MACON, Ga. — Three Mercer University juniors were announced as recipients of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s most prestigious scholarship for undergraduates in science, mathematics and engineering.
Juniors Wesley Kinney, Isabella Phillips and Ainsley Westbrook were among 441 college sophomores and juniors from across the U.S. to be awarded the scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year. Scholarship recipients were selected from a pool of 1,350 undergraduates nominated by 446 institutions.
Mercer is the only school in Georgia with engineering winners and the only school nationwide with more than two in engineering. Other Georgia Goldwater Scholars include three from the University of Georgia and two each from Emory, Georgia Tech and Georgia State.
Kinney, Phillips and Westbrook bring Mercer’s total winners to 23 since 2013, solidifying its position as one of Georgia’s top producers of Goldwater Scholars. Mercer’s nationally recognized undergraduate research programs have played a key role in this success. In 2021, the University was one of three institutions in the country to receive the Council on Undergraduate Research’s Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments.
“The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier program for recognizing America’s best young scientists and engineers. Applicants undergo a rigorous application process during which they must highlight their knowledge of their research area and demonstrate their commitment to pursuing a career in research,” said Dr. Adam Kiefer, Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and Goldwater Scholarship faculty representative at Mercer. “This award is not only a testament to these students’ hard work, intelligence and determination, but also recognizes their potential as future researchers.”
From Peachtree City, Kinney is a double major in electrical engineering and mathematics at Mercer’s School of Engineering. He is a Stamps Scholar, in the Engineering Honors Program and is a member of Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society and Beta Upsilon Chi fraternity. After graduation, he plans to earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in engineering, specializing in controls research.
“May all the glory be to God. Thank you so much to all my amazing mentors and especially to Dr. Thitsa, Maison Clouatre, Dr. Davis and Dr. Kiefer for encouraging me and helping me through the entire process,” said Kinney.
At Mercer, Kinney works in the lab of Dr. Makhin Thitsa, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, investigating ways to design controllers for applications such as autonomous driving. Kinney is Dr. Thitsa’s sixth Goldwater Award winner.
“His contributions to this project earned him authorship in the peer-reviewed journal article … and the results were presented at the 63rd Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Conference on Decision and Control in Milan, Italy,” said Dr. Thitsa. “Wes is determined, driven and exceptionally bright. I am convinced he will be a successful researcher, and I can’t wait to see the contributions Wes will bring to the control research field.”
From Newnan, Phillips is a neuroscience major in Mercer’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is a member of the University Honors program and the Nu Rho Psi honor society. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience, eventually becoming a professor at a research university, conducting research exploring neuroendocrinology and traumatic brain injuries.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the Goldwater and to represent Mercer on a national level,” said Phillips. “Science is built on collaboration, and I could not have achieved this accomplishment without the guidance and support of my advisors. Each research experience has impacted me in countless ways, and I am excited to see what the future holds.”
Phillips also thanks associate professor of physics Dr. Chamaree de Silva for encouraging her to follow her passions in research and is especially grateful to her research advisor, professor of biology and director of the neuroscience program Dr. Katharine Northcutt, with whom she has had two summer research experiences and is currently working with on her honors project.
“Isabella has been an all-star research student,” said Dr. Northcutt. “She has excelled in every aspect of research, from designing and troubleshooting experiments to presenting at conferences. I’m very excited and proud of her for earning this outstanding achievement.”
From Cincinnati, Westbrook is a biomedical engineering major in Mercer’s School of Engineering. She is a recipient of the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi scholarship and a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering with a focus on neuroscience.
“Since coming to Mercer, earning this award has been a goal of mine, and I am grateful for the incredible support of the Mercer faculty in helping me achieve it,” said Kinney. “My research advisors, Dr. Joanna Thomas and Dr. Katharine Northcutt, have played pivotal roles in my growth as a researcher. I am also very grateful for the mentorship of Dr. Clinton Canal during the Mercer Undergraduate Research Scholar Training Initiative. Their guidance and support have been instrumental in shaping me into the researcher I am today.”
“Ainsley has been focused on her path to graduate school from the moment she set foot on Mercer’s campus,” said Dr. Thomas, assistant professor of biomedical engineering. “It’s fantastic that her efforts have been recognized through this award, and I know she has a bright future in research that bridges neuroscience and biomedical engineering.”
The one- and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
About the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. The scholarship program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.
