Astrophysics, 2027
Eryn Van Wijk
Hometown: Hanover Park, IL (Hoffman Estates High School)
“As a Stamps Scholar, I hope to connect and collaborate with other scholars both nationally and internationally, and through this program explore my love for astronomy, philosophy, and art more deeply. With the wealth of opportunities that Stamps provides, I look forward to studying abroad using the enrichment funds, possibly visiting GTC, the world’s largest telescope, in the Canary Islands, or involving myself with undergraduate research exploring our cosmic origins to build a better model of our universe. Through humanities and the arts, I believe Stamps will be instrumental in allowing me to make the most of my time as a student at UIUC over the next four years, and hopefully acquire knowledge during that time that will better allow me to share the awe I feel with the world and its inner workings.”