Texas Tech University announced on Apr. 6 that three of its students, Eli Heath, Dylan Jenkins, and Kaleb Jewell, have been selected as 2026 Goldwater Scholars. The Goldwater Scholarship is a competitive national award for undergraduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
The selection of these students highlights the university’s ongoing commitment to research excellence at the undergraduate level. The Goldwater Foundation identifies and supports undergraduates who plan to pursue research careers in STEM disciplines.
Heath is an Honors College student majoring in chemical engineering with minors in bioengineering and biology. He also serves as student regent on the Texas Tech University System’s Board of Regents. Jewell studies chemical engineering while Jenkins majors in psychological sciences with minors in philosophy and cognitive science.
Honors College Dean Jill Hernandez said, “Goldwater recognition represents a national standard of research excellence at the undergraduate level for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students.” Hernandez added that having strong faculty mentors has contributed to a long history of Goldwater Scholars at Texas Tech.
Nearly 1,500 college sophomores and juniors from 482 academic institutions were nominated for this year’s awards. The foundation will award 454 scholarships for the upcoming academic year; more than 11,000 scholarships have been given since its inception.
Archie Pitsilides, director of prestigious external student awards at Texas Tech said: “The Goldwater Scholarship recognizes the intellectual contribution and STEM skills our undergraduate students contribute to the university’s research enterprise and supports their journey in becoming world-class scientists.”
Each scholar submitted a research essay as part of their application. Heath wrote about HIV antiretroviral therapy’s role in cancer initiation using proteogenomic approaches; Jewell focused on developing iron-selective organic electrochemical transistors; Jenkins examined digital accessibility within cognitive psychology.
“This is one of the numerous metrics that feeds into AAU aspirations,” Hernandez said regarding how such achievements help differentiate Texas Tech among peer institutions. According to records cited by the university, three other years—1996, 2000 and 2006—also saw three scholars each from Texas Tech; four were recognized in 1995.
Dr. Chandra S. Pemmasani, founder and CEO of UWorld said: “The Goldwater Scholarship recognizes students who have the curiosity, discipline and vision to become the next generation of research leaders.”
