Wray named one of 15 Hertz Fellows

The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation has named Princeton senior James Wray one of 15 winners of this year's Hertz Fellowship.

The private fellowship is awarded annually to university seniors who intend to pursue graduate studies in science or engineering at a U.S. institution. Wray, who is set to graduate with a degree in astrophysics, will attend Cornell University in the fall to continue his education in astrophysical sciences.

Wray, who is from Princeton Junction, N.J., plans to pursue a career in planetary science research, and hopes to obtain a leadership position on a space mission in the future. A member of Sigma Xi, the scientific research honor society, Wray has been active in Princeton's Astrobiology Club and was a coxswain for crew during his freshman year. In addition to his Hertz award, he has also won the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship.

This year's winners were selected to receive the highly competitive Hertz fellowships from among 677 applications. Each fellow receives up to $240,000 of support over five years while earning a doctorate. Included is a personal stipend of up to $33,000 per year, combined with a cost-of-education allowance of up to $15,000 per year, which is accepted by the students' schools in lieu of tuition.