Lee students Heather Boyd, Tim Erdei, Rachel Lins and Andrew Tyson have been awarded 2010 National Science Foundation STEM scholarships through the Appalachian College Association.
This scholarship, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, is awarded to students with declared majors in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, or STEM majors, and whose academic accomplishments impressed the STEM Review Committee. The scholarship provides a $6,000 per year stipend to each recipient.
Heather Boyd is a biological science major with teacher licensure from Cohutta, Ga.
Boyd said this scholarship is a “tremendous blessing.”
Boyd is involved on campus as a member of the Student Leadership Council and the Council of Revolutionary Endeavors for the Invisible Children club.
Erdei is a biology/pre-med major from Inkster, Mich. He is a member of Lee University Singers and Kairos Scholars, in which he serves on the stewardship committee.
“I was shocked when I discovered that I was chosen to be a recipient. As a result, I can continue to focus on my academic endeavors toward a career in the medical field without having to worry about finances,” Erdei said.
Lins is a preprofessional health science major from Millsboro, Del., and plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.
Lins, a member of the Lee women’s rugby team, said she “was surprised to hear back from the committee so quickly and overwhelmed and thankful to be one of the recipients.”
She said she is paying her own way through school and could not stay enrolled without scholarships.
Tyson is a biology/pre-med major from Blairsville, Ga. He is a member of Alpha Phi Delta, the Pre-med Honor Society, and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society.
This summer, he is traveling to Guatemala as part of Lee’s medical missions program, where they will operate clinics in the rural villages where residents receive little to no health care.
“From the moment I found out about this scholarship, I felt it was a perfect fit. I plan to one day practice medicine in southern Appalachia,” shared Tyson, “so writing about my commitment to the region came very naturally.
The ACA is a consortium of 36 colleges and universities spread across the central Appalachian mountains which strives to promote cooperation and collaboration among its member institutions to serve the people of Appalachia through higher education and related services.
