Jayhawks named 2024 Goldwater Scholars

Two Jayhawks are 2024 Barry Goldwater Scholars: juniors Cecilia Paranjothi of Lawrence and Kaitlyn (Kit) Savoy of Olathe. They are KU’s 78th and 79th Goldwater Scholars since the scholarships first were awarded in 1989.

Congress established the program in 1986 in tribute to the retired U.S. senator from Arizona and to ensure a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers. Nominees must be sophomore- or junior-level students with outstanding academic records, significant research experience and high potential for careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.

Paranjothi is majoring in chemistry and plans to pursue a doctorate in chemistry and a career in inorganic chemistry with the goal of improving the efficiency of sustainable sources of energy. She says being a Goldwater Scholar will allow her to network with fellow Goldwater Scholars—there are more than 500 this year—and that the financial support for college will allow her to focus on academics and research in the coming year.

She is part of a research lab led by James Blakemore, associate professor of chemistry, and her work has been featured in a paper published by the Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, and she has presented at both regional and national American Chemical Society conferences.

“The (Goldwater) application process helped me to work on my scientific writing skills, which will be crucial for a career in chemistry,” Paranjothi says.

She is a member of the KU Chemistry Club and is a former peer tutor for the KU Academic Learning Center. Her additional academic honors include the Jack and Carolyn Landgrebe Research Scholarship, the Leland and Jill Weigel Scholarship, the WCC Eli Lilly Travel Award, a 2023 and 2024 Undergraduate Research Award, the Bricker Summer ChemScholar Research Stipend, and a KU Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship.

Savoy is majoring in biological sciences, with minors in chemistry and theatre.

“Receiving this award has improved my sense of competence in pursuing my passion, keeping me excited to continue exploring in the field of microbiology,” Savoy says.

Savoy plans to pursue a doctorate in microbiology and conduct, facilitate and share research in microbiology as a principal investigator.

“Not having to worry about financing my senior year means I’ll be able to dive further into my studies and dedicate more attention to graduate school applications, bringing me closer to the career I aspire to,” Savoy says.

Savoy has participated in several research projects directed by Benjamin Sikes, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, including those focused on grassland restoration, perennial crops in sustainable agriculture, and gamma irradiation of soils.

Savoy has also served as a microbiology undergraduate teaching assistant, a Sikes Microbial Lab peer mentor, a biology tutor and a transcriber for the Smithsonian Institution. Savoy is a KU BioScholar, the recipient of  2023 and 2024 Undergraduate Research Awards, a Courtwright Award finalist in 2023 and 2024, and a KU Chancellor’s Merit Scholar.