Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

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The scholarship is named for Senator Barry Goldwater (pictured 1962). Barry Goldwater photo1962.jpg
The scholarship is named for Senator Barry Goldwater (pictured 1962).

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by the United States Congress in 1986 in honor of former United States Senator and 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. By providing scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering, the Goldwater Foundation is helping ensure that the U.S. is producing the number of highly-qualified professionals the Nation needs in these critical fields. Over its 30-year history, Goldwater Scholarships have been awarded to thousands of undergraduates, many of whom have gone on to win other prestigious awards like the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship, Rhodes Scholarship, Churchill Scholarship, and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship that support our Scholars’ graduate school work. Today, Goldwater alumni can be found conducting research that is helping defend the Nation, finding cures for catastrophic diseases, and teaching future generations of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.

Contents

The scholarship—one of the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics [1] [2] —is awarded annually to about 500 college sophomores and juniors out of approximately 1,300 nominees. [3] The scholarship is awarded based on merit, and the actual amount given is based on financial need, up to a maximum of $7,500 per academic year. In addition, from 2001 to 2018, about 50 exceptional applicants not awarded the Scholarship have been recognized with official Honorable Mentions each year. [4]

Colleges and universities may nominate up to four undergraduate students per year for consideration, and may nominate a 5th student if a nominee is a transfer student or veteran. Most applicants are seeking PhDs. Those who also wish to practice medicine, such as future MD/PhD, DO/PhD, or DVM/PhD candidates, must demonstrate a clear commitment to research. [5]

In awarding scholarships, the Foundation considers the field of study, career objectives, commitment, and potential for a significant professional contribution. This is judged by letters of reference, student essays, and prior research experience. The number of scholarships per region depends on the number and qualifications of the nominees for that region. The regions are defined as each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, and any other territory or possession of the United States; or a permanent resident. A permanent resident must submit a photocopy of their Permanent Resident Card, also known as a Green Card.

Leadership

Board of trustees

The board of trustees is composed of 13 members, 8 of which are appointed by the president of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate. No more than four of the presidentially-appointed members may be affiliated with the same political party. These members are appointed to terms of six years, but they may continue to serve on the board until a successor is confirmed. [6]

Four trustees are members of Congress, two members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives. One member is appointed by the majority leader, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader, and the minority leader of the House, respectively. These members may not serve on the board for more than a total of six years. [6]

In addition, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or their designee, serves as an ex officio member of the board, though they are ineligible to serve as chairman. [6]

Current board members

The current board members as of August 4,2025: [7]

PositionNamePartyAssumed officeTerm expiration
Chair John H. Yopp DemocraticSeptember 26, 2011October 13, 2017
Member Stewart DeSoto RepublicanJanuary 1, 2013August 11, 2016
Member Peggy Goldwater Clay RepublicanApril 6, 1995June 5, 2012
Member Joseph M. Green DemocraticDecember 18, 2021March 3, 2028
Member Charlie Korsmo RepublicanSeptember 26, 2011October 13, 2017
Member Maria E. Rengifo-Ruess DemocraticSeptember 26, 2011February 4, 2014
MemberVacantDemocratic
MemberVacantRepublican
Member
 Glenn Grothman RepublicanDecember 14, 2023January 3, 2027
Member
 John B. Larson DemocraticApril 7, 2023January 3, 2027
Member
VacantRepublican
Member
 Mark Kelly DemocraticApril 4, 2025January 3, 2029
Member
(ex officio)		 Linda McMahon RepublicanMarch 3, 2025—

Foundation President and Executive Secretary

The board appoints an Executive Secretary of the Foundation, who serves as the President of the Foundation and carries out its functions, subject to the supervision and direction of the board. [8]

Dr. John Mateja has served as the third President of the Foundation since 2016. [9]

Past presidents

The past presidents and executive secretaries of the foundation: [10]

  • Dr. W. Franklin Gilmore (2012–2015) [11]
  • Col. Gerald J. Smith (1988–2011) [12]

Goldwater scholars by university statistics

The table below represents the top 20 universities based on the number of Goldwater Scholars they have produced as of March 22, 2006. [13]

Ranking by Number of Goldwater ScholarsUniversity NameNumber of Goldwater Scholars
1. Princeton University 64
2. Harvard University 60
3. Duke University 58
4. Kansas State University 57
5. University of Chicago 53
6. Pennsylvania State University 52
7. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 51
7. California Institute of Technology 51
9. Stanford University 49
10. Johns Hopkins University 46
11. University of Virginia 45
11. Washington University in St. Louis 45
11. Montana State University 45
14. Cornell University 43
14. University of Michigan 43
14. Brown University 43
17. Northwestern University 41
17. University of Tulsa 41
17. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 41
17. University of Kansas 41
17. Yale University 41

Change in number of scholarships awarded, 2019

In 2019, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation partnered with the Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs (NDEP) to dramatically increase the number of scholarships offered from the historical average of 15-20% of nominees at the national level to over 40%. This awarded a Goldwater scholarship to all students who would have received an Honorable Mention in previous years. [14]

Changes implemented in 2020

References

  1. ↑ "The Road to a Goldwater Scholarship". www.aps.org. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  2. ↑ "An Insider's Look at the Goldwater Scholarship". www.aps.org. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  3. ↑ "Barry Goldwater Scholarship". Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation. March 31, 2023. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Website". Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  5. ↑ "Frequently asked questions". Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation. 6 October 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 20 U.S.C.   § 4703
  7. ↑ "Board of Trustees". goldwaterscholarship.gov. Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ 20 U.S.C.   § 4709
  9. ↑ "Biographical Synopsis — Dr. John Mateja, Goldwater Foundation President and Executive Secretary". goldwaterscholarship.gov. Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Emeritus Presidents". goldwaterscholarship.gov. Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  11. ↑ Peggy Goldwater Clay. "Frank Gilmore, The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation's Second President, Passes Away". goldwaterscholarship.gov. Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ Peggy Goldwater Clay. "First Goldwater Foundation President, COL Gerald J. Smith (USAF, Ret), PASSES AWAY" (PDF). goldwaterscholarship.gov. Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  13. ↑ "FOUR K-STATE STUDENTS WIN 2006 GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIPS". Department of Mathematics, Kansas State University. Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2022-12-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ↑ "2019 Scholar Press Release". goldwater.scholarsapply.org. Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Archived from the original on 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  15. ↑ "New for 2020". goldwater.scholarsapply.org. Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Archived from the original on 2019-08-24. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
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