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Benjamin Schmitt Wins Fulbright Award

Benjamin Schmitt (BS, Physics; BA, Mathematics; BA, German) is one of five UR students who recently earned 2008-2009 Fullbright Awards, national scholarships that foster international academic and research collaborations. The Fulbright Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the world, with international collaborations in well over a hundred countries.

Benjamin will spend his Fulbright year in Germany conducting physics research at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg and pursuing a master's degree in astronomy and astrophysics at Heidelberg University. He is a Renaissance Scholar, recipient of the German Book Award, and member of the Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honor Society. He has previously conducted research at UR's Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Cornell's Laboratory for Elementary Particle Physics, and the Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg; Schmitt has also co-authored several scientific papers. He intends to pursue a PhD in physics and a research career in a government or academic laboratory setting. An Eagle Scout, Schmitt has participated in the UR Sailing Club and College Bowl Team and has also served as a volunteer event coordinator for local and regional Science Olympiad competitions. He attended Greece Arcadia High School in Rochester, New York and has studied voice since childhood, including private vocal lessons with Eastman's Jane Gunter-McCoy. Benhamin has had the lead vocal roles in several Eastman Opera Theatre performances, including The Merry Widow. (lhg)