elected Student Government Association president for the 2007-08 academic year.

Laura Balzer, a junior mathematics major, is the recipient of a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, providing up to $7,500 per year for educational expenses to students intending to pursue careers in mathematics, natural sciences or engineering. Only 28 mathematics scholars were chosen this year. After graduation, Balzer will pursue a Ph.D. in mathematical biology, which uses math models to simulate biomedical processes.

The United Kingdom Fulbright, the most competitive of all Fulbright awards, was won by Justin Sanders, who is currently completing a residency at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. Sanders will study the practices of palliative care in a cross-cultural setting at University College in London.

Katie Reen has received the prestigious Madison Scholarship awarded to experienced teachers pursuing a graduate degree in American history, political science, American constitutional history or government.

All of the winners received assistance in pursuit of their awards from UVM’s fellowship information office.