The Barry Goldwater scholarship is the most prestigious federal fellowship awarded to research-focused undergraduates in STEM From the web site:

“The Scholarship Program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to identify, encourage, and financially support outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.”

 Only 6 Mines students (with only 1 woman among them) have previously won this honor since the fellowship’s inception in 1989. Caitlyn is the first ever Mines chemistry student to be awarded the Goldwater Scholarship! Congratulations, Caitlyn!