Committed to Excellence: Jose Velasco ’27 Nominated for Barry Goldwater Scholarship

The Goldwater Scholarship Program seeks to identify, encourage, and financially support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this Nation’s next generation of research leaders in science, engineering, and mathematics.

CDT Jose Velasco '27 is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He is an S-STEM Scholar, a role earned through the research-focused STEM scholarship program which emphasizes scientific inquiry, professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Jose also serves as an undergraduate researcher through the Vermont Biomedical Research Network under Dr. Emma Barrett, assistant professor of chemistry. With her support, Jose received hands on training in techniques needed to support his long term goal of pursuing a Ph.D. in biochemistry where he aims to conduct research on peptide-based therapeutics for viral and infectious diseases, with a focus on HIV.

Outside of the classroom, Jose founded and operated a tutoring business serving students across multiple states. According to his academic adviser, Dr. Sarah Gallant, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jose developed scalable systems, diagnostic assessments, and personalized study plans for complex subjects such as AP Chemistry and AP Biology. One of the students helped by Jose raised their score from 14 to 50 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Exam (ASVAB) and was able to achieve their desired Military Occupational Specialty.

Prior to being selected as the University’s Barry Goldwater Scholarship nominee, Jose was also invited to share his experiences as an S-STEM Scholar with Norwich’s Board of Fellows and was selected to join the Boston Simulated Bioterrorism Experience, a highly selective academic event which included a bioterrorism simulation response scenario focused on medical, chemical, and public health decision making. Participants were able to meet and engage with personnel employed with federal agencies, Boston EMS, and Massachusetts General Hospital based in Boston.

Established as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Sen. Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, this award is considered one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.  

A note from the Chair of the Goldwater Board of Trustees on the Foundation website helps to explain the scope and importance of the opportunities for the successful candidates:

“The Goldwater Foundation’s Scholarship Program is one of the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships available for students in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering in the United States and its territories. The program aims to identify and financially support college sophomores and juniors who demonstrate exceptional potential to become the next generation of research leaders in fields essential to national security and global competitiveness. 

Created by Congress to honor the distinguished service of Barry Goldwater, the Foundation is bipartisan, national in scope, and deeply academic. A 13-member Board of Trustees consist of eight members appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the Senate; four members of Congress, two from the Senate and two from the House of Representatives; and the Secretary of Education. The Board appoints an Executive Secretary of the Foundation, who serves as President and is responsible for the administration of the program."

The active participation of over 1,500 colleges and universities has been vital to the program’s success. Each institution can nominate up to four students annually, with an extra nomination if at least one is a transfer student or veteran. 

To be considered, students must display strong academic performance in an eligible field, have research experience, and submit an engaging essay about their career aspirations along with three letters of recommendation. Each year, a national team of reviewers from academia, industry, and national laboratories evaluates the nominees. It puts forward a slate of students, which is then reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees.”

To learn more about the nomination process, please contact Thy Yang, Assistant Vice President for International Education and Campus Representative for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship.