Madeline Martinez and Klemmer Nicodemus bring to 12 the total number of UofL students who have won the award, established in 1986 in honor of former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater.

Goldwater Scholars are awarded a maximum of $7,500 per academic year. To be eligible, students must be sophomores or juniors who intend to pursue a research career in natural science, mathematics or engineering.

Nicodemus, who was also awarded the 2023 , is originally from the small rural western Kentucky city of Hartford. He is a chemical engineering major in the who is minoring in chemistry. 

His undergraduate research at UofL and with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. 

Martinez, a School of Nursing major whose hometown is Versailles, has previously conducted skin cancer research. She plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. program upon graduation in 2024 focusing on cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, as well as research in the physiological effects of health disparities.

“In the future, I am excited to use my perspective as a Mexican immigrant that has navigated the healthcare system to address the barriers that affect my community,” she said on her .

The recipients were announced today for the , which goes to U.S. sophomores and juniors pursuing research careers in math, science and engineering. The $7,500-per-year scholarship helps cover education-related costs.

UofL has had five Goldwater Scholars in the last decade.

Goli is a chemistry major who plans to earn medical and doctoral degrees in integrative physiology. He is conducting ongoing research at Harvard Medical School and as a student researcher for UofL’s School of Medicine focusing on pancreatic biology, metabolism and cancer. His mentor is , associate professor of surgery and director of the Clinical Islet Cell Laboratory.

McGrady, who is also a Grawemeyer Scholar, is an electrical and computer engineering major who plans to earn a doctoral degree in electrical engineering. McGrady has been conducting research on microfabrication techniques in UofL’s Micro/Nano Technology Center cleanroom. He also completed a cooperative education program at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in 2018. His mentor is , Samuel T. Fife Endowed Professor.

Goli and McGrady are both from Louisville and are duPont Manual High School graduates.

There were 496 Goldwater scholars this year, selected from a pool of more than 5,000 candidates. The program honors Sen. Barry Goldwater and is a preeminent scholarship for STEM careers.