Physics Junior Alyssa Wilson achieved national distinction as a recipient of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Alyssa was among 321 sophomores and juniors who were recognized for success in math and sciences, chosen from among 1,035 nominees for the Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Based on Alyssa's nomination as a Senior Scholar, she will receive $7,500 (maximum award) toward her education. This Scholarship Program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

What was your reaction to winning the award?

When I found out that I won, I was really excited, and I screamed a little bit. I worked hard to apply for the scholarship and it felt good to have my efforts be recognized.

What did you have to do to win the award?

To win the award, I had to submit an online application and also an essay, my secondary school and college transcripts, and three letters of recommendation, from faculty in my department and research advisors. In the essay I had to describe the subject of my research, its usefulness for the scientific and engineering communities, and what I had learned from it.

How did you become interested in math and physics? Why did you want to study it?

Math is something that has always come naturally to me and the math is really eloquent, fascinating stuff, so I thought it would be a good area to get into. Physics challenges me a bit more, but that was its allure. The first time I took a physics class I was really frustrated because I couldn't get a grip on the material. So I forced myself to take a second class, and I don't know what happened, but I really liked it. It's a field that I feel will always keep me curious and in which I can do some really interesting work.

What's it like being a girl in the physics field?

It's not that bad, actually. There aren't that many of us-I am the only female in my year, which has a class size of about 8. At the outset of my freshman year, that was kind of daunting, and I felt like I needed to work extra hard to gain respect. At this point, though, no one really even pays attention to gender demographics. We're all just students trying to survive the curriculum.

How do you feel about Drexel's physics department? Do you like it? Hate it?

I like the Drexel physics department a lot. There are so many really cool and intelligent people here, and perhaps more importantly, they're almost all willing to help each other out. I think it's a really good place to learn.

Post-grad plans?

At this point, I would like to go to graduate school to get a Ph.D. in some area of physics.