The Winston Churchill Foundation’s Scholarship program was established in 1959. The scholarship gives 14 American students a chance to pursue a degree in engineering, mathematics, or the sciences in Churchill College at the University of Cambridge.
“I am extremely excited to take advantage of all the opportunities offered at Cambridge,” said Zoltowski. “Among others, I would like to thank the Winston Churchill Foundation, coach Gianiodis and my parents.”
A native of West Lafayette, Indiana, Zoltowski is a Big Ten Distinguished Big Ten Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten selection. A finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship last December, Zoltowski is also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, Eta Kappa Nu and an Honors Times Two mentor. The electrical engineering major works with an MSU professor conducting research using advance signal processing tools to study the functional connectivity networks of the human brain.
“He is great to have in the program,” said head coach Matt Gianiodis. “But more broadly he is great to have within the university and the university community. I have said it many times this year: David’s impact on Michigan State is vast, and it is all because our university values a broad based athletic department that offers many opportunities to men and women.”
Last March, Zoltowski became the 36th MSU recipient of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. He was also awarded the MSU Honors College National Scholarship, Walter R. Yates Memorial Scholarship and Arthur J. Harris Memorial Scholarship.
“MSU has given me a unique opportunity,” said Zoltowski. “I was given the opportunity to compete in the Big Ten while also striving for excellence outside of the pool.”
A multi-event swimmer for the Spartans, Zoltowski competes in the 200 and 400 individual medley, 200 backstroke, 200 butterfly, 500 and 1000 freestyle. This season against Iowa, he posted a career-best time in the 1000 freestyle, with a time of 9:36.94. At the Northwestern Invitational, he posted a career-best time in the 1650 freestyle of 15:54.92. He finished a career-best 34th overall in the 200 butterfly at the 2013 Big Ten Championships, swimming a personal-best time of 1:53.10. Zoltowski also posted a career-best time of 3:59.69 to place 35th in the 400 individual medley, which is the eighth-fastest time at Michigan State.
“He is the hardest working kid I have ever seen, and his work is so well focused,” said Gianiodis. “I am really going to miss him. He is more than just a student and/or an athlete; he is a great person and in a few months he will be known to me as a great friend.”
Above press release courtesy Michigan State Athletics
David is truly an amazing young gentleman who has accomplished
so much. He is an exceptional role
model to so many huge heart, and
an amazing athlete and scholar. A true
inspiration! The Vaughan Family