2 Minnesotans receiving scholarships from astronaut's foundation

Star Tribune

Last update: September 10, 2008 - 9:04 AM

An Apollo astronaut is visiting the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University this week to present two students with five-figure scholarships.

Today, Apollo 15 astronaut Col. Al Worden visits the U and gives senior Andrew Jones, of Edina, a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Worden, who chairs the foundation, also will speak to a class of freshmen at the Tate Laboratory of Physics.

Jones is a senior in the U's Institute of Technology Honors program. He is pursuing a dual major in chemical engineering and chemistry and focuses his research on biofuels and renewable sources of energy. He also leads the university's Active Energy Club, which educates the campus and community about renewable energy.

Worden will be in Fargo on Thursday, where he'll give the same recognition to North Dakota State junior Matthew Wold.

Wold is an agricultural and biosystems engineering major from Thief River Falls, Minn. His research interests focus on cellulosic ethanol, with sensor calibration and reactor testing and modification.

The Astronaut Scholarship is the largest monetary award given in the nation to science and engineering undergraduate students based solely on merit. Only 19 of these prestigious awards are handed out each year to students majoring in a science or engineering field.

PAUL WALSH

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