Step.- Seven current students and recent graduates of the University of Texas at El Paso have been awarded two of the most competitive scholarships available to undergraduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields: the Goldwater Scholarship and the Graduate Research Scholarship from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Goldwater is awarded to undergraduate students and covers all tuition and fees to complete your undergraduate degree with additional support for other graduate school preparation and research benefits. The NSF Graduate Research Scholarship is a full scholarship to fund a Ph.D. Both scholarships are highly competitive.
“These students are committed to excellence and have taken advantage of the opportunities available to them at UTEP,” said Heather Wilson, UTEP president. “It’s great to see more students applying for and receiving awards like these.”
The Goldwater Scholarship was awarded to Ana Paola Aranzola, a senior in mechanical engineering, and Brian Rodiles Delgado, a junior in computer science.
Aranzola studies mechanical engineering and is part of a research project on 3D printing lithium-ion batteries, which are important components of electric vehicles and other electronic devices. She plans to get her master’s and doctorate after graduation.
Rodiles Delgado is studying Computer Science. His research focuses on protecting critical infrastructure, such as power plants and electrical grids, from cyberattacks. He plans to earn a Ph.D. in computer science at UTEP, pursue a career in cyber defense, and ultimately teach at a Hispanic-serving institution.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is highly competitive and provides three years of financial support to students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree and conducting research in a STEM field. With this year’s cohort, a total of 17 UTEP graduates have received the award since 2019.
Recipients of UTEP’s Goldwater and NSF GRFP awards received comprehensive guidance throughout the application process from the University’s Office of Student Scholarships and Awards. The mission of the office is to make UTEP students and recent alumni aware of the nationally competitive scholarships for which they are qualified and to provide them with support and guidance as they prepare their application materials.
The Goldwater Scholarship Program was established by the United States Congress in 1986 to honor former Senator Barry Goldwater. It is the most prestigious award available to undergraduate students in the fields of engineering and science. This is the first time UTEP students have been awarded the scholarship.
NSF Graduate Research Scholarships have been awarded to the following five recent UTEP graduates who are currently enrolled in doctoral programs at UTEP or across the country. The scholarship is a full scholarship through a PhD:
Eric Guerrero
Guerrero is currently a doctoral student (Ph. D). of the biological chemistry program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He graduated from UTEP in December 2020 with a degree in chemistry.
Gil E Moreu
Moreu graduated from UTEP in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He is currently a Ph.D. student in social psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Oliver Neria-Moore
Neria-Moore earned her undergraduate degree from UTEP in 2019. She remains at her alma mater as a Ph.D. student in ecology and evolutionary biology.
Paulina Rios
Rios graduated from UTEP in December 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. He will begin his doctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall.
Samantha Sakells
Sakells is currently a first-year doctoral student at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She graduated from UTEP in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.
