UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 24, Page 1
March 19, 1992
56 du Pont Scholar finalists visit campus this weekend

     Admissions office officials are preparing to roll out the red carpet
this weekend to the 56 finalists in the competition for the University's
prestigious Eugene du Pont Memorial Distinguished Scholar awards. Only 10-12
students will be selected for the awards.
     These campus visitors are among the best and the brightest and come from
all over the East Coast. On paper, Bruce Walker, dean of admissions, says
they look very much alike, with high school grade point averages of about
3.97 and average SAT verbal scores of 700 and math scores of 740.
     This weekend is important because, in a series of interviews and
informal meal-time discussions, the Eugene du Pont award selection committee
will ascertain who amongst these bright students is also engaging and
personable.
     Many of the students were made aware of the Eugene du Pont Scholar
awards during their junior years in high school, Walker said. The awards
offer full tuition, room and board for four years, with a $500 book stipend
each year. The award is named for Eugene du Pont, a native of New Castle
County who was the fourth president of the Du Pont Co.
     Initially, there were over 200 students in the Du Pont "possibility"
pool. By reading applications and essays, Walker and his staff narrow that
field to 100, and those applications and essays are read by the Eugene du
Pont selection committee-all senior faculty appointed to the committee by the
president. The weekend invitations are sent to approximately 60 finalists.
     "At this point, the selection committee has read essays these students
have written, we've seen their high school records, we've read their
recommendations. This weekend gives us a chance to see them face to face, to
see how they present themselves. It's one thing to be the brightest in your
class. It's another to be outstanding among 50 bright students. We're always
hoping for another Len Stark ([last year's Rhodes Scholar)]," Walker said.
     "The weekend gives them a chance to meet with their prospective
departments, to learn more about the University, to meet other students and
to see that there will be other bright students like them here at the
University. It's a chance for them to be treated very special."
     While on campus, the students will have lunch at the president's home
and be entertained by the University's current Du Pont Scholars, who have
arranged a variety of skits and musical acts for them. They also will have
the opportunity to attend one of three seminars offered by University
Professors Kenneth J. Campbell, assistant professor in the University Honors
Program; Joan DelFattore, associate professor of English, and Ronald Martin,
assistant professor of geology.
     Students from 11 states have qualified as finalists. Seventeen of them
are from Delaware. Ten have undeclared majors in the College of Arts and
Science, 20 have declared in chemical engineering; and the other 26 have a
variety of declared majors in arts and science and engineering.
     These students are being wooed by many colleges and universities, Walker
said, and the selection committee always hopes that even those not offered
Eugene du Pont Scholar awards will still choose Delaware.
     Finalists from Delaware include:
     Magnolia-Anne E. Counterman, chemical engineering;
     Milford-Thomas P. Akana, English;
     New Castle-Christian D. Garrett and Michael D. Swinson, both chemical
engineering;
     Newark-Surita R. Bhatia and Frank C. Yoon, both chemical engineering;
Kathleen C. Evancho, physical therapy, and Thomas A. Stapleford, mechanical
engineering;
     Seaford-Susan H. Lin, undeclared arts and science;
     Wilmington-Kevin J. Connell, Gerard P. Kavanaugh III and Akil A.
Merchant, all mechanical engineering; John M. Crenshaw, Margaret H. Mei and
Anna Mae T. Trost, all chemical engineering; Frederick J. Goetz, physics, and
Elizabeth W. Zimny, undeclared arts and science.
     Out-of-state finalists include:
     California-Sarah E. Thompson, Fresno, art history;
     Florida-Jennifer E. Mack, Pensacola, international relations;
     Georgia-Kai-Ping C. Wang, Macon, undeclared arts and science;
     Maryland-Ilan D. Avin, Baltimore, undeclared arts and science; Sara E.
Cassidy, Silver Spring, undeclared arts and science; Jay M. Dintaman,
Darnestown, biochemistry; Matthew J. Hallihan, Lexington Park, chemical
engineering; Amy H. Koziak, Elkton, economics; Michael A. Saginaw, Potomac,
chemical engineering; Joseph M. Scarborough, Elkton, mechanical engineering;
and Michael J. Skinner, Olney, chemical engineering;
     Massachussets-Beth A. Doherty, Bridgewater, biological sciences; Ingrid
K. Friberg, Hubbardston, biochemistry; Meredith Moore, Melrose, undeclared
arts and science;
     New Jersey-Nenshad D. Bardoliwalla, Randolph, undeclared arts and
science; Jodie J. Dalton, Medford, physics; Kristopher M. Hall, Mount Laurel,
mechanical engineering; Tracy Huang, Belle Mead, chemical engineering;
Catherine W. Jones, North Plainfield, undeclared arts and science; Jennifer
L. Talansky, West Long Branch, English;
     New York-William P. Caffrey, Brentwood, undeclared arts and science;
Roger F. Clark, Penfield, chemistry; and Ellen M. Wasilausky, Baldwin,
chemical engineering;
     North Carolina-Erika A. Petersen, Chapel Hill, history;
     Pennsylvania-Charles J. Bergquist, Devon, chemistry; Christina R.
Chepel, Harrisburg, physics; Allyson J. Crawley, Shippensburg, undeclared
arts and science; Mark E. Frey, Montoursville, chemical engineering; Brian E.
Goodlin, Monroeville, chemical engineering; Mark S. Ludwick, York, chemistry;
Jonathan P. Miller, Boiling Springs, chemical engineering; Eve D. Milenders,
Huntingdon Valley, English; Julie E. Randolph, Perkasie, chemical
engineering; Timothy M. Snyder, Camp Hill, chemical engineering; Jeffrey E.
Troyan, Orefield, chemical engineering; Lazaros T. Volikas, Richboro,
chemical engineering; Chad C. Waraksa, Landisville, chemistry;
     Tennessee-April C. Clark, Alcoa, and Graham M. Segroves, Knoxville, both
international relations.
     Award selection committee members are Robert B. Bennett, English; Robert
F. Brown, University Honors Program; James L. Butkiewicz, business and
economics; Evelyn R. Hayes, nursing; Barbara J. Kelly, physical education,
athletics and recreation; Sherry L. Kitto, plant science; Rosetta S. Lafleur,
textiles, design and consumer economics; John R. Mather, geography; Burnaby
Munsdon, chemistry and biochemistry; Jon H. Olson, chemical engineering;
Cynthia A. Robbins, sociology; Roland R. Roth, entomology and applied
ecology.
     Walker chairs the committee, and assisting are admissions staff members
Gwen Davis, Louis L. Hirsh and Harriet B. Saxton.