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Recent UNT TAMS graduates named to USA Today academic teams
DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Amelia Lin of Plano, a recent graduate of the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at the University of North Texas, is one of 20 students in the nation selected to the All-USA First High School Academic Team by USA Today. Another recent TAMS graduate from Plano, Monica Lu, was named to the newspaper's Second High School Academic Team. The High School Academic Teams are open to students graduating from high schools in the United States or its territories, or from Department of Defense schools overseas. Each student, nominated by a teacher or counselor from his or her school, is selected primarily for a specific outstanding academic, artistic or leadership achievement, which the student must describe in a 500-word essay. The student's grades, high school curriculum, leadership activities in school and in the community, and letters of recommendation are also considered. For being named to the First High School Academic Team, Lin, daughter of Lisan and Amy Lin of Plano, received $2,500 and was featured in a photo spread in the May 17 USA Today. For being named to the Second High School Academic Team, Lu received a certificate, and her name was announced in the May 17 USA Today. Lin and Lu both graduated May 11 from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, a two-year residential program at UNT that allows talented students to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college while earning their high school diplomas. Students enter TAMS after their sophomore year of high school, live in a UNT residence hall and attend UNT classes with college students. After four semesters, they graduate from TAMS with 60 hours of college credit and the equivalent of a high school diploma. They stay at UNT or transfer to other universities to finish their bachelor's degrees. Dr. Richard Sinclair, dean of TAMS, said Lin and Lu, who were roommates this past year at the academy, "amaze us with continual top accomplishment." "Both are outstanding students, exceptional scientists, and talented musicians. Both have demonstrated top leadership skills and are very popular with their peers and the staff. I often wonder if being roommates has helped them to achieve so much," Sinclair said. Lin was named to the First High School Academic Team for conducting research in the laboratory of Dr. Zhibing Hu, UNT professor of physics. Beginning in her first semester at TAMS in the fall of 2005, Lin investigated the properties of carbon nanotubes, or hollow cylinders of carbon atoms that are only a few nanometers -- one billionths of meters -- in diameter. These nanotubes may be used in the future for drug delivery into individual human cells, targeted cancer treatment and other applications in the human body. Lin's research also led to her being chosen for a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. The Goldwater Scholarships, which were awarded to 317 students in the nation this year, provide a maximum of $7,500 each year for one or two years to cover tuition, fees, books and room and board. They are considered to be among the country's most prestigious scholarships awarded to students planning careers in mathematics, science and engineering. Students are chosen for the scholarships on the basis of their scientific research, grade point averages and other achievements. Lin was also honored in several science competitions for her research. In October 2006, she was named a regional finalist in the national 2006 Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science & Technology after first being named a semifinalist. She presented her research project before a panel of judges at the Southwestern Region Competition, which determined the national finalists. This past January, Lin was named a semifinalist in the 2007 Intel Science Talent Search, another national scholarship competition that honors high school student research in science, mathematics and engineering. Lin received $1,000 for being named a semifinalist. Her research project also received the grand prize at the Fort Worth Regional Science Fair in March. The grand prize award qualified her to participate in both the Texas state science fair in April and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2007 being held this week in Albuquerque, N.M. Lin received an all-expenses paid trip to attend the international science fair, which will include projects from students representing all 50 states and 47 countries, territories and regions. Lin attended Shepton High School before entering TAMS in August 2005. At TAMS, she was an executive officer with Mu Alpha Theta math club. She also plays the clarinet in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony. In addition to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and the award from USA Today, Lin received a $16,500 scholarship from the Micron Science and Technology Scholars Program, which is open to high school seniors in Idaho, Utah, Texas, Colorado and Virginia who plan to major in engineering, computer science, physics, materials science or chemistry. Micron, one of the world's largest companies providing advanced semiconductor solutions, selects two scholars from each of the five states, and also awards three additional scholarships among the states. A National Merit finalist, Lin also received a Phi Delta Kappa Prospective Educators Scholarship. She will be honored in Washington, D.C., in June as one of 141 high school students chosen as 2007 Presidential Scholars. She will attend Harvard University this fall to finish her bachelor's degree, majoring in physics or education. She plans a teaching and research career in the sciences. Lu was named to the Second High School Academic Team for her research on human brain activity during antisaccade -- suppression of automatic eye movement responses. She conducted her research project last summer at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Research Science Institute. Lu was previously honored for her research when she received a Goldwater Scholarship and was named a semifinalist in both the 2006 Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science & Technology and the 2007 Intel Science Talent Search. Her project also placed first in the Behavioral Science category at the Fort Worth Regional Science Fair. Lu attended Jasper High School in Plano before entering TAMS in August 2005. At TAMS, she was a member of the Research Club. She spent her second year conducting research on neuronal cilia with Dr. Jannon Fuchs, UNT professor of biological sciences. An active Girl Scout, she received the Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn and equivalent to the Eagle Scout Award for Boy Scouts. She recently became one of two Texas students chosen by the Texas Education Agency to attend the 2007 National Youth Science Camp June 27-July 23. Lu will attend Yale University this fall to finish her bachelor's degree. She plans to major in biology and eventually earn both a medical degree and a doctoral degree to combine a medical career with research.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Nancy Kolsti (940) 565-3509
Email: nkolsti@unt.edu
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