Augsburg News

News Archives - 1997

Augsburg Student Wins Goldwater Scholarship

Augsburg College junior Arlo J. Miller, a biology and chemistry major from Grafton, N.D., was one of 264 undergraduate students nationwide in the fields of mathematics, science and engineering to earn a prestigious Goldwater scholarship for the 1996-97 academic year.

The scholarship winners--released April 1--were selected by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation from more than 1,200 nominees by college and university faculties.

The one- and two-year scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,000 per year.

Miller, who has a 4.0 grade point average, is the first Augsburg student to be named a Goldwater scholar. He received a one-year scholarship.

After graduating from Augsburg in May 1997, Miller plans to attend graduate school to pursue medical and doctoral degrees. His career goal is to become a medical researcher.

Miller, who was recently elected Augsburg's student body vice-president for the 1996-97 academic year, spent the summer of 1995 doing a research internship at the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences.

Miller was one of four students from Minnesota private colleges to receive the award. Others were from the University of St. Thomas, St. Olaf College and Gustavus Adolphus College. Miller was also one of four recipients from private colleges affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Other ELCA colleges recognized with Goldwater scholars were Texas Lutheran, St. Olaf and Gustavus Adolphus.

Since being established in 1986, the federally endowed Goldwater Foundation has awarded 1,809 scholarships worth approximately $19 million. The scholarship program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. Goldwater scholarships are considered the premier undergraduate awards of their kind in these fields.