For 40 years the Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has been supporting talented sophomores and juniors who aspire to become the nation’s next generation of researchers in science, engineering and mathematics. Two ESRM students, Luciana Calle and Lorenzo McCleese, were awarded the 2026 Goldwater Scholarship – both are juniors expecting to graduate in 2027.

Luciana Calle | ESRM | Junior, Class of 2027

“Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship not only supports my academic growth but also allows me to continue investigating Pacific Northwest forest ecosystems impacted by climate driven-disturbances, especially ahead of a highly anticipated severe fire season. I am very grateful for the support of my mentors throughout this research journey and I plan to continue researching at the intersection of plant–climate science through graduate school while collaborating with Tribal and governmental partners for future forest resilience.”

Lorenzo McCleese | ESRM | Junior, Class of 2027

“Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship will provide me with access to an incredibly supportive network of student researchers and professionals in my field, jumpstarting my future career in computational climate change research. The scholarship itself will also support me financially, as I am a self-funded student.”

Read more about the Barry Goldwater Scholarship in the recent press release.