Two Students Named 2020 Goldwater Scholars
This spring, Jordan Gonzalez BA ’21 and Natalie Klee BA ’21 were named recipients of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious scholarships for undergraduates studying the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
Their success brings the total number of Goldwater scholars from Lewis & Clark to 18 in the past decade.
Gonzalez, a chemistry major and Pamplin Society Fellow from Chandler, Arizona, wishes to pursue future research in pharmaceutical chemistry, specifically in drug synthesis. His experience as a student-athlete has taught him how to balance his time while still dedicating himself to his academic pursuits.
“The rigor and pace of the chemistry major, in particular, has given me the tools to become a successful researcher,” says Gonzalez. “My professors push me to stay motivated, and my baseball coaches and teammates push me to be a better person every day.”
Klee, also a Pamplin Society Fellow, is a biology major from České Budějovice, Czech Republic. She intends to further her studies in molecular/cellular biology with the hope to eventually teach at the university level. Klee was grateful to work in Assistant Professor Sharon Torigoe’s research lab, learning about the way gene expression is regulated and how it relates to the genetic programming of stem cells.
“I have had many opportunities to delve into my major beyond the traditional classroom experience, including being able to go on the East Africa biology overseas program to study the ecology of the savanna and the coral reef,” says Klee. “These practical experiences have been crucial to my preparedness for programs like the Goldwater Scholarship, and I am immensely grateful for them and the amazing faculty behind it all.”
Gonzalez and Klee are two of 396 Goldwater Scholars selected for the 2020–21 academic year.
—by Yancee Gordon BA ’21
