Utah Valley University (UVU) students Mikaela Cowles and Kyri Forman were selected as 2024 Goldwater Scholars being recognized for their exceptional work and research in physics and biology, respectively.
Each student will receive up to $7,500 per academic year for a maximum of two years or until graduation, depending on how much money they receive from other scholarship sources.
A total of 438 Goldwater Scholars were selected this year from a field of 1,353 students nominated by their academic institutions. Only five students were selected in the state of Utah this year — Cowles and Forman were two of the five.
Their achievement not only speaks to their intelligence and determination, but to UVU’s commitment to support students’ in STEM disciplines by providing them with learning opportunities through our classes and faculty-mentored research.
Cowles, a physics major at UVU, has shown her talent in astronomical research by using the James Webb Space Telescope for measuring distances to galaxies. Her contributions to astrophysics have earned her recognition, including presentations at national conferences like the American Astronomical Society Conference.
Forman, a biology major at UVU, is passionate about the world of butterflies, where she has combined her passion for entomology with scientific inquiry. Her research on the proteins and proteomics of a rare white morph monarch butterfly has garnered attention, including when she won first place for undergraduate poster presentations at a meeting of the Entomological Society of America in the physiology, biochemistry, and toxicology division.
Her dedication to studying butterflies goes beyond the science lab; she is also an active member of the Utah Lepidopterists Society, where she helps contribute to local butterfly research and conservation efforts.
“We are so proud of Mikaela and Kyri for their remarkable achievements as 2024 Goldwater Scholars,” said Daniel Horns, dean of UVU’s College of Science. “We congratulate them on a job well done. In UVU’s College of Science we realize that teaching students to be scientists requires that we provide them with the opportunity to ‘do’ science, which means doing original research.
“Our faculty and staff devote thousands of hours each year to mentor student researchers. These awards validate those efforts, and they reflect the incredible talent of our faculty, staff, and students.”
According to the foundation’s website, fifty seven Scholars intend to pursue research careers in mathematics and computer science, 237 in the sciences, 80 in medicine, and 64 in engineering and materials research. The purpose of the scholarship program is to help ensure that the U.S. produces the number of highly qualified professionals the U.S. needs in these critical fields. The scholarships are also offered annually to honor the life and service of the former Senator Barry Goldwater.
