We want you to be as successful at USU and beyond as you can possibly be. 

You might think that because you are not attending an Ivy League University you have little chance of attaining national recognition for your efforts here, but that is not the case.

In the last few years, undergraduates in Physics have successfully competed for a remarkable number of scholarships and awards.  These include:

•Rhodes Scholarship (arguably the most prestigious scholarship an undergraduate can win;  32 awarded in the US annually; apply in senior year; initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, the scholarships bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford (UK); Rhodes Scholars have virtually any job available to them, and many have established famous careers in all fields of endeavor)

Lara Anderson (scholarship, 2004) and Sydney Chamberlin (finalist, 2008). 

Lara finished a DPhil in string theory at Oxford.  Sydney is a PhD student in general relativity at U Wisconsin.

•Fulbright Student Scholarship (sponsored by the US Department of State; highly competitive program for US seniors to study abroad for one year)

Jan Marie Andersen (scholarship, 2008). 

Jan Marie is a PhD student in astrophysics at Boston U.

•National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (awarded annually to about 1000 science and engineering majors to help maintain the health of technology in the US; very competitive; apply as a senior or as first year grad student)

Lara Anderson (fellowship, 2005), Jan Marie Andersen (fellowship, 2010), and Nathan Carruth (fellowship 2010, honorable mentions 2007, 2009). 

Nathan is a DPhil student in mathematical physics at Cambridge U (UK).

•Goldwater National Scholarship (awarded to about 300 science and engineering undergraduates each year; very competitive; apply in sophomore or junior years)

Lara Anderson (scholarship, 2001 [2 years]), Jamie Jorgensen (scholarship, 2002), David Hatch (scholarship, 2004), Heidi Wheelwright (scholarship, 2006), Keith Warnick (honorable mention, 2006), Jennifer Albretsen (scholarship, 2007 [2 years]), Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes (scholarship, 2008, honorable mention, 2007), Tamara Jeppson (scholarship, 2008), Sydney Chamberlin (honorable mention, 2008), Taren McKenna (scholarship, 2009 [2 years]), BJ Myers (honorable mention, 2009), Dan Fenn (scholarship, 2010), and Robert Call (honorable mention, 2010).

Jamie finished a PhD in math from Rice U.  David is a PhD student in plasma theory at U Wisconsin.  Heidi finished an MS in plasma physics at USU.  Keith is a PhD student in condensed matter at Vanderbilt U.  Jennifer is a PhD student in condensed matter at Oregon State U.  Jodie is a PhD student in atmospheric physics at UCLA.  Tamara is serving an LDS mission before going to grad school.  Taren, Dan, and Robert are all undergrads at USU.  BJ is doing software design for HP.

•National Society of Physics Students Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher (awarded by national SPS to 2-3 outstanding undergraduate researchers)

Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes (award, 2008) and Sydney Chamberlin (honorable mention, 2009).

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