Two NDSU students will receive the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. They are sophomore Katrina Gellerman and junior Nicholas Peterka.

“I am delighted these outstanding students have been selected for this high honor,” said R.S. Krishnan, associate vice president for academic affairs and chair of the NDSU Goldwater Scholarship Review Committee. “Their academic excellence demonstrates the high standard of quality that we have at NDSU.”

Established by Congress in 1986, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering to foster excellence in those fields.

Gellerman is from Bismarck, N.D., and is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology. Her field of specialization is human and bacterial genetics, and she plans to pursue a doctorate in molecular biology. Gellerman was recommended for the honor by Kenton Rodgers, professor of chemistry; Gudrun Lukat-Rodgers, research assistant professor; and Seth Rasmussen, associate professor of chemistry.

“It is a great honor for me,” Gellerman said. “To say I was shocked would be an understatement, and I am exceedingly grateful to the faculty of NDSU for their support, assistance and encouragement throughout the application process.”

Peterka is from Park River, N.D., and is majoring in civil engineering. His goal is to earn a doctorate in material science and conduct research as a senior investigator for a biomaterials or biomedical laboratory. He was recommended by Dinesh Katti, chair and professor of civil engineering; Kalpana Katti, professor of civil engineering; and graduate student Priyanthi Amarasinghe.

“I am honored to be the recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship,” Peterka said. “NDSU has given me a great opportunity to be successful and I am very thankful for that. It is encouraging to be surrounded by people who help me strive to be the best. While receiving the Goldwater Scholarship is a wonderful honor, I will continue to work hard to achieve my goals.”