Left to right: Rebecca Colman, microbial genetics and genomics; Elizabeth Kalies, forest science; Daniel Laughlin, forest science and Bala Chaudhary, biological sciences, received ARCS funding.

Left to right: Anita Antoninka, environmental sciences; Benjamin Duval, biological sciences and Valerie Kurth, forest science, also received ARCS funding.

Scholarships advance
NAU's budding scientists

The research work of seven NAU doctoral students is receiving recognition along with a financial boost.

Graduate College students Anita Antoninka, Bala Chaudhary, Rebecca Colman, Benjamin Duval, Elizabeth Kalies, Valerie Kurth and Daniel Laughlin are getting Achievement Rewards for College Scientists scholarships of $7,000 each for the 2008-09 academic year.

"Although additional money is always helpful while pursuing a degree, for these students, acknowledging their research is the biggest prize," said Ramona Mellott, dean for NAU's Graduate College.

The funding will assist the students in completing fieldwork, lab work, updating equipment, purchasing reference material and traveling to scientific symposiums.

"It is really satisfying to know that people outside of my field are interested in supporting my work and education," said Kurth, a forest researcher. She added that her scholarship funding is taking the place of student loans.

Founded in 1958, the ARCS Foundation is composed of volunteer professional and nonprofessional members who award scholarship funding to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete their degrees in science, medicine and engineering, thereby contributing to the worldwide advancement of science and technology.

For information, go to the ARCS Foundation web site.

Information on NAU's Graduate College is online.