Āé¶¹ĘµµĄ

Jim Tranquada
Jackie Dall '21

Continuing a 30-year Āé¶¹ĘµµĄ tradition, Jackie Dall ā€™21 has been named a 2020 Goldwater Scholar. Dall is the 40th Āé¶¹ĘµµĄstudent to win the countryā€™s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the sciences since the award was established in 1989.

Dall is among the 396 recipients of this yearā€™s Goldwater scholarships, presented to sophomores and juniors who plan to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. The award covers up to $7,500 annually for undergraduate tuition, fees, books and room and board.

Just 16 percent of the 2020 Goldwaters went to students enrolled in liberal arts colleges. Most awards were made to students at large research universities.

"Iā€™m incredibly honored and humbled to be selected as a Goldwater scholar, and I think itā€™s a testament to the Geology Departmentā€™s emphasis on mentorship-based research,ā€ Dall says. ā€œWorking with Professor [Christopher] Oze has been a highlight of my time at Oxy, because itā€™s a chance to be challenged outside the classroom. When Iā€™m stuck on a problem, I know Professor Oze is there to help me, and having that support system is encouraging as I work toward a career in geology."

"The Goldwater award requires a significant amount of effort and commitment from students, and we are excited and proud that Jackieā€™s hard work has been recognized," said Jeff Cannon ā€™07, assistant professor of chemistry and a Goldwater winner himself who with Biology Professor Gary Martin and Jennifer Locke, director of national and international fellowships, advised this yearā€™s applicants.

"Successful applications for these awards require students to work closely with a faculty mentor, and we think our success this year is a reflection of Oxyā€™s ability to foster those relationships," Cannon said.

Dall, a geology major and art history minor from La Crescenta, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in geochemistry or petrology and hopes to eventually become a curator of a geological collection at a museum. Her faculty mentors are Oze and Professor of Art and Art History Eric Frank.