Senior Lauren Wielgus on Oct. 22 received an Astronaut Scholarship award in recognition of her achievements in physics.
Former NASA space shuttle commander Rick Hauck (A '62, H '07) presented Wielgus with the $10,000 award, given to the top undergraduate science and engineering students from the colleges and universities associated with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), a non-profit organization.
The ASF's mission is to maintain American leadership in the sciences by giving scholarships to science and engineering students, according to the foundation's website. The Astronaut Scholarship is the largest national merit-based monetary award given in the sciences at the undergraduate level.
"I was so excited when I was presented with the scholarship," Wielgus said. She said the scholarship money will be applied toward her Tufts tuition.
At the presentation, Hauck praised Wielgus' achievements.
"I am honored to present Lauren with this award, both as an astronaut and a Tufts alumnus," Hauck said. "She has already excelled in the field of physics at home and abroad."
Wielgus cited her enthusiasm for engaging in research as a possible reason for her being chosen for the honor.
"I believe part of the criteria for getting the award was having strong interest in research and continuing that in the future," Wielgus said. "I think my love for doing physics research was a reason why I was a good candidate."
Wielgus is a founder and a current co-editor-in-chief of Breakthrough, a Tufts undergraduate science magazine.
"We try to write about science research going around at Tufts, as well as around the world," Wielgus said. "We focus on all different branches of science."
Breakthrough's first issue of the year will be published this month, Wielgus said.
Twenty universities along with Tufts are associated with the ASF,
including Clemson University, Washington University in St. Louis, Purdue University and the University of Michigan.
Candidates' academic and research aptitude both inside and outside of the classroom are crucial determinants in the nomination process for Tufts students, Laura Doane, program director for advising and scholarship, said in an e-mail to the Daily. Tufts nominated two students from a pool of 18 applicants for the ASF for review, according to Doane.
"The letters of nomination from faculty members, transcripts … and applicants' articulation of their educational interests and related career goals are of primary importance," she said.
Associate Professor of Physics Hugh Gallagher, Wielgus' current academic and research advisor, was one of the faculty members who produced a letter of recommendation on her behalf.
"I think what makes Lauren unique is that she is not only a great physics student, but that she understands the important concepts and is able to perform calculations and apply her analytical skills," Gallagher said.
Gallagher last year worked with Wielgus in a laboratory setting on the Minerva Neutrino experiment, a Summer Scholars Program project.
"That summer, I scanned simulated data in the neutrino to see what you would expect from the interactions of different particles through a detector," Wielgus said.
Professor of Physics Roger Tobin, the current chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department, praised Wielgus and highlighted her qualities.
"In addition to being academically outstanding in all the aspects that we look for, she is very strong with regards to mathematics and making the connection between mathematics and science," Tobin said. "Also, she has been a very imaginative and productive researcher."
Wielgus said she is currently in the process of applying for doctorate programs in physics and hopes to pursue further study in particle astrophysics.
