Montana State University students finish strong year of major scholarship wins

BOZEMAN - Numerous Montana State University students and recent alumni received significant scholarships this year, recognizing their accomplishments in academics, leadership, community service and more.

"These remarkable individuals have shown us, once again, that Montana State University students and alumni are among the nation's brightest and most accomplished," said MSU President Waded Cruzado. "We are so proud of them and are delighted that their hard work and commitment is being recognized with these major awards."

Among other scholarships announced, MSU undergraduate Amanda Haab was selected as the university's first recipient of a new scholarship launched in January in partnership with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Haab was named one of the foundation's Astronaut Scholars in the U.S. for 2023. According to the foundation, the award is one of the nation's largest merit-based scholarships given to college juniors and seniors studying science, technology, engineering or math. Awardees receive up to $15,000 and have access to events, networking and mentoring with astronauts and scholarship alumni. Haab will be honored along with the roughly 60 other awardees at the foundation's Innovators Week and Gala event Aug. 16-19 in Orlando, Florida.

The university learned in April that four MSU students - Heath Caldwell, Tyler Delridge, Amberly Guerrero and Amanda Haab - were selected as recipients of the Goldwater Scholarship. The Goldwater is the nation's premier scholarship for undergraduates studying math, natural sciences and engineering, and it provides each student up to $7,500 a year for tuition, fees, books, and room and board. MSU has produced 90 Goldwater Scholars, making it one of the nation's top Goldwater institutions.

Also this spring, Doriane Keiser, a Presidential Scholar who is finishing her junior year majoring in psychology and community health with minors in sociology and human development, was named one of 55 Udall Undergraduate Scholarship winners nationwide. The scholarship, worth up to $7,000, recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, community service and involvement in health care, environmental policy or public policy surrounding American Indian and Alaska Native communities and issues. Keiser grew up on the Fork Peck Indian Reservation and hopes to return one day to help improve the community's mental health services and resources.

Sophia Adams was named one of 10 Montana college students to be awarded a George M. Dennison Civic Engagement Scholarship Award by the nonprofit Montana Campus Compact. The award honors students pursuing a degree or certificate who have volunteered a significant amount of time, energy and resources to projects that make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

This year's significant scholarship winners from MSU are listed below by scholarship, name, major and hometown:

• Astronaut Scholars Foundation Scholar, Amanda Haab, microbiology and cell biology, and neuroscience, Helena

• Fulbright Scholar, Tristan Sampley, mechanical engineering, Eugene, Oregon

• George M. Dennison Civic Engagement Scholar, Sophia Adams, biochemistry, Maple Valley, Washington

• Goldwater Scholar, Heath Caldwell, paleontology and organismal biology, Clancy

• Goldwater Scholar, Tyler Delridge, chemical engineering, Missoula

• Goldwater Scholar, Amberly Guerrero, chemical and biological engineering, Chelan, Washington

• Goldwater Scholar, Amanda Haab, microbiology and cell biology, and neuroscience, Helena

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Julia Barkelew, environmental engineering, Austin, Texas

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Pilar Santos, microbiology, Helena

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Madeline Pernat, civil engineering, Victoria, Minnesota

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Hannah Szafraniec, chemical engineering, Bloomington, Minnesota

• National Environmental Health Association Scholar, Ella Horgan, microbiology, East Lansing, Michigan

• Newman Civic Fellow, Melissa Ramirez, political science, Maxwell, California

• Udall Scholar, Doriane Keiser, psychology and community health, Wolf Point

This year's major scholarship finalists and honorable mention recipients from MSU are listed below by scholarship, name, major and hometown:

• Fulbright finalist, Nicholas Alvord, mechanical engineering, Anchorage, Alaska

• Fulbright finalist, Serina Breum, Spanish teaching, Missoula

• Fulbright finalist, Edward Shaw, sustainable food and bioenergy, Saint Paul, Minnesota

• Fulbright finalist, Kassidi Thompson, cell biology and neuroscience, Littleton, Colorado

• Gates-Cambridge finalist, Ava Graham, chemistry and biochemistry, Red Lodge

• Knight-Hennessy finalist, Max Yates, biochemistry, Bozeman

• Truman finalist, Kaylee Stubbs, political science, Billings

• Udall Scholar honorable mention, Frances Zoloth, environmental sciences, Camano Island, Washington

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