The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program named University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill third-year student Chiara Pancaldo Salemi as a 2016 Goldwater Scholar and Mike Lebhar, also a third-year student, as a 2016 Goldwater Honorable Mention.
This prestigious scholarship provides up to $7,500 per year for eligible educational expenses to students who excel in academics and who plan to pursue research careers in science, mathematics, engineering and computer disciplines.
“My congratulations go to Chiara and Mike on their prestigious recognition from the Goldwater Foundation,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “They are perfect examples of next generation leaders and problem solvers who make an impact on a global scale. The diversity of their research, encompassing simulations as well as programming and data analysis, sets them apart as pioneers charting a new course for future breakthroughs in physics, mathematics and engineering.”
For 2016, the foundation selected 252 scholarship recipients. Salemi and Lebhar were chosen from a field of 1,150 students who were nominated by colleges and universities nationwide.
Chiara, 20, is from Chapel Hill and is the daughter of Michael Kerry Salemi and Ariana Pancaldo. She is double-majoring in physics and mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences and is a member of Honors Carolina. Her research in nuclear and particle physics has taken her around the world, including the European Organization for Nuclear Research, also known as CERN. She plans to attend graduate school and study nuclear and particle physics.
Mike, 21, is from Naples, Florida and is the son of Steve and Maureen Lebhar. He is pursuing a major in biomedical engineering and minors in chemistry and neuroscience from the College of Arts and Sciences and is a member of Honors Carolina. He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in the design of artificial organs as tools for experimentation and drug screening.
Read more about Chiara and Mike here.
Learn more about the Goldwater Scholarship here.
Learn about other nationally-competitive and prestigious awards from the Office of Distinguished Scholarships (ODS), and follow ODS on Twitter: @ODS_UNCCH.
