April 22, 2004

Boise State Student Receives University's First Goldwater Scholarship

Amber M. Hibberd, a Boise State University chemistry major and mathematics minor from Meridian, was recently named a Goldwater Scholar by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Hibberd is the first Boise State student to receive the prestigious national scholarship, which is awarded to top mathematics, science and engineering students from across the United States. The scholarship covers tuition, books, fees and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500. Hibberd is a 1998 graduate of Meridian High School. She is the daughter of Susan L. Hibberd of Burbank, Calif. and Mike W. Hibberd of Oakview, Calif. Hibberd is the recipient of many awards, including two undergraduate summer research fellowships from the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network; first place in the 2004 Idaho Academy of Sciences poster competition; first place in the 2004 Wallace Kay Writing Contest (Phi Kappa Phi) for “Aziridinomitosene Synthesis for DNA Interaction Studies,” and other awards. Hibberd credits her adviser, Boise State chemistry professor Don Warner, for helping her achieve academic success. She plans to earn a Ph.D. in physical chemistry, and hopes to someday obtain a faculty position at a university where she can teach and conduct research. This year’s 310 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,113 students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. Recent scholars have been awarded 56 Rhodes scholarships, 66 Marshall awards and numerous other distinguished fellowships. The scholarship program honoring the late U.S. Sen. Barry M. Goldwater was designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. -30- Contact: Janelle Brown communications and marketing jbrown2@boisestate.edu 426-1790