Three Black Students Named Goldwater Scholars

Barry Goldwater, the famed conservative U.S. senator from Arizona and 1964 GOP presidential nominee, was a dedicated promoter of scientific and engineering research.  

In 1986, when Congress created a new scholarship program to encourage graduate study in mathematics, science, and engineering, Goldwater’s name was attached to the new program.

Students chosen as Goldwater scholars can obtain tuition grants of $7,500 per year for two years to an accredited graduate program in science, mathematics, or engineering. Since its founding the program has awarded 5,202 scholarships with a value of more than $51 million. Nearly 70 Goldwater scholars have gone on to win Rhodes scholarships.

This year 317 Goldwater scholars were chosen from a pool of 1,110 applicants. Applicants are not required to identify their race, and in fact less than 30 percent did so. But JBHE has identified three of this year’s winners of Goldwater scholarships as black. The following are the three black Goldwater scholars:

• Warren M. Perry is a biological science major at North Carolina State University. He plans to obtain an M.D./Ph.D. in neurology and genetics. He would like to specialize in research on diseases affecting the central nervous system.

• Kwame T. Porter-Robinson is majoring in electrical engineering and applied mathematics at New Mexico State University. He is interested in conducting research on nonlinear control theory and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering.

• Benjamin O. Gordon is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He plans to obtain a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and to teach at the university level. His research interest is in improving energy efficiency and performance.

Copyright © 2007. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.