Hendrix student Harry Lance named Goldwater Scholar

Hendrix College is excited to announce Harry Lance ’26 was named a Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.

Established by Congress in 1986, the Foundation operates an educational scholarship program designed to provide opportunities for outstanding U.S. students with excellent academic records and demonstrated interest in, and potential for, research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. With the 2025 awards, the Goldwater Foundation has awarded 11,162 scholarships since its first awards in 1989.

“I am honored to receive the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and am extremely thankful for the educational and research mentorship I have received from Dr. Julie Gunderson at Hendrix and Dr. Dion Antao at Texas A&M University,” said Lance.

Gunderson ’06, associate professor of physics at Hendrix, serves as one of Lance’s faculty mentors throughout this process. Gunderson said, “My favorite thing about Harry is that he’s an engaged thinker who makes inciteful connections across disciplines. This quality makes him a joy to have both in the classroom and the research laboratory. Harry is very deserving of this honor.”

Hendrix has produced several Goldwater Scholars over the years – 11 students in the past 10 years alone – which is a notable achievement given the College's relatively small size.​ Success in producing Goldwater Scholars underscores Hendrix’s strong emphasis on undergraduate research and academic excellence, particularly in STEM fields. This provides ample opportunities for students to engage in meaningful research, contributing to their recognition on a national level.

Goldwater Scholarship Campus Representative and Hendrix Professor and Chair of Health Sciences Jennifer Dearolf commented, “Harry is an exceptional student and truly deserves to be a Goldwater Scholar. His selection as a scholar would not have been possible without the excellent faculty mentors, like Dr. Julie Gunderson, that assisted our four nominees with their applications.”

In addition to Lance, Hendrix nominated three other worthy students for this incredibly competitive selection process: Allie Farrar ’26 (mentored by Laura MacDonald ’09), Rowan McCollum ’26 (mentored by Andrew Schurko), and Elise Remerscheid ’27 (mentored by Jake Anderson).

Dearolf encourages other students to apply in future years and added, “The high quality of all our students at Hendrix allowed us to nominate four of them to be considered for this scholarship, and I encourage those students with interests in pursuing a career conducting scientific research to reach out to me if they are interested in applying.”

Goldwater Scholars receive up to $7,500 per academic year for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, after other scholarships are applied, until they graduate. Lance will use these funds to aid in studying physics at Hendrix, preparing him to continue his research beyond graduation.

“After graduation, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with a focus in thermal engineering and a career in government or industry research on the thermal management of power electronics,” Lance said, discussing the research career he sees in his future. “Applying for the Goldwater has helped me solidify and reaffirm my commitment toward my goals, both as a Hendrix student and within the broader field of mechanical engineering.”

Reviewers evaluate Goldwater Scholarship applications holistically, giving balanced consideration to all elements of the application. Important elements include a student’s academic record, research experience/research essay, career goals and professional aspirations, social and/or economic impacts that have influenced the applicant’s education, activities/accomplishments, recognitions, leadership, and recommendations.

Hendrix President Karen Petersen said, “Harry is an outstanding student and a worthy recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship. Hendrix’s close-knit community facilitates the mentoring relationships that lead our students to a lifetime of success. Harry is a great example of what is possible when students choose Hendrix College.”

Lance is involved with more than just physics at Hendrix. He is a Hendrix-Murphy Scholar in Literature and Language, and he is a part of Pi Mu Epsilon, a national collegiate honor society for mathematics. In his free time, Lance enjoys travelling, playing the hammered dulcimer, and going junking with his father. A Conway native, he is the son of Dee and Steven Lance. 

Petersen also noted contributions of faculty mentorship in encouraging students to seek highly sought-after scholarships such as Goldwater, adding, “Our students would not be successful with these competitive fellowship applications without the many hours faculty devote to mentoring them before and during the application process, and Goldwater is a tough one to win. I commend everyone who took part in helping Harry along the way, and I know he will do great things.”

Other noteworthy moments for Lance:

Hendrix Students Present Research at Arkansas INBRE Conference
Science Students Earn Competitive Honors & Research Opportunities
Hendrix Odyssey Program Announces Project Funding for October 2024 Cycle
Murphy Scholars Class of 2026 Inducted

About the Goldwater Foundation

The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established by Public Law 99-661 on November 14, 1986. The Scholarship Program honoring 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.

About Hendrix College

Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.

“… Through engagement that links the classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice, and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” –Hendrix College Statement of Purpose