Timothy Wahmhoff, a Hope College senior computer science major from Gobles, has received a highly competitive scholarship for graduate study through the "Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation" (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program of the United States Department of Defense.
Only approximately 300 of the scholarships were awarded nationwide. Available to undergraduates and graduate students, the scholarships pay full tuition and related fees, a yearly stipend, and allowances for health insurance and books, and also provide paid summer internships, mentoring and placement after graduation.
It is the second time - and the second year in a row - that a Hope student has received a scholarship through the program, which was established in 2005. Nicolle LeClair, a sophomore from Ogden, Utah, who is majoring in engineering with a computer science emphasis and minoring in mathematics, received one of the awards in 2009 in support of her studies at Hope. Her internship this summer will be at the Air Force Material Command, AirLogisticCenter at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
The Department of Defense established the SMART Scholarship for Service Program to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories.
The awards are open only to U.S. citizens, and are for study at a U.S. college or university. Recipients commit to work as a civilian employee at a military-service or DoD-agency laboratory for a period equal to the time the program paid for their school.
Wahmhoff will pursue a Master of Science degree in computer science, with an emphasis on software engineering, at the University of Southern California. He will complete his summer internships at the U.S. Army TARDEC (Tank Automotive Research, Development and EngineeringCenter) in Warren, where he will also work after completing his graduate degree.
Wahmhoff is minoring in mathematics in addition to majoring in computer science. He has participated in collaborative student-faculty research during both the school year and summer, working with Dr. Ravikant Agarwal and Dr. Matthew DeJongh, both of whom are members of the computer science faculty. His activities as a student have also included the computer science club as well as varsity football, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Union of Catholic Students.
He is the son of Daniel and Lorie Wahmhoff of Gobles. He is a 2006 graduate of Gobles High School.