Allison Kindig of Cedar Rapids, a senior majoring in industrial engineering in the University of Iowa College of Engineering, is one of 40 academically accomplished and socially committed U.S.

 students who have accepted Gates Cambridge Scholarships to attend the University of Cambridge in England.

The scholars, 27 of whom will study for one-year master's degree courses and 13 of whom will pursue doctoral degrees, were selected from a field of 755 applicants. U.S. and Cambridge academics in Washington, D.C. interviewed ninety short-listed candidates at the end of January.

Kindig says that she intends to pursue a master’s degree in the field of engineering for sustainable development.

The U.S. scholars will join 55 international scholars to be named later this year. At any one time, the Gates Cambridge Trust aims to support 225 Scholars at the University of Cambridge.

The postgraduate scholarship program was established through a $210 million donation to the University of Cambridge from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2001 and is considered unique in its emphasis on social leadership as well as outstanding academic ability.