Three Blugolds receive prestigious Goldwater Scholarship Awards

Only seven students in the Universities of Wisconsin system are among the 441 Goldwater Scholarship Award recipients who will receive $7,500 scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year. The three UW-Eau Claire recipients are Thomas Benning of Brookfield, a chemistry major with biochemistry emphasis; Rachel Horejsi, a microbiology and bioinformatics double major from Ellendale, Minnesota; and Jada Wahl of Holmen, a biology major with an ecology and environmental biology emphasis.

“We are so proud of these three students, who exemplify excellence in research, which UW-Eau Claire is known for across the Midwest and across the country,” says Chancellor James Schmidt. “The fact that we have three Goldwater Scholars in the same academic year puts UW-Eau Claire in a class by itself.”

The three Goldwater Scholars in one year is the most for a regional comprehensive public university in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan since the awards were established in 1989. UW-Eau Claire has had 14 total Goldwater Scholars since 1990.

More than 1,350 second- and third-year college students were nominated by 445 academic institutions this year. Fifty scholars plan to pursue research careers in math and computer science, 240 in the sciences, 88 in medicine and 63 in engineering and materials science.

“The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent national award for science, engineering and mathematics undergraduates,” says Dr. Michael Carney, interim provost. “This recognition will undoubtedly open new doorways for our students to pursue graduate education and jumpstart their research careers.

The recognition of three UW-Eau Claire students is a testament to the high quality, enriching research experiences that faculty offer students, and the exceptional caliber of the students engaging in student research, says Dr. Erica Benson, executive director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Undergraduate researchers at UW-Eau Claire present their work at regional, national and international disciplinary conferences and co-author academic journal articles with their faculty mentors.

“Our Goldwater nominees are among the brightest, most engaged, most accomplished student researchers at UWEC, and many have participated in multiple research projects at UWEC,” Benson says, stressing the importance of faculty mentors’ role in students’ eligibility, competitiveness and preparation for the award.

The scholarship program honoring Sen. Barry Goldwater was designed to identify, encourage and financially support outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics.