UND student Kirt Leadbetter's academic excellence in chemical engineering recently won him the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, which this year honored 271 math, science and engineering students nationwide.
Leadbetter was among 71 engineering students who won the scholarship, which offers up to $7,500 per year toward tuition, fees and other college costs. Four-year institutions can nominate up to four students each year.
He said he doesn't think he could have achieved the scholarship without the help of his professors, particularly his adviser, Juergen Fischer.
"Research comes second, students come first," Leadbetter said. "They have an open door policy at UND and it's phenomenal."
He is one of at least six UND students this year to win a nationally competitive award, and one of only a few at the university in the past few years who have won the Goldwater Scholarship, said Joan Hawthorne, director of assessment and regional accreditation.
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Leadbetter is currently pursuing a combined graduate and undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, and has already completed minors in biology, chemistry and math. After he finishes his five-year program next year, he wants to pursue his doctorate at UND, he said.
Although he's considering full-time research work after he graduates, he's been dabbling with the idea of building apartments in Grand Forks to address the need for housing. He's also mulling over a career in politics, where he can "have that more direct affect on things," he said.
"I think we should try our best to better this world, at least in some part," Leadbetter said. "Maybe this is idealistic, but it may be that simple thoughts like that hold the most power."
Call Johnson at (701) 787-6736; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1736; or send e-mail to jjohnson@gfherald.com .
