UNH Today

Two UNH students are receiving help with their education through the Goldwater Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships of up to $7,500 a year to help cover costs associated with tuition, mandatory fees, books and room and board. Goldwater is viewed as the premier scholarship for sophomore and junior STEM students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. and have a career in research. Schools are only allowed to nominate four students. Winners regularly have an average GPA of 3.85 or above.

Alana Gudinas ‘20, a physics major, and Sawyer Cawthern ‘21, who is studying chemistry, are among 496 students across the country to receive a 2019 award.

“This award has helped me, above all, build my confidence in my ability to conduct meaningful research,” Gudinas, an Atkinson, New Hampshire, resident says. “Receiving the Goldwater was an acknowledgment of my potential to become a successful physicist, and I feel assured that this is the right path for me.

“I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in either condensed matter or nuclear physics, conduct research in a physics field, and become a university professor,” says Gudinas, who is minoring in mathematics. “My research focus is largely in condensed matter physics, making time-resolved measurements on systems with scanning tunneling microscopy." 

Cawthern, of Sharon, New Hampshire, also has had a boost in confidence as a result of the award that is considered one of the preeminent undergraduate scholarships of its type in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.

“To me, it is an honor to know that my research and academic interests are impressive to other scientists and, to an extent, affirms for me that I will be successful in a graduate program and in a career in research,” says Cawthern, who received the scholarship as a sophomore. “Being a Goldwater Scholar has also connected me with the Goldwater community. It has been helpful and incredible to hear about the other scholars’ research and aspirations.

“After receiving my undergraduate degree from UNH I plan to go to graduate school to continue research and obtain a Ph.D. working with polymer nanostructures within organic and materials chemistry. Eventually, I would like to apply my research to drug delivery and development.”

The Goldwater awards were announced in April.

“UNH students continue to earn recognition in national fellowships competitions; this is a testament to our strong student body, academic programs and research mentorship. Particularly impressive is the fact that we have a sophomore recipient this year, which demonstrates how effective UNH is at getting undergraduates involved early in research,” says Jeanne Sokolowski, director of the Office of National Fellowships.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to honor the lifetime work of Sen. Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate.

 Learn more about this scholarship and other opportunities available through the Office of National Fellowships.