RELEASED: May 21, 2009

DANVILLE, KY—The specific details on his research in material/surface chemistry may not be set in stone, but Joe Yeager '07 certainly won't have to worry about funding. Yeager recently received a prestigious National Science Foundation Fellowship that will support his research during graduate school. Whereas many of his peers will be restricted to topics for which their advisors already have grants in place, Yeager has the freedom to choose.

"My research group has a strong interest in energy applications—that includes solar cells,

batteries, super capacitors, etc.," says Yeager. "I think energy technology is the area of science where we most desperately need fast progress, so I'm thrilled to be working in the area."

Yeager wasn't always interested in research though. He has his professors at Centre to credit for that.

"Doing research with Dr. Keith Dunn my sophomore and senior years was really important in getting me interested in research, and he was always a really strong advocate for me going on to grad school," Yeager says. "But Dr. Jeff Fieberg is the one who got me most interested in materials chemistry."

Yeager's story is one of success for not only him, but for Centre as well. "My reviewers for the fellowship specifically mentioned how much they liked the wide variety of jobs I've had (teaching English in France, working with electrical engineers, teaching a summer class for younger science students). Ultimately, I think Centre's responsible for the breadth of experiences I've been fortunate enough to have."

It's often said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so it should come as no surprise that Yeager aspires to teach at a small liberal arts school—like Centre—in the future. "It was such a great place for me to learn that I can't imagine anything more rewarding than teaching a new generation of students," he says.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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