The University of Denver’s higher profile national academics was underscored recently with the awarding of two notable grants.
Michael Elliott, director of the DU International Student and Scholar Services Office, was awarded the International Education Administrators Fulbright Award, allowing him to study Japan’s higher education system to broaden DU’s global perspective.
Elliott was chosen with five other applicants from a pool of over 2,000. He views the award as not only a positive light on the school’s overall reputation, but also as a valuable stepping stone to increase DU’s overall cultural diversity and awareness.
His tour will take him through Tokyo and Hiroshima’s main universities while still allowing time for high school and organizational observation.
“I hope to develop a higher awareness of the needs of our international students from Japan and thereby enhance my advising and capacity to them”, Elliott said.
Approximately 35 Japanese students are currently studying at DU and Japan has become a top five destination for DU’s current study abroad program.
“This is a great honor and I look forward to gaining first-hand experience and knowledge of the higher education system and culture of Japan,” said Elliot.
The second award went to DU sophomore Charles “Will” Carspecken, who was recently awarded the 2005 Goldwater Scholarship for Excellence in Education.
Carspecken, a Boettcher Scholar, is one of 239 science majors nationwide to receive the scholarship out of a nominated pool of 1,091.
Along with the encouragement of Todd Breyfogle, director of the Honors Programs, Carspecken receives a $7,500 scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, fees, and books for each of his remaining two years.
“It’s a very public confirmation of something many of us have known for a long time,” said Breyfogle. “Undergraduate research in science and engineering here at the university is certainly on par with other top schools and so are the resources and faculty attention students get here.”
Carspecken hopes to use his scientific ability and knowledge to support those in need. His concentration is on molecular biology and biochemistry, but he anticipates his future to be in oncology, endocrinology or pathology research.
The scholarship, established in 1986 to honor Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, is intended to provide support for highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers in training.
Carspecken is on his way to a career in research science. Along with his experience in Bolivia and on Project Dharamsala to India, he has working in the lab with DU professor Joseph Angleson in the hopes of future work with Triplex DNA silencing.
“I feel very grateful to have won this award given the length of the application and the competitive applicant pool,” Carspecken stated. “It will benefit me in my future endeavors by demonstrating my interest and enthusiasm for a career in academic medicine.”
