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Friday, November 20, 2009   46º F

Updated 09/25/2008 05:32 PM

SU student presented with astronaut scholarship

By: Web Staff

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse University student got a visit from a three-time space shuttle astronaut who delivered a major scholarship.

Fred Gregory was at SU on Thursday to present senior Avi Hameroff with a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. The astronaut scholarship is the largest monetary award given in the U.S. to science and engineering undergraduate students based solely on merit. Nineteen are handed out each year.

Hameroff has done internship work outside the classroom involving the research of radiation exposure to small animals and implantable brain devices.

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"It's pretty neat to be recognized for all the research, as well as all the community service and just general involvement around campus. So, I'm pretty excited. It feels pretty cool," said Hameroff.

"The young man we're here to celebrate with today was highly recommended by multiple departments here. And was just selected. And I've had some casual conversations with him this morning and he is an amazing young man,” Gregory said.

The scholarship winners exhibit exceptional performance, initiative and creativity in their field, as well as intellectual daring and a genuine desire to positively change the world around them.