Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Two Youngstown State University students earned academic recognitions that are among the highest in the nation and the world.

Emily Henline of Austintown, a senior, was named a scholar in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, considered to be one of the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarships in the world.

Junior Alexandra Ballow of Deshler, Ohio, was selected for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a premiere national award for undergraduate students in mathematics, science and engineering.

“On behalf of the entire university, congratulations to Emily and Alexandra for these incredible academic achievements,” said Brien Smith, YSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “These awards not only reflect your talent and hard work, but the commitment and expertise of our faculty and everyone here at YSU.”

A graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, Henline enrolled at YSU in 2015 and is double-majoring in English and education with a minor in linguistics.

She will use the Fulbright award to study for a master’s degree in Korean Studies at Yonsei University in South Korea beginning this fall.

“I cannot even tell you how thrilled I am to hear this news,” Ann Gardner, assistant director of the International Programs Office at YSU, said in an email to Henline. “I wish we could celebrate in person. You are an excellent candidate, and you deserve this award.”

It will be a return trip to South Korea for Henline. She spent the 2017-18 academic year studying abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul as a Gilman Scholar, focusing on Korean history, cultures and language. Her Fulbright study will focus on linguistic imperialism and Korean language identity.

“I am so honored to receive this award and to represent YSU on the international stage,” she said. “I could not have done it without the amazing support of so many people at YSU. Thanks to all.”

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, started in 1946, offers research, study and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students. Fewer than 2,000 awards are presented annually.

GOLDWATER

Ballow, a mathematics and physics double major, is among only 396 college students nationwide to receive the Goldwater Scholarship this year, from a field of 1,343 students. In total, 16 Ohio residents were selected. Ballow will receive a $7,500 one-year award.

Ballow completed research at the Berkeley National Labs for the past two summers under the advisement of Alina Lazar, professor of computer science, and has worked on research problems under the advisement of Alicia Prieto, associate professor of Mathematics, since her first semester at YSU, and more recently Physics faculty members, Donald Priour and Michael Crescimanno.

“Research with faculty has defined my YSU experience,” Ballow said. “I have been doing research on campus since my first week here. I will never be able to thank all of these mentors, especially those who took a risk on my abilities. I would never have even applied for this award without them.”

Ballow plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics after graduating YSU. Her career goals include teaching at the university level and conducting research in how abstract algebra relates to quantum mechanics.

She is the eighth YSU student to receive the Goldwater Scholarship since 1997.

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