May 20, 2008 - Claremont, Calif. - Recent Harvey Mudd College graduates Peter Scherpelz '08 and Gregory Minton '08 have been awarded Hertz Fellowships.

Granted annually to only 15 to 20 students in the country and based on merit, the highly competitive and prestigious Hertz Fellowship covers five years of graduate studies in the applied physical, biological and engineering sciences.

In exchange, fellows agree to maintain satisfactory progress toward a Ph.D. degree and morally commit to make their skills available to the United States in time of national emergency.

“We are thrilled at the recognition that Peter and Greg have received,” said Robert Cave, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. “They have been remarkable contributors to the HMC community and are most deserving of these awards. In addition, the fact that HMC has garnered two of the very few fellowships awarded nationally testifies to the unique environment the college offers for students to develop and achieve at the highest levels.”

Since 1963, the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations focused on identifying and cultivating the nation’s scientific talent, has supported more than 1,000 promising scientists by providing generous support without research or university restrictions.

In addition to financial support, the Foundation provides ongoing mentoring, symposia and a network of peers providing fellows with a forum to share ideas and explore opportunities throughout their careers.

“I am very thankful I had excellent research opportunities and classes at Harvey Mudd to prepare me to win this award,” said Scherpelz, who majored in physics and conducted research in quantum physics. “The award will give me extra freedom during graduate school as funding won’t be an issue.”

Scherpelz, who hopes to eventually become a professor, will attend the University of Chicago and likely focus on experimental atomic, molecular and optical physics.

Minton, who majored in mathematics, will work at D.E. Shaw Research, a New York-based research laboratory that conducts basic scientific research in the field of computational biochemistry, for one year before applying to graduate school.

Hard-to-come-by national awards are not new to either of these students.

Both were honored with the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship—Minton in 2006; Scherpelz in 2007. In addition, Minton received an honorable mention in the 2008 National Science Foundation Fellowship competition, as well as in the 2008 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, scoring the highest of those on the HMC team.

“I believe the entire HMC community can take pride in these awards as a particular example of the excellence of all of our graduates,” said Cave.