Goldwater Scholarships awarded to four students in STEM fields

Four Yale juniors are among 496 individuals who have been awarded the Goldwater Scholarship, which is given to sophomores or juniors in science, technology, engineering, and math fields who demonstrate excellence and potential to have a lasting career in research.

The Yale awardees are Noah Kravitz of Grace Hopper College, Catherine Lee of Grace Hopper College, Rahul Nagvekar of Berkeley College, and Jasmine Stone of Saybrook College.

Kravitz is majoring in mathematics and Near Eastern languages & civilizations. In addition to his research on combinatorics, number theory, and algebra, he has participated in club sports, rings the carillons, and co-organized Yale’s inaugural Girls in Math competition. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in pure mathematics.

Lee is also majoring in mathematics. In addition to her research on complex and algebraic geometry, she has served as captain of the Yale Running Club, as president of the undergraduate Mathematics Society, and as managing editor of an interdisciplinary campus journal. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in pure mathematics.

Nagvekar is majoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. In addition to his research on the impact of the environment on human health and involvement in several Yale labs as well as in Zimbabwe, he has served as editor of the monthly student publication The Yale Politic, volunteered at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and participated in Cyber Aware to raise awareness of internet safety. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology.

Stone is majoring in computer science. In addition to her research at the intersection of computer science and neuroscience, she is a founding member of Yale’s synchronized swimming club, plays violin in the Yale Symphony Orchestra, and has volunteered with SheCode to teach coding to girls from local middle and high schools. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational neuroscience.

Yale may nominate up to four applicants each year to compete for Goldwater Scholarships. In the past decade, Yale has nominated 40 students for the award and had 22 winners and 8 honorable mentions. Students interested in the Goldwater may seek advice from the Office of Fellowships Programs in the Center for International and Professional Experience. The annual process opens every September with deadlines in mid-November.

From an estimated pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors, 1,223 students majoring in natural science, engineering, or mathematics students were nominated by 443 academic institutions to compete for the 2019 Goldwater scholarships. Of students who reported, 241 of the scholars are men and 252 are women. Virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their highest degree objective. Sixty-two scholars are mathematics and computer science majors, 360 are majoring in the natural sciences, and 74 are majoring in engineering. Many of the scholars have published their research in leading journals and have presented their work at professional society conferences.

Goldwater Scholars have academic and research credentials that have garnered the attention of prestigious post-graduate fellowship programs. Goldwater Scholars have been awarded 92 Rhodes Scholarships, 137 Marshall Awards, 159 Churchill Scholarships, 104 Hertz Fellowships, and numerous other distinguished awards including the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.

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.