Vietnamese American girl wins prestigious US scholarship

Nguyen Tong My Linh, a third-year student at the University of Virginia, was named a Barry Goldwater Scholar for 2006, one of 323 students across the country to receive the honor this year.
The scholarship will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, room, and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
The scholarship was awarded on academic merit from a field of 1,081 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by college and university faculties nationwide.
Linh, 20, of Virginia, is majoring in biochemistry and plans to pursue a medical degree and conduct basic science and clinical research with an emphasis on molecular approaches to cancer therapy. She also wants to teach at a university hospital.
Michael Timko, a biology professor and university representative for selecting nominees for the Goldwater scholarships, said: “Because of the competitiveness of these awards, it is an honor to be nominated. It shows a level of achievement that puts them in an elite class.”
The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.