Michigan State University’s Thomas Grubb has earned the nationally competitive Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.
Grubb, an Honors College junior majoring in mathematics, advanced in the College of Natural Science and economics in the College of Social Science, is MSU’s 43rd Goldwater Scholar since the scholarship program was established by Congress in 1986.
He was selected from a pool of 1,150 applicants. Overall, 252 Goldwater Scholars were named for 2016.
“Being named a Goldwater Scholar is a direct reflection of the support and opportunities I have received while at Michigan State,” Grubb said. “I am honored to receive this award and grateful to my teachers, peers, and family who have made this possible.”
MSU also had two students receive honorable mentions: Honors College junior Laura Azouz, who is majoring in chemical engineering in the College of Engineering; and Honors College junior Hananiel Setiawan, who is majoring in physics in the College of Natural Science.
The National and International Fellowships and Scholarships (NIFS) Office, administered by the Honors College, helps interested undergraduate and graduate students to pursue major national and international opportunities by providing information and direct support throughout the competitive application processes.
“Thomas is a thoughtful student with aspirations of using his talent in mathematics to help others make public policy decisions,” said Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, dean of the MSU Honors College. “On behalf of Michigan State University, we congratulate Thomas on being named a Goldwater Scholar.”
The Goldwater Foundation seeks scholars committed to a career in science, mathematics, or engineering who display intellectual intensity and who have the potential for significant future contribution in their chosen field.
Grubb worked as a professorial assistant for the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory as a freshman. In 2014, he performed research on mathematic patterns and statistics as part of the MSU Undergraduate Research Institute in Experimental Mathematics. Most recently, he conducted research in probabilistic methods at East Tennessee State University.
Grubb is an Econ Scholar and the recipient of the MSU Alumni Distinguished Scholarship, the L.C. Plant Award Scholarship, and the Harold and Helen Tolles Scholarship.
He is from Haslett, Michigan and graduated from Haslett High School.