OSU’s three new Goldwater Scholars lead state institutions

Friday, March 28, 2025

Media Contact: Jessica Sullins | Director, Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research | 405-744-7313 | jessica.sullins@okstate.edu

Three Oklahoma State University students were named 2025 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars on Friday. This prestigious national scholarship recognizes exceptional promise in natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

“These three scholars embody OSU's academic ideals,” OSU Provost Jeanette Mendez said. “Adriahna, Nash and Angelique demonstrate our students' potential to become the next generation of research leaders. Our Goldwater Scholars are proof of how we're moving the university forward and serving our land-grant mission.”

Out of 1,350 applicants from 445 institutions, 441 new Goldwater Scholarships are being awarded in 2025. When added to the 64 sophomores from the 2024 competition, a total of 505 scholars are being supported in 2025.

The three OSU scholarship winners are the most for any institution statewide.

Adriahna Blackburn, a microbiology major from Nardin, Oklahoma, has an extensive history of undergraduate research at OSU as one of two inaugural Beckman Scholars. She serves as president of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers and as an executive member of OSU Research Leaders.

Blackburn has presented her research in multiple formats and developed and led a synthetic biology project presented at the International Genetically Engineered Machine Grand Jamboree in Paris. Blackburn is pursuing an Honors College degree and plans to study abroad at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands this fall, participating in faculty-led research at one of the top-ranked institutions in the world for microbiology studies.

Blackburn plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Microbiology and conduct research in translational molecular biology.

Nash Nevels, a junior from Sulphur, Oklahoma, is majoring in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. Nevels began his research journey before coming to OSU, having pursued a research program at a local technical school during high school. His initiative continued as a freshman when he sought a research opportunity in a computational chemistry lab.

Nevels has since flourished at OSU, presenting his work at national meetings and publishing two co-author peer-reviewed papers, including a first-author paper. He is also pursuing an Honors College degree and is a member of the American Chemical Society, OSU’s Chemistry Club, and President’s Leadership Council.

Nevels plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry and conduct research in synthetic approaches to heterocyclic and medicinal compounds.

Angelique Robinson is a double major in entomology and psychology with a minor in microbiology from Mustang, Oklahoma. She came to OSU as a Freshman Research Assistant in a biochemistry lab and conducted research in the psychology department during her sophomore year. She is also pursuing an Honors College degree.

In the summer of 2023, Robinson was an REEU Summer Research Scholar at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Upon her return, she began investigating cardiac muscle regeneration as a Niblack Research Scholar. Robinson’s campus involvement reflects her dedication to inspiring and encouraging her peers. She has worked as a supplemental instruction mentor and teaching assistant in microbiology. She has been an ambassador and student success leader, a first-year student academic mentor, and a representative on the University Honors Council.

Robinson’s research journey has spanned multiple projects and departments, synthesizing into an ambition to pursue a DVM/Ph.D. and conduct research linking entomology and veterinary cardiology.

Blackburn, Nevels and Robinson are OSU’s 35th, 36th and 37th Goldwater Scholars. The university has been immensely successful in the national competition, producing 11 Goldwater Scholars in the past five years alone.

About the Goldwater Scholarship

The Goldwater Scholarship Program, one of the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics in the United States, seeks to identify, encourage, and financially support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming the nation’s next generation of research leaders in these fields. Since 1989, the program has supported 11,162 scholars.

About the Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research

The Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research at OSU has long been a national leader and innovator in scholar development, assisting students in seeking national/international scholarships and fellowships. The office also encourages student-faculty mentoring, undergraduate research and international travel experience. For more information, contact office director Jessica Sullins at jessica.sullins@okstate.edu or 405-744-7313.