Two MHC Students Garner Goldwater Scholarships

College Street Journal
April 21, 2005

Based on their prowess in mathematics and the sciences, two Mount Holyoke students, Elizabeth C. Merritt ’07 and Elizabeth C. Sklute FP ’05, have been awarded scholarships from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. They are among 320 students selected from a field of 1,091 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide.

The scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. Merritt, who is majoring in physics and mathematics, has received a two-year award, and Sklute, who is majoring in chemistry, has received a one-year award.

Merritt, whose educational goal is a doctorate in physics or applied mathematics, plans to pursue a career in the field of energy development. At MHC, she has been working with Janice Hudgings, assistant professor of physics, on her research into vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. This semester, she said, “I get to be in the lab and build my own setup. We’ve done a complete overview of semiconductor physics, which is actually a lot of fun. In fact we’re doing things that I didn’t think we could do on an undergraduate level.”

Merritt is no stranger to the lab. Her father, Bernard Merritt, is employed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a premier applied science laboratory, and her mother, Maggie Schumacher, is a professor of chemistry at Chabot Community College. Merritt was always interested in the sciences, and chose physics over biological sciences or chemistry because “they had more pretty toys.”

Elizabeth (Eli) Sklute transferred to Mount Holyoke from Mills College in Oakland, California, two years ago. She originally intended to major in chemistry, but her plans changed when she, by chance, met Darby Dyar, associate professor of astronomy and geology and chair of astronomy. Dyar was looking to hire a student laboratory assistant to help build a database of Mössbauer spectra of minerals. Sklute happily took the job and soon developed a passion for geochemistry.

“I love the field of geochemistry, and I love working with Darby and in the sciences here at Mount Holyoke, “ said Sklute. “In the Five College area, opportunities are endless. There is so much brainpower around here.”

After graduation Sklute hopes to spend a year working with Dyar on Mössbauer and other spectroscopic techniques that will be relevant to Mars exploration over the next ten approach to her craft, achieves also an open-endedness and a respect for mystery.”

Since 1924, the first year the competition had contestants from other schools, 27 Mount Holyoke women have placed either first or second.