Contact:
Teresa Thomas
412-268-2900

For immediate release:
June 1, 2006

Carnegie Mellon University Student Zofia Koscielniak Earns Department of Homeland Security Scholarship

PITTSBURGH—Zofia Koscielniak, a junior at Carnegie Mellon University, has won a scholarship from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The award is offered annually to an elite group of undergraduate scholars studying math, engineering or science.

Koscielniak, the daughter of Janusz and Lucyna Koscielniak of Frederick, Md., is a mathematical sciences major with a minor in computer science. This fall, she will begin working as a supplemental instruction leader in Carnegie Mellon's Academic Development program, in which students tutor their peers during biweekly study sessions. Beyond her academic pursuits, Koscielniak is an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.

"Zofia took an introductory class from me and was an excellent, excellent student," said John Mackey, Carnegie Mellon lecturer and assistant head of the Mathematical Sciences Department. "As one of her advisors, I also aid her in course selection. She makes careful and considered course selections."

The DHS award includes full tuition and fees during the recipient's junior year, followed by a summer internship at a DHS-affiliated facility before the student's senior year. By investing in the outstanding young technical minds of today, the DHS believes it is taking preemptive measures against the national security threats of tomorrow. Of the 273 undergraduate applicants in 2005, only 50 received the prestigious DHS scholarship.