A Hillcrest High School sophomore is one of three Utah students selected to receive a Distinguished Award Scholarship from the Energy Solutions Foundation.
The honor was presented last week to Nikolas Liodakis, the sophomore class president, during his Advanced Placement biology class. Liodakis, who was surprised with the announcement, was chosen to receive the $5,000 award from a field of 124 students who had already earned $2,000 merit scholarships from the foundation for excellence in their scholastic endeavors. That brings Liodakis’ total scholarship money from Energy Solutions Foundation to $7,000.
Liodakis, who has completed a calculus class at the University of Utah and wants to study biology at Princeton University, has also received a U.S. Navy Award for his science fair project. Liodakis is president of both the Hillcrest sophomore class and Junior Greek Youth Association, and has helped a school in Athens, Greece start an International Science Fair project.
The Energy Solutions Foundation began the scholarship program in 206 as a way to promote the study of math, science, and engineering, and to encourage the next generation of professionals to seek degrees in biochemistry, chemistry, ecology, engineering, environmental science, geology, geophysics, mathematics, meteorology, or physics.
Liodakis will be recognized on May 15 at the Energy Solutions Foundation’s 4th annual scholarship banquet celebrating Utah’s youth who excel in math, science and engineering.