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Bhooma Aravamuthan of Kalamazoo, a junior majoring in biochemistry, and Nathan Lord of Saginaw, a second-year junior majoring in biochemistry are two of the 310 Goldwater Scholars selected nationally.

The students were selected on their academic merit by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation from a field of 1,113 mathematics, science and engineering students nominated by their colleges and universities. The scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

Aravamuthan, daughter of Raja and Lakshmi Aravamuthan, is a 2002 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center and plans to graduate from MSU in 2005. Lord, son of Victor and Deborah Lord, is a 2002 graduate of the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy and plans to graduate from MSU in 2006.

Both students are from the College of Natural Science, members of the MSU Honors College and 2002 MSU Alumni Distinguished Scholarship recipients. They are involved in professorial assistantship opportunities through the Honors College, gaining research experience with MSU faculty and at various health and related agencies.

“It is a tremendous honor for students to be selected for this prestigious national scholarship,” said Ron Fisher, director of the MSU Honors College. “This reflects well on MSU’s educational programs and speaks to the students’ abilities and accomplishments. The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.”

The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency, established in 1986, to honor former Sen. Barry M, Goldwater and to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.

For more on the scholarship award visit the Web at www.act.org/goldwater/