What is the Mechanics Scholar Program?
The Texas A&M Department of Physics founded the Mechanics Scholar Program in Spring 2002 to identify and honor the best students in Physics 218
(Classical Mechanics). The top performers are identified by an end-of-semester Challenge Exam that is open to all students in all sections (typically 1,500 in the fall and 750 in the spring). It covers the material fro
m the first three exams in the regular Physics 218 sections, inclusively. It is, in some sense, simply for fun and a way to allow students to match their physics skills against the very best here at A&M.
The winners receive a book and monetary award. As an incentive, all students who perform well on the challenge exam will be named Adison Wesley / Benjamin Cummings Mechanics Scholars (which includes a certificate suitable for frami
ng), as well as being invited to a catered lunch in their honor. In addition to lunch, there are faculty presentations about potential careers for people with high levels of physics problem solving skills. The exam is typically held right before, or during Reading Days, which occur before finals.
Links to some good press:
Presentations given to students named Mechanics Scholars
Students Awarded for Exceptional Performance in Physics 218
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Kostrzewa, Andy (Fall 2012)
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Krusleski, Matthew (Spring 2012)
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Li, Hanyu (Fall 2011)
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Barry, Matthew (Spring 2011)
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Perkins, Casey (Fall 2010)
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Chen, Rongqiang (Spring 2010)
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Butts, Austin (Fall 2009)
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Mitchell, Drew P. (Spring 2009)
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Bhora, Katherine S. (Fall 2008)
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Lawson, Blain A. (Spring 2008)
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Olsovsky, Cory A. (Fall 2007)
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Cheng, Peng (Spring 2007)
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Zhelezov, Gleb (Fall 2006)
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Smith, Jason D. (Spring 2006)
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Geffert, Paul B. (Fall 2005)
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Chowdhary, Varun (Spring 2005)
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Barot, Christopher N. (Fall 2004)
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Chisholm , Ariel D. Z. (Spring 2004)
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King, Vernon R. (Fall 2003)
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Smith, David A. (Spring 2003)
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Guo, Heng (Fall 2002)
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Thomas, Ryan B. (Spring 2002)