Eric Schwen ’15 is Apker Award Finalist
Eric Schwen ’15, a Washington and Lee University valedictorian and physics major from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, has been chosen as a finalist for the American Physical Society’s LeRoy Apker Award, recognizing outstanding achievements in physics by an undergraduate.
The Apker Award is considered the highest award for undergraduate physics research in the U.S.
As a finalist, Schwen receives a $2,000 honorarium and a certificate, and W&L’s physics department receives $1,000. If ultimately selected a winner, Schwen would receive $5,000, a certificate and a travel allowance to attend the award presentation, and W&L’s physics department would receive $5,000.
Two Apker winners can be chosen annually at the society’s discretion, one to a student at a Ph.D.-granting college or university and one to a student from a non-Ph.D.-granting institution.
Schwen previously won a highly competitive 2014-15 Goldwater Scholarship, which promotes research careers in science, mathematics and engineering. He was a Johnson scholar, teaching assistant in W&L’s physics lab, and academic peer tutor in introductory physics and calculus. Last summer, he received a Johnson Opportunity Grant from the university to attend international physics conferences in France and Spain. Schwen has been a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and W&L’s Outing Club.
If you know a W&L student who has done great, accolade-worthy things, tell us about them! Nominate them for an accolade.
