Idaho State University student Jennie Nelson receives Goldwater Scholarship

 Nelson’s goal is to earn a doctoral degree in neurosciences and research the human brain.

“This is confirmation that ISU has many excellent students that can compete for national and international awards,” said Joshua Pak, ISU chemistry department professor and chair and ISU campus representative for the Goldwater Scholarship. “Jennie is the only Idaho resident to win the award and she definitely deserves it.”

Jason Pilarski, ISU assistant professor of biological sciences, is Nelson’s mentor.

Scholarships of up to $7,500 a year are provided to awardees to help cover costs associated with tuition, mandatory fees, books, room and board. A sophomore who receives a Goldwater Scholarship will receive up to $7,500 in each of his/her junior and senior years. A junior who receives a Goldwater Scholarship will receive up to $7,500 in his/her senior year.  The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established by Public Law 99-661 on Nov. 14, 1986. The Scholarship Program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

As the result of a partnership with the Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs (NDEP), Mrs. Peggy Goldwater Clay, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, announced that the Trustees of the Goldwater Board have increased the number of Goldwater scholarships it has awarded for the 2019-20 academic year.

 “As it is vitally important that the Nation ensures that it has the scientific talent it needs to maintain its global competitiveness and security, we saw partnering with the Goldwater Foundation as a way to help ensure the U.S. is developing this talent,” said Jagadeesh Pamulapati, director of the NDEP program, as he explained the new partnership. With the 2019 awards, this brings the number of scholarships awarded since 1989 by the Goldwater Foundation to 8,628 and a scholarship total to over $68 million.

For further information, contact Judy Zang at (703) 756-6012 orjzang@goldwaterscholarship.gov.