Two CEC students receive honors in prestigious Goldwater competition

	Fahmin Basher
	Tyler Ray

Two CEC students, also members of the South Carolina Honors College, have received honors in the 2007 Barry M. Goldwater scholarship competition.

Fahmin Basher of Orangeburg was named a Goldwater scholar. Tyler Ray of Midlothian, VA, received honorable mention in the prestigious undergraduate competition.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation selected 317 scholars from a pool of 1,110 applicants nationwide. The one- and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. The scholarships are awarded to sophomores and juniors pursuing bachelor’s degrees in the natural sciences, mathematics or engineering with intent to pursue a career in research and/or college-level teaching. Colleges and universities can nominate only four students for the award.

Basher, the daughter of Hasanul and Amina Basher, is a junior pursuing a double major in chemical engineering and biology. A graduate of the Orangeburg Preparatory School, Basher holds the Ada B. Thomas and the Interfraternity/Panhellenic Carolina scholarships and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She is a Palmetto fellow, National Merit scholar, National Honor Society scholar, H. Filmore Mabry scholar and Rothberg Chemical Engineering scholar. She is conducting research with Dr. Melissa Moss in the university’s department of chemical engineering. Her research studies are funded by a South Carolina Honors College undergraduate research fellowship. Basher participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the Medical University of South Carolina and has done research with Dr. John Van Zee in the department of chemical engineering. She is involved with the Muslim Student Association. Basher is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Omicron Delta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi. She plans to pursue doctoral and medical degrees in immunology.

Ray, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, is a McNair scholar. He is the son of Bill and Cathy Ray and a graduate of Midlothian High School. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi and Pi Mu Epsilon. Ray has conducted research for two summers at Arista Laboratories in Richmond, Va. A recipient of a South Carolina Honors College undergraduate research fellowship, he is working on an interdisciplinary research project with Dr. Sarah Baxter in mechanical engineering and Dr. Cathy Murphy in chemistry. Ray plans to pursue a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering to prepare for a career in academic research and teaching.

Since 1990, The University of South Carolina has produced 32 Goldwater scholars. The USC Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs assists students in preparation for national scholarship competitions. To learn more, go to www.sc.edu/ofsp.