|
 Former
dropout wins prestigious scholarship
By Terry Rombeck, Journal-World
 |
|
Stephen Floor
|
Stephen Floor couldn't find his life's calling at Free
State High School. It was in another galaxy.
More than five years ago, the gifted computer whiz
was so disgruntled by the daily grind at FSHS that he
dropped out with only eight months remaining in his
senior year. He bounced around a series of jobs, not
sure what his future held.
These days, he has different priorities. He has his
General Educational Development diploma, is a junior
at Kansas University and has published two papers on
the shapes of galaxy clusters.
Last week, his transformation from aimless dropout
to cosmic scholar got another boost when he was awarded
a Goldwater scholarship, one of the most prestigious
honors given to undergraduate scientists, engineers
and mathematicians.
"It's a big turnaround," said his father,
KU biology professor Erik Floor. "It was some kind
of a miracle."
Stephen Floor said he decided to drop out of school
in October 1998—during his senior year of high
school—because he didn't feel inspired or motivated.
He needed only one course to complete his graduation
requirements, but policy at the time required him to
take a full course load for two semesters.
The decision confounded Floor's parents, who had seen
him teach himself to read at age 3 and who had enrolled
him in a gifted school in Madison, Wis., when he was
younger.
"We obviously knew this was a bright kid, so this
was very tough on us as parents," Erik Floor said.
"He was sure sounding like he was hating high school.
He had no motivation, and he didn't know what he wanted
to do."
Floor was one of two KU juniors planning careers in
science to win national Barry M. Goldwater scholarships
to encourage excellence in science, engineering and
mathematics. Dyan E. Vogel, majoring in cell biology
from Overland Park, also received the $7,500 scholarship.
Lawrence-Journal World:
http://ljworld.com/section/kunews/storypr/166007
KU News release: http://www.ur.ku.edu/News/04N/MarNews/Mar25/goldwater.html
|
