Engineering for the Future
Student wins Goldwater honor

By Jessica Cervantez
Staff Reporter

Ben Ludington, a sophomore engineering major, was one of 302 undergraduates nationwide selected this week to receive the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Award for his work in engineering and high GPA in the 2001-2002 school year.

Photo by Tim Cox - Skiff Staff Ben Ludington, a sophomore engineering major, works on an electrical engineering project where he splices fibers to test pressure in a copper tube. Ludington is a recipient of the 2001-2002 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Award.

Ludington will receive $7,500 for two years to apply toward the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board.

This award was established by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater, who served as a soldier and statesman for 56 years, to encourage excellence in the fields of science and mathematical academic study and research for highly qualified students.

Ludington said he spends a lot of time in the labs and enjoys the research he does.

“It is a great honor to be win the award,” he said. “I am very lucky to have my name considered with such people.”

Rhonda Hatcher, faculty representative for the Goldwater Scholarship for TCU, collects and screens the applications.

Hatcher said an e-mail is sent to all undergraduates in the engineering and mathematics departments and to department chairs to nominate students.

“The criteria is essential,” Hatcher said. “Students were nominated with exceptionally high GPA’s, somewhere around a 3.8.”

Hatcher said the screening committee tries to choose students that have had research experience, good GPA’s and are continuing to work in the specific fields.

Engineering professor Steve Weis worked with Ludington in developing the engineering class for non-engineers last year and is currently working on a fiber interferometer.

This is the process where light is launched into fiber and then split. When it combines back together it forms an interference pattern which is dependent on the path difference, and that difference is used as a sensor or indicator, Weis said.

“He’s an outstanding student both in class and research,” Weis said. “He’s a hard worker and bright student.”

Weis said he believes all the engineering students are outstanding and Ludington definitely adds to the department.
“Ben is very deserving of this honor,” Weis said. “He is an exceptionally bright and dedicated young man who will continue to be an outstanding student and researcher.”

More than 1,000 sophomores and juniors across the nation were nominated by their institutions.

To be nominated for the award, students must meet certain criteria. Students must be U.S. citizens, a sophomore or junior and attend an accredited institution of higher education as a full-time student.

Hatcher said three students from TCU were nominated for the award. She also said in the last three years, four students have received the award from TCU.

Jessica Cervantez
j.s.cervantez@student.tcu.edu