St. Lawrence University Student Receives Prestigious Jefferson Fellowship
Kevin Angstadt '14 of Latham, N.Y. will attend the University of Virginia as a doctoral student in computer science.
Canton, NY, May 14, 2014 --(PR.com)-- A St. Lawrence University student who is triple majoring in computer science, mathematics, and German studies has been awarded a highly selective graduate fellowship to help support his doctoral studies.
Kevin Angstadt '14 of Latham, N.Y. was selected this year as one of only 17 recipients of the Jefferson Fellowship, a nationally recognized merit graduate fellowship at the University of Virginia. Selected by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia, Kevin will begin his studies in the fall at U.Va.’s School of Engineering and Applied Science as a doctoral student in computer science.
Jefferson Fellows undergo a rigorous selection process. First, they must apply for admission to U.Va. and be accepted by the department to which they apply. Nominations are then submitted to the Jefferson Scholars Foundation by academic department chairs. Once nominated, candidates are invited to come to Charlottesville, Virginia, to participate in the Jefferson Fellows Selection Weekend.
“I actually got my nomination letter for the fellowship before I received my acceptance letter to U.Va.,” Kevin said. “My dad did his post-doc there in the '80s, so it was a school that I was interested in attending. When I went down for my interview, I got to spend some time with the computer science department. It was similar to the computer science department at St. Lawrence, and there seem to be lots of opportunities for research. That's what helped me make the decision to accept.”
During his undergraduate career, Kevin studied abroad in Giessen, Germany, in the spring 2013 semester and was a St. Lawrence University Fellow in 2012, conducting research with Edwin Harcourt, associate professor of mathematics, developing companion software for a statistics book written by Patti and Robin Lock, professors of mathematics. Kevin was also was recognized as an Outstanding Student in his first, second and third years at St. Lawrence, was the recipient of the Pi Mu Epsilon Award given to an outstanding underclass student based on performance in math courses through the sophomore level, and he even completed a minor in music.
Kevin will join a community of 53 other Jefferson Fellows this fall and, in addition to receiving the full cost of attending U.Va., will be given space to work and conduct research at the Jefferson Fellows Center.
“Receiving a nomination for a Jefferson Fellowship is a significant honor, affirming and recognizing exceptional talent and potential in a particular field,” said William Wilson, the foundation’s director of the graduate program. “We look forward to welcoming Kevin to this dynamic academic community and are eager to see the mark he makes not only on the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, but also on the University.”
For Kevin, there's a common thread that seems to run through all of his academic pursuits, whether that's computer science, teaching German or playing in a jazz ensemble.
“I took an early music course while I was in Germany, and I learned that music was once a branch of mathematics until the late Renaissance,” he said. "I've always been interested in the linguistic aspect of teaching a language, and that could be teaching German or music or a computer software. It's all inter-related."
Kevin says he eventually wants to teach at a small, liberal arts college like St. Lawrence.
“Some of it comes because my dad is a professor at Siena College,” he said. “But I really enjoy the pedagogy of teaching. I was a (teaching assistant) for some German classes, and the experience helped solidify that I want to teach. I also like the opportunities for conducting research with students. That's something that I think is unique to small colleges like St. Lawrence.”
About St. Lawrence University:
Founded in 1856, St. Lawrence University is a private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,400 students located in Canton, N.Y. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. Visit www.stlawu.edu.
Kevin Angstadt '14 of Latham, N.Y. was selected this year as one of only 17 recipients of the Jefferson Fellowship, a nationally recognized merit graduate fellowship at the University of Virginia. Selected by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia, Kevin will begin his studies in the fall at U.Va.’s School of Engineering and Applied Science as a doctoral student in computer science.
Jefferson Fellows undergo a rigorous selection process. First, they must apply for admission to U.Va. and be accepted by the department to which they apply. Nominations are then submitted to the Jefferson Scholars Foundation by academic department chairs. Once nominated, candidates are invited to come to Charlottesville, Virginia, to participate in the Jefferson Fellows Selection Weekend.
“I actually got my nomination letter for the fellowship before I received my acceptance letter to U.Va.,” Kevin said. “My dad did his post-doc there in the '80s, so it was a school that I was interested in attending. When I went down for my interview, I got to spend some time with the computer science department. It was similar to the computer science department at St. Lawrence, and there seem to be lots of opportunities for research. That's what helped me make the decision to accept.”
During his undergraduate career, Kevin studied abroad in Giessen, Germany, in the spring 2013 semester and was a St. Lawrence University Fellow in 2012, conducting research with Edwin Harcourt, associate professor of mathematics, developing companion software for a statistics book written by Patti and Robin Lock, professors of mathematics. Kevin was also was recognized as an Outstanding Student in his first, second and third years at St. Lawrence, was the recipient of the Pi Mu Epsilon Award given to an outstanding underclass student based on performance in math courses through the sophomore level, and he even completed a minor in music.
Kevin will join a community of 53 other Jefferson Fellows this fall and, in addition to receiving the full cost of attending U.Va., will be given space to work and conduct research at the Jefferson Fellows Center.
“Receiving a nomination for a Jefferson Fellowship is a significant honor, affirming and recognizing exceptional talent and potential in a particular field,” said William Wilson, the foundation’s director of the graduate program. “We look forward to welcoming Kevin to this dynamic academic community and are eager to see the mark he makes not only on the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, but also on the University.”
For Kevin, there's a common thread that seems to run through all of his academic pursuits, whether that's computer science, teaching German or playing in a jazz ensemble.
“I took an early music course while I was in Germany, and I learned that music was once a branch of mathematics until the late Renaissance,” he said. "I've always been interested in the linguistic aspect of teaching a language, and that could be teaching German or music or a computer software. It's all inter-related."
Kevin says he eventually wants to teach at a small, liberal arts college like St. Lawrence.
“Some of it comes because my dad is a professor at Siena College,” he said. “But I really enjoy the pedagogy of teaching. I was a (teaching assistant) for some German classes, and the experience helped solidify that I want to teach. I also like the opportunities for conducting research with students. That's something that I think is unique to small colleges like St. Lawrence.”
About St. Lawrence University:
Founded in 1856, St. Lawrence University is a private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,400 students located in Canton, N.Y. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. Visit www.stlawu.edu.
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St. Lawrence University
Ryan Deuel
315-229-5806
www.stlawu.edu
Ryan Deuel
315-229-5806
www.stlawu.edu
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