Florida Senate Recognizes USF's First Goldwater Honorable Mention
TAMPA, Fla. (April 22, 2009) – Jordan Markel, a junior in biology at USF, will be among the state’s top undergraduate scholars recognized by the Florida Senate in Tallahassee on April 23. Markel earned an Honorable Mention from The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. He was identified out of 1,035 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by colleges and universities. There were 278 scholarships awarded for the 2009-2010 academic year. Markel is the University of South Florida’s first Goldwater Honorable Mention.
In addition to an MD, Markel plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Markel has worked with Dr. Andreas Seyfang and Dr. John Sinott of the College of Medicine. A MARC U-STAR scholar, he has traveled to Thailand’s Srinakharinwirot University, is currently attending the Education Without Borders Conference in Dubai, and will travel to Panama to conduct research on immunology. Last year, Markel raised over $4,000 for AIDS research through “Hoops for Hope.” He is a 2006 graduate of H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Fla.
According to the Goldwater Scholarship website, this program “was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering and to foster excellence in those fields.” Nominees must demonstrate achievement in and future commitment to his or her academic field. Authorized by the United States Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater, The Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program exists to provide “a continuing source of highly qualified individuals” to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.
Jordan is the first student in the history of USF to receive Goldwater recognition.
The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2007/2008. The university offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
USF
Lara Wade
News Director
University Communication & Marketing
813-974-9060
lwade@admin.usf.edu
