Evening star., 1944-03-08
Washington Youth,
Alexandra Girl Win
Science Scholarships

Nancy Agnes Durant, Is, of 7o8
Pendleton street Alexandria, Va,
was announced the winner of $500
Westinghouse Science Scholarship in
the third annual science talent
search at dinner last night at the
Statler Hotel. Jacques Charlie.
Poirier, 16, OF 4406 River road NV.
received 5000 scholarship and was
named an alternate for a $40(
scholarship.
Winners of the $2,400 grand
scholarships, top honors in the con-
test, were Charles Amber Davidson
IT, Fort Bridger, Wyo., and Anne
Hagopian, Is, New York City. A
total of $1,000 was distributed to
35 of the 40 finalists in the search,
who were chosen from $4,000 COM
peting science students and brought
to Washington for the five-day
Science Talent Institute with all
expenses paid.
The search is conducted annually
by the Science Clubs of America,
and the scholarships are provided
by the Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Co., as a contribu-
tion to the advancement of science
in America. The scholarships may
be used to attend any degree grant
ing college or university of the re-
cipient's choice, subject to approval
Of the Science Clubs Of America.
ChorInx, Dro->u<r A-o-d.
DR.. Harlow Shapley, director of
the Harvard College Observatory,
presented the scholarships. DR..
Shapley, Dr. Harold A. Edgerton of
Ohio State University and DR..
Steuart Henderson Britt, Washing
ton psychologists, comprised the
board of judges.
Davidson, the top boy finalist, has
built highly departmentalized
home shop to accommodate his
scientific projects. One of his de-
velopments is the design of an
invisible searchlight," using infra-
red rays and an electronic pickup,
for military use in scanning enemy
battle lines undetected. He plans to
become research scientist.
Anne Hagopian is the youngest
girl finalist ever selected for the
award. Small and dark-haired, she
has constructed models Of atoms,
and an original model to demon
strate principles of geometry. She
plans to attend Radcliffe College
and to become research physicist.
Nancy Attends Howard.
"It's wonderful" Nancy Durant
said of her award. 81 am so happy
I could pop"
Nancy, one of eight granted $400
scholarships, developed a method of
recovering tungsten salts from the
filaments of used light bulbs. She
attends Howard University.
DR.. Karl T. Compton, president of
Massachusetts, Institute of Tech
nology, in an address preceding the
awards, pointed out the possibilities
for youthful scientists today.
THE present war work of scien-
lists Illustrates the opportunities
for young scientists and engineers"
he said, "and the fact that they
do not need to grow old before they
can be useful.
Compton Stresses Youth.
Some of the largest and most
Important firms now manufacturing
materials for the war report that
about one-third of their entire en-
gineering staffs are below the age
of 26, and that without the services
Of these young engineers the essen
tial war production of these firms
would have to be curtailed greatly
know one group engaged in de-
veloping device of the very highest
war priority in which SO per cent
of the staff are below 26 years
of age"
Watson Davis, director of Science
Service, presided at the dinner. G..
Edward Pendray of the Westing-
house Electric g. Manufacturing
Co. explained the purpose of the
science talent search.