SALT LAKE CITY: April 20, 2010: Three Utah students will be able to worry a little less about paying for their college education. Nicholas Hansen, a sophomore at Carbon High School; Nikolas Liodakis, a sophomore at Hillcrest High School; and Jimin Yoon, a sophomore at West High School were selected to receive the additional $2,500; $5,000 and $25,000 scholarships which are to be used in math, science, or engineering studies. This is in addition to the $2,000 they initially received this year in the first round of the scholarship applications.
Exemplary students from 124 high schools in Utah were selected to receive $2,000 merit-based scholarships. All recipients were then entered into the competition for the three Distinguished Awards.
The EnergySolutions Foundation began the scholarship program in 2006 as a way to promote the study of math, science, and engineering to encourage the next generation of professionals to seek degrees in biochemistry, chemistry, ecology, engineering, environmental science, geology, geophysics, mathematics, meteorology, or physics. To date, 477 scholarships totaling $1,084,000 have been awarded in Utah.
Nicholas Hansen is the $2,500 recipient. He wants to get a degree in mathematics and combine that with science and contribute to what he calls “the great project of modern science that has brought so much benefit to the world.” In the 8th grade he won 1st place with his science fair project where he used electroencephalography (EEG) to see if a person could change their brainwave pattern by using a biofeedback device measuring their heart rate variability. In 9th grade his poster for that project was presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research. He was also a finalist at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair with a computer system that allowed people to turn the pages of a virtual book by blinking their eye. He also won the Kiwana’s Young Scientist Award for this project. He is an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society, and ranked number one in his class.
Nikolaos Liodakis is the $5,000 recipient. He wants to study biology at Princeton because the subject fascinates him as it explains a majority of things from genetics to the environment. He hopes to find new advancements in energy sources. He has worked hard to stay involved in STEM areas. In 9th grade he received 2nd place in the Science Olympiad, was a national finalist in a program sponsored by Society for Science and Public, and received a United States Navy Award for a science fair project. Last year he also received an academic letter. He helped a school in Athens, Greece start up an International Science Fair and is currently President of the Junior Greek Youth Association. He is also a member of the Utah Youth Symphony Guild – plays the clarinet – and is the Class President. Last summer he took a college level calculus class at the University of Utah. The professor of that class said, “even with a class full of college students, Nikolas was one of the top students. He plans on taking as many university level math classes as he can during high school.”
Jimin Yoon is the recipient of the $25,000 award and wants to study engineering at MIT. He has been preparing for this for many years. In 8th grade he placed 1st in the state in the American Mathematics Competition and placed 1st in the District Science Fair for a project of creating a java program to calculate the population in each county and calculate population density. He was also on the 1st place team for Mathcounts. In 9th grade placed 2nd in the state among freshman in the American Mathematics Competition. He is currently in the FIRST Robotics Club and will go to the regional and national level competitions. He is also a member of the Utah Youth Philharmonic Orchestra playing the violin. His computer science teacher says, “Jimin is one of these students who immediately stood out in my class. His ability and desire to do excellent work goes well beyond any expectations that have been set for the class.” His AP calculus teacher says,”Jimin is an absolute top math student. He understands complex problems and is motivated by a desire to excel. He is one of the finest students I have taught. It’s an honor teaching him.”
“Our goal with the EnergySolutions Foundation scholarship program is to help these motivated students fulfill their desire of a college education,” said Jordan Clements, Chairman of the Board for the EnergySolutions Foundation.
“Because the scholarship program is an extension of our commitment to this great community where EnergySolutions employees live and work, I am happy for the difference this will make the education of these students,” said Val Christensen, CEO of EnergySolutions.
The EnergySolutions Foundation will honor all Utah scholarship recipients at 6:30 pm at a banquet on Saturday, May 15th at Little America.
For more information about the scholarship program, please contact Pearl Wright at (801) 870-1505 or visit our website at www.energysolutionsfoundation.org.
