Stellar Students Abound!
Lotz Named 2007 Truman Scholar
Joshua Lotz, a junior majoring in Biochemistry and Chinese, has been named a 2007 Harry S Truman Scholar. The Truman Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships available to undergraduates and is awarded to approximately 70 students each year, investing in those students committed to careers in public service. The award provides $30,000 towards graduate school.
Lotz is the founder of the Global Health Initiative, a campus student group that builds awareness and creates opportunities for students interested in public health. Lotz also conducts research on alternative plant medicine in Alan Kinghhorn's lab in the College of Pharmacy. Lotz will spend next year in China, where he will work at the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology (Chinese Academy of Sciences) researching the phytochemistry of Meconopsis integrifolia, a species of Himalayan poppy used in Tibetan medicine.
Additionally, Lotz will take courses in the Chinese and Tibetan languages and botany at Qinghai Normal University in Xining, a Chinese city located on the edge of the Tibetan plateau.
The Newark, Delaware native graduated from high school at 16, then worked to save money to study abroad before entering college. He spent nearly two years in Beijing and Tibet, where, he says, "I was struck by the poverty I saw around me." In Tibet, he and two Tibetan friends established a small community school where they taught English and Tibetan art classes to local residents. He also managed a health care clinic in the region.
Lotz plans to pursue degrees in medical anthropology and public health before attending medical school. His ultimate goal is to "one day, work in helping develop sustainable community health programs in resource-poor areas such as where I lived in Tibet."
Biological Sciences Home to Three Goldwater Scholarship Winners
We are pleased that our college is home to three of Ohio State's four Goldwater Scholarship recipients. These students have been recognized by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Foundation for outstanding academic achievement. This award funds students who will pursue research careers in the sciences, engineering or mathematics. Matt Wohlever, a junior in biochemistry, has been named a Goldwater Scholar, along with Greg Kestin, a junior in physics. Wohlever conducts research on flavoproteins and plans to join the faculty of a large research institution after earning his doctorate in biochemistry. Each Goldwater Scholar receives $7,500 to apply toward their undergraduate education at Ohio State. Also, Olivia Twu, a junior in biochemistry; and Megan Meuti, a junior in entomology, have each received an Honorable Mention from the Goldwater Foundation, an achievement which is also a great honor. Twu does research on protein engineering to create a mosquitocidal toxin and Meuti studies nitrogen fixation in termites.
We are exceptionally proud of our 2007 Truman Scholar, Joshua Lotz and of our Goldwater winners, Matt Wohlever, Olivia Twu and Megan Meuti. Congratulations!
Originally published Spring 2007
