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UNT Texas Academy student is only Texas student in national Intel competition
DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Evan Gawlik, a student at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, located at the University of North Texas, is one of 40 students in the nation selected as a finalist in the 2006 Intel Science Talent Search. Gawlik, the son of John and Darlene Gawlik of Pinehurst, N.C., is a second-year student at TAMS, 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 enroll in the academy following their sophomore year in high school, live in a UNT residence hall and attend UNT classes with college students. After two years, they enroll at UNT or another university to finish their bachelor's degrees. Gawlik is the only finalist in this year's Intel Science Talent Search from a Texas school. He was first selected Jan. 11 as one of 300 semifinalists, chosen from more than 1,500 applicants. He was one of 18 semifinalists from Texas and one of two from TAMS. Formerly the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, the Intel Science Talent Search is the nation's premier program to recognize high school student research in science, mathematics and engineering. Past honorees of the 64-year-old program later became recipients of Nobel Prizes, National Medals of Science, MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and other prestigious science and math awards. Since 1993, 35 TAMS students have been named semifinalists in the competition. Seven of those students were also named finalists. As a finalist, Gawlik is guaranteed at least a $5,000 scholarship, after receiving $1,000 for being named a semifinalist. He also received an Intel Centrino mobile technology-based notebook computer. Gawlik and the other finalists will attend the Intel Science Talent Search Institute in Washington, D.C., March 9-14 to compete for 10 scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $100,000. During the institute, they will meet distinguished scientists and representatives from Congress. Scholarship winners will be announced at a dinner the evening of March 14 (Tuesday). Gawlik said he was "rather shocked" to be named a finalist. "I'm excited to go to Washington. It will be neat to meet all the other students who have made it this far," he said. For his Intel project, Gawlik worked in the computational chemistry laboratory of Dr. Angela Wilson, UNT associate professor of chemistry. He studied noble gas bonding, which was thought to be impossible until the first synthesis of a noble gas compound in 1962. Gawlik, who began working in the laboratory in the fall of 2004, used a quantum mechanics approach to project the existence and stability of six new potential noble gas-bonded compounds. He said that these findings will not only help to overturn the deep-rooted misconception that noble gas is inert, or having few or no active properties that will allow their molecules to bond. The research will also identify noble gas fluorides that are comparable to other known molecules called oxidatative fluoridators, Gawlik said. "Oxidative fluoridators are of sanitary and industrial importance, as they have been shown to serve as effective antimicrobial agents and as uranium processors for nuclear reactor fuel waste," he said. "Furthermore, rare-gas halides have applications in laser technology." Dr. Richard Sinclair, TAMS dean, said Gawlik began his research sooner than many TAMS students, who don't start research until the summer after their first year in the academy. "He chose one of the most demanding mentors and sophisticated research programs available. All of us at the academy are impressed that he was the only student in Texas so recognized by the Intel Science Talent Search," Sinclair said. Wilson described Gawlik as "a spectacular, hard-working student." "It's amazing for a high school student to be that good at independent research," she said. Gawlik is the second TAMS student who worked in Wilson's laboratory to be named a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search. Ian Haken, a TAMS student from Plano, was a finalist in last year's competition. Gawlik presented his research at the American Chemical Society Meeting-in-Miniature in April 2005, where he received third place for his presentation. He is also the primary author of a paper about the research that will be submitted to a professional journal. Wilson said Gawlik is the first undergraduate or TAMS student in her laboratory to be the primary author of a scientific paper. Gawlik was previously honored for his research when he was selected as a semifinalist in the 2005 Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science & Technology, which was established in 1999 and is funded by the Siemens Foundation. Gawlik was one of 49 students from Texas schools, and one of nine TAMS students, named semifinalists in that competition, which was held last fall. Born in Germany, Gawlik has also lived in Hawaii and Italy in addition to North Carolina. He qualified for TAMS because his father, a member of the military, is a Texas resident. At TAMS, Gawlik is vice president of Helping Other People Everywhere, a community service organization; a member of Mu Alpha Theta math club and a member of the Dull Roar Music Society. He plays French horn for the TAMS symphony orchestra. Gawlik is also a National Merit Semifinalist and an Eagle Scout. At Pinecrest High School, he was on the track and cross country teams, a member of a community service organization and a member of the Quiz Bowl team. He will attend the California Institute of Technology to finish his bachelor's degree after graduating from TAMS in May, and was also accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Gawlik plans to major in applied mathematics and become a researcher and professor in mathematics.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Nancy Kolsti (940) 565-3509
Email: nkolsti@unt.edu
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