Drury University juniors named 2025 Goldwater Scholars
Cris Belvin | Director of University Communications & Media Relations
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 4, 2025 – Drury University juniors Ava Henry (Liberty, Mo.) and Rana Umran (Springfield, Mo.) have been selected as 2025 Goldwater Scholars, the organization announced recently. Henry and Umran will receive one year of funding in their senior year – up to a maximum of $7,500 beginning in fall 2025. They follow Audrey Davis, a Drury Goldwater Scholar in 2024, in receiving this prestigious award. A total of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors from 445 universities competed for the 2025 honor.
Henry and Umran are two of just six students in Missouri who received the Goldwater Scholar designation.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency. The Scholarship Program honoring former Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to identify, encourage, and financially support outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.
“We are proud of Ava and Rana’s impressive achievement in this year’s Goldwater Scholarship Competition,” Dr. Beth Harville, University Provost said. “Their success highlights Drury’s commitment to foster undergraduate research and provide transformative educational opportunities.”
Henry is pursuing a major in Environmental Biology and a minor in Chemistry and Honors. She received a Drury Community Impact Grant ($7,000) and a TriBeta Biological Honors society grant which she used to fund research on microplastics in Springfield. Henry has presented her research at the Heartland Biochemistry Forum, TriBeta regional conference, and the American Chemical Society national conference in San Diego. On campus she is active in Think Green, the International Student’s Association, and the Honors Student Association. Next year, Henry plans to apply to graduate school in ecology and evolutionary biology to conduct ecological research. She was endorsed by Drs. Kevin Jansen, Rachael Day, Megan Ealy, and Drury’s National Scholarships office.
“I am honored to have received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, and I am grateful that Drury provided me with the opportunity to apply,” Henry said. “This award not only recognizes my commitment to environmental science but also offers resources to advance my education. I owe this achievement to the support of my professors at Drury, whose guidance and mentorship have been instrumental in my growth.”
Umran is majoring in Chemistry with a Fine Arts minor and Visual Arts certificate. Umran serves as president of the International Student Association, treasurer of the American Chemical Society, an orientation leader, and as a Chemistry tutor and teaching assistant. Last year she was selected for a summer lab experience at St. Louis University’s Neely Lab. This summer Umran will be at University of Minnesota for a NSF-funded REU experience. She has presented her research at the Heartland Biochemistry Conference, the American Chemical Society national conference in San Diego, and Drury’s RENS program. She plans to apply to graduate school to conduct research in inorganic chemistry and focus on the transition of metal catalysis and teach at the university level. She was endorsed by Drs. John Kiernicki, Madhuri Manpadi, Jamie Neely (SLU), and Drury’s National Scholarship office.
“The application process for the Goldwater Scholarship was an invaluable learning experience for me,” Umran said. “It challenged me to refine my scientific writing skills and think critically about my research, both of which will be essential as I pursue my Ph.D. and work towards a career in scientific discovery. I am honored to be named a Goldwater Scholar this year and am excited to continue advancing research in my field while representing Drury’s scientific community.”
The faculty-led Goldwater nomination process at Drury occurs every fall in coordination with Drury’s National Scholarship office. “It’s gratifying to know that Drury students have had such a positive response from the Goldwater committee and compete well on the national level,” Dr. Shelley Wolbrink, Professor of History and Fellow for the National Scholarships and Fellowships said.
For more information on Henry, Umran and the other Goldwater Scholars, click here.