Each year, Bucknell students pursue some of the nation's most prestigious and competitive scholarships — an undertaking that requires not only exceptional academic achievement, but also deep passion, persistence and a significant commitment of time and effort.

This year, Bucknell students earned national recognition through two of the country's most prestigious scholarships — the Barry Goldwater and Udall awards — while four additional Bucknellians received honorable mentions in the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, reflecting the University's culture of academic excellence, research innovation and leadership in service. Their success highlights the outstanding caliber of work happening across campus and the high level of distinction Bucknell students are achieving on a national stage. 

Tobey Kim '28, Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Award

Tobey Kim '28 arrived at Bucknell with a passion for science and a drive to make a difference — two qualities that recently earned him one of the nation's most prestigious undergraduate STEM awards.

The cell biology/biochemistry major from Davis, Calif., has been named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The highly competitive scholarship supports students who plan to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, engineering, mathematics and experimental psychology. It will fund Kim's continued biomedical research as he prepares for a future as a physician-scientist.

At Bucknell, Kim works with Professor Olivia Boerman, biomedical engineering, to explore how ultrasound accelerates the healing of chronic wounds. His research focuses on how ultrasound could stimulate angiogenesis — the formation of new blood vessels — and seeks to uncover the cellular mechanisms behind that process. 

After high school, Kim deferred his admission to Bucknell to complete a gap year with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, doing disaster relief work across the U.S. That experience, he says, confirmed his desire to pursue medical research.

"My whole reason for wanting to do medical research comes from AmeriCorps," he says. "I met people living through unimaginable circumstances, many of whom were also dealing with chronic health conditions. That experience lit a fire in me. I want to be at the intersection of science and service. That's where I've found the most meaning."

He credits Bucknell's strong undergraduate research culture and the mentorship he's received as keys to his success. In addition to Boerman's guidance, Kim worked closely with Margaret Marr, director of undergraduate fellowship research, to craft and revise his Goldwater application.

"Margaret and my faculty mentors were so generous with their time," Kim says. "They helped me reflect on my goals and shape my story. I wouldn't be here without their support."

Thandeka Bango '26, Udall Foundation's Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

Thandeka Bango '26, an environmental geosciences and geography double-major, is a recipient of the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship. Photo by Gordon R. Wenzel

For Thandeka Bango '26, a childhood spent gardening alongside his grandmother in Zimbabwe planted the seeds of passion for environmental advocacy. Born in Indianapolis, Bango spent most of his early years in Zimbabwe. That connection to land and community shaped his deep commitment to sustainability — a commitment now nationally recognized with a 2025 Udall Scholarship. 

The competitive Udall Scholarship honors college sophomores and juniors committed to leadership, public service and environmental stewardship and Native American policy or healthcare. Bango, an environmental geosciences and geography double-major, is Bucknell's first Udall recipient since 2017. 

His commitment to sustainability extends to the Bucknell Farm, where he works as a student farmer, and to campus leadership roles. As the 2024 executive president of Bucknell Student Government, Bango organized projects that connect environmental advocacy with social equity, including a now-annual sustainable move-out drive that redistributes winter clothing to students in need.

"Through the application process, I discovered how much my personal story — from those days gardening with my grandmother to various leadership roles on campus — shaped my commitment to environmental justice and sustainable development," Bango says.

That journey has taken Bango from his family's native Zimbabwe, through political instability and educational opportunities in Eswatini, to Bucknell, where he continues advocating for marginalized communities. Last summer, he explored inequitable development in Zimbabwe and its consequences as a Digital Scholarship Summer Research Fellow.

This summer, he'll continue his focus on environmental justice as a research fellow at Penn State University. Bango will study farmers' perceptions of climate risks and investigate soil treatments using natural minerals to trap carbon and boost soil health.

"The community development work I have done at Bucknell has undoubtedly defined my career goals," Bango says.

Looking ahead, he hopes to pursue a career in sustainable land management to mitigate the negative consequences of human land use.

"I'm overjoyed and deeply honored," he says. "This award affirms the work I care about most — building a more just, sustainable world."

National Science Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Four Bucknellians earned honorable mentions in the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. In a year when the NSF awarded fellowships to a smaller pool of candidates, these honorable mentions are an even more meaningful testament to the caliber of research Bucknellians are conducting.

• Diamanda Zizis '23 is exploring topics in life sciences and evolutionary biology at Bucknell.
• Hanh Nguyen Tran '20 is advancing genomics research at Penn State University.
• Samuel Pring '23 is investigating developmental biology at the University of Connecticut.
• Olivia Dyer '22 is focusing on biomedical engineering research at the University of Delaware.