Campus News

UK Junior to Study Abroad on Scholarship

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2014) — University of Kentucky materials engineering junior Zach Wildofsky, of Tremont City, Ohio, has been awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad, and he will study in Australia.

The Gilman Scholarship is a congressionally funded scholarship sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education.

The scholarship supports students who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad, including but not limited to, students with high financial need, community college students, students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds and students with disabilities.

Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award to defray the cost of tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.

Wildofsky is excited about the opportunities made possible with his Gilman Scholarship. "It will help me pay for my semester abroad this spring in Sydney, Australia. I believe this study abroad program at the University of New South Wales will offer me specific and valuable skills that I can use towards my career that cannot be taught anywhere else."

The son of Jackie and Sam Wildofsky, of Springfield, Ohio, has always been interested in science.

"For as long as I can remember I have known what I wanted to do with my life. Science has always been a passion of mine, and the science involving sports in particular has interested me for some time. Dedicating my life to improving the lives of others through engineering better and safer sporting equipment is very appealing to me," Wildofsky said.

An Honors Program member, Wildofsky has been involved in undergraduate research during his time at UK and credits Matthew Beck, an assistant professor in materials engineering, as a mentor and role mode. The junior has participated in thermoelectrics research and gaining experience with XRD (x-ray diffraction), EDX (energy dispersive x-ray analysis), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and ZEM (Seebeck coefficient/electrical resistance measuring system).

"In addition, I have researched electromechanical actuators and presented a final project to professional engineers," said Wildofsky, who interned two summers at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

   

Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Wildofsky would like to be a materials engineer working in the sports industry with a company like Nike, Adidas or Wilson.

Students who are interested in this and other study abroad scholarship opportunities should contact Pat Whitlow, director of the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, part of the Academy of Undergraduate Excellence within the Division of Undergraduate Education. The office assists current UK undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni in applying for external scholarships and fellowships funded by sources (such as a nongovernment foundation or government agency) outside the university. These major awards honor exceptional students across the nation. Students who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to begin work with Director Pat Whitlow well in advance of the scholarship deadline.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu