Four Dickinson State University students have been awarded scholarships from the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium for the 2008 spring semester. Allison Gunderson, Aaron Meyer, Tyler Opitz and Shayla Schmitz each received $1,125.

The North Dakota Space Grant Consortium was established 18 years ago, when the state of North Dakota received a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish the North Dakota Space Grant Program. With its headquarters located at the University of North Dakota, the program now consists of a consortium of 16 affiliated colleges and universities, including DSU.

An important component of this NASA program has been the encouragement of young people to enter various fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). To encourage more students to become involved in STEM, the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium offers funds to each public 2-year, 4-year and tribal college in the state to provide scholarships for students who show particular interest and ability in STEM. Scholarship applicants must be undergraduates pursuing a degree program in the areas of science, mathematics or engineering, must have a minimum grade point of 3.00 and must be citizens of the United States.

For the academic year 2007-08, the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium provided $4500 to DSU to be used for scholarships. A committee of faculty members from the department of mathematics and computer science and the department of natural sciences evaluated applications and awarded the scholarship dollars.

The following students were each awarded an $1,125 scholarship:

•Allison Gunderson, Dickinson, N.D., is a secondary education mathematics major with a minor in psychology.

•Aaron Meyer, Dickinson, N.D., is a secondary education mathematics and computer science major with a minor in leadership.

•Tyler Opitz, Kennewick, Wash., is a biology and Spanish double major with a minor in chemistry. He plans to attend physical therapy school and earn a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

•Shayla Schmitz, Helena, Mont., is a chemistry major with a minor in biology. She plans to pursue a career in pharmacology.