Penn State senior Heather Agnew is one of 42 students nationwide this year to receive the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, valued at as much as $150,000.

The honor entitles her to a full ride and annual stipend for up to four years of higher education at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Agnew, who will be traveling to Britain for the first time, said she plans to pursue a doctoral degree in the sciences. Agnew heard about her win via e-mail about two weeks ago, before the national announcement was made.

"Heather was nice enough to tell me the great news in person," said Song Tan, assistant professor of biochemistry. "She came to my office with a huge smile on face."

Agnew conducted research with Tan in past semesters and kept in touch after she started doing work in another lab.

She said Tan's own experience was a major influence on her decision to apply for the Gates and other undergraduate fellowships. Tan earned his own chance to study on scholarship in the United Kingdom as a Marshall scholar, Agnew said.

"It totally changed his life," she said. "It just makes me think of the many options that have just been made available for [me]."

Agnew is the second person from Penn State to receive the scholarship -- funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation -- since the program was created in 2001. Mohit Bhende, who studied economics and math at Penn State, was among the winners that year.

A member of the Schreyer Honors College, Agnew plans to graduate from Penn State in August with bachelor of science degrees in chemistry and in biochemistry and molecular biology.

She said she enjoys moving among the disciplines and hopes research at Cambridge will allow her that flexibility.

"I like to sit on that fence," she said.

Her supervisor at Cambridge will be Trevor Rayment, who uses scanning probe microscopy to study molecular recognition.

Vivienne Wildes, director of the Undergraduate Fellowships Office, said Agnew has had a "rollercoaster ride" applying for some of the top international scholarships.

Wildes said she is glad to know that Agnew's diligence has paid off.

"The chemistry department is very supportive of their students to go for national competitions, and as a result, they win a lot," Wildes said.