Katherine Dynarski, of Freehold, N.J., Recognized by Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program

VILLANOVA, PA (05/01/2012)(readMedia)-- Katherine Dynarski, of Freehold, N.J., was named an Honorable Mention in the 2012 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education competition. She is a junior at Villanova University and a Villanova University Presidential Scholar.

Established in 1986, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship is considered to be the premier undergraduate award of its type for these fields.

Dynarski is pursuing a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. She serves as a Catholic Relief Services Student Ambassador and as a student facilitator for the University's Environmental Leadership Learning Community. She plans to get her Ph.D. in biology and conduct research in biogeochemistry and in the field of ecology. During her career, Dynarski hopes to investigate the chemical behavior of ecosystems, how they can be altered by human activities, and the resulting effects on ecosystem function.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress to honor Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, who served the country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The purpose of the Goldwater Foundation is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.

Villanovans have accounted for 14 Goldwater Scholars and nine Goldwater Honorable Mentions since 1995.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University's Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's five colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing and the Villanova University School of Law. As students grow intellectually, Villanova prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.