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�㽶�� junior Alana White has been awarded a 2026 Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for undergraduate students pursuing research careers in science, engineering and mathematics.

White is the first student in the college’s history to receive the award, a milestone that places her among an elite group of emerging researchers selected from a highly competitive national pool.

awarded 454 scholarships for the 2026–27 academic year from an estimated pool of more than 5,000 college sophomores and juniors. A total of 1,485 students were nominated by 482 institutions across the country. The scholarship is widely regarded as the preeminent undergraduate award of its kind in STEM fields and is considered a strong predictor of future success in research.

�㽶�� president Dr. Anita Gustafson hailed White not only for the achievement itself but also for the hard work that earned it.  

“This honor places Alana among the most promising undergraduate researchers in the nation and reflects the strength of our academic community,” Gustafson said. “We are extraordinarily proud of her—not only for earning this prestigious recognition, but for the curiosity, determination, and intellectual courage she has demonstrated throughout her journey. She represents the very best of �㽶�� and the limitless potential of our students.”

A Path Redirected

For White, a chemistry major with a biology minor from Lexington, South Carolina, the honor represents more than academic achievement. It reflects a profound shift in her ambitions—one that began in a �㽶�� classroom.

“I actually came here for the fast-track pharmacy program,” White said. “That was always the plan.”

That plan held firm until her sophomore year, when she enrolled in organic chemistry with assistant professor of chemistry Dr. Kimberly De La Cruz. For the first time, White found herself drawn not just to completing coursework, but to understanding it at a deeper level.

“It was the first class I actually truly enjoyed,” she said. “I realized I wanted to try something different.”

Encouraged by faculty, White made a pivotal decision: she stepped away from the accelerated pharmacy track to pursue a full chemistry degree and explore research opportunities—an unfamiliar path at the time.

“I figured, why not give it a try?” she said. “And I’m really glad I did.”

Research Rooted in Persistence

That decision led to a summer research project that would ultimately help define White’s academic trajectory—and play a central role in her Goldwater application.

Working with De La Cruz and assistant professor of biology Dr. Stuart Gordon, White investigated how low doses of carbon monoxide affect the efficacy of antibiotics in combating bacterial growth.

The project required her to design and build an apparatus capable of maintaining consistent carbon monoxide levels before testing how E. coli responded to various antibiotics. From there, she conducted a series of trials to determine how the gas influenced bacterial resistance.

“It was a time-consuming project with lots of trial and error,” Gordon said. “Alana saw it through to completion.”

White said the early stages of the research were especially challenging.

“It wasn’t until about four weeks in that we were able to get reproducible results,” she said. “There was a lot of troubleshooting.”

But that process—often marked by setbacks—proved to be one of the most important lessons of her experience.

“One thing about research is that what you expect doesn’t always happen,” De La Cruz said. “But that doesn’t mean it failed. It’s a clue to what you should do next.”

White’s persistence paid off. Her work culminated in a peer-reviewed publication in y, where she served as the first author—an uncommon distinction for an undergraduate researcher.

“First-author publication is not very common for undergraduates,” De La Cruz said. “It shows she can drive a project forward.”

Grit Over Perfection

Faculty members say White’s success is rooted not only in her academic ability, but in her mindset.

“She is a very good student, but that’s not what makes her a good researcher,” De La Cruz said. “It’s her work ethic and her perseverance.”

Gordon echoed that assessment, pointing to her steady approach in the lab.

“She perseveres when obstacles appear and finds ways through or around them without complaining,” he said. “Her temperament is well-suited for research.”

That resilience is often what distinguishes strong researchers from strong students, De La Cruz added.

“In research, you will fail—sometimes at a high level,” she said. “The question is whether you keep going.”

White did.

“She consistently showed up,” De La Cruz said. “That tells you something about the grit of someone.”

National Recognition

Those qualities—combined with her publication record and research leadership—helped set White apart in the Goldwater selection process.

Initially, she was hesitant to apply.

“I didn’t think I had much of a chance,” she said. “I was focusing more on other applications.”

De La Cruz encouraged her to reconsider.

“I told her she had to apply,” she said. “She had the profile.”

White ultimately submitted her application on the final day. Weeks later, she learned she had been selected.

“I was honestly surprised,” she said. “It’s a huge honor.”

The Goldwater Scholarship is designed to identify and support students who intend to pursue doctoral degrees and careers in research. Many recipients go on to earn prestigious fellowships such as the and the .

“It’s not just about the funding,” De La Cruz said. “It’s about the recognition. When people see that award, they take a closer look.”

Opportunities Ahead

White’s research experience has already opened doors beyond campus.

This summer, she will participate in a (REU) program at Purdue University, where she will explore chemical engineering and catalysis. She was selected from a highly competitive applicant pool and received multiple offers from research programs across the country.

“I’m still exploring what I want to do long term,” she said. “But I know I want to continue in research.”

She plans to apply to Ph.D. programs this fall.

The Power of Mentorship

White credits much of her success to the mentorship she found at �㽶��, where close relationships with faculty helped shape her academic path.

“I definitely emphasize coming here because of those relationships,” she said. “The support from the chemistry and biology departments has been incredible.”

That support, faculty say, is a defining feature of the college’s approach to undergraduate education.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from,” De La Cruz said. “If you show that you can think like a researcher, you have a chance.”

For White, that environment made all the difference.

“She is the sort of student one roots for,” Gordon said. “No pretense or sense of entitlement—just a steady competence combined with a fine mind.”

Dr. Erin McAdams, �㽶��’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, said �㽶��’s strong liberal arts core and commitment to student research and faculty collaborations helped fuel White’s experience.

“At �㽶��, undergraduate research is not an add-on to the academic experience—it is central to who we are,” she said “Alana White exemplifies the very best of that commitment. Through curiosity, perseverance, and close collaboration with Dr. Kimberly De La Cruz, her faculty mentor, she has engaged in meaningful, high-level research that rivals what is happening at much larger institutions. Her achievement as a Goldwater Scholar is a powerful reflection of what our students can accomplish when they are challenged, supported, and inspired by our exceptional faculty to pursue discovery.”

A Milestone Moment

White’s achievement marks a significant moment for �㽶��, demonstrating that students from smaller institutions can compete—and succeed—at the highest levels of undergraduate research.

More importantly, it reflects the kind of transformation that can happen when students are encouraged to take risks and discover new paths.

“I never really saw myself doing this at first,” White said. “But taking that chance changed everything.”

With the Goldwater Scholarship now behind her and a future in research ahead, White is just getting started.

“She should go far in her chosen field of study,” Gordon said. “And we’re privileged to be able to work with students like her.”