Two Augsburg undergraduate students, Ethiopia Kebede ’25 and Mitchel Munzing ’26, have been named 2025–26 Goldwater Scholars. The Goldwater Scholarship, one of the top undergraduate STEM awards in the country, recognizes outstanding students who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. 

Kebede, a physics major, aims to pursue a PhD in astrophysics with a focus in stellar physics and eventually teach at the undergraduate level. In addition to conducting space physics research at Augsburg with Professor Emeritus Mark Engebretson, she creates and shares free math videos via YouTube to address the shortage of STEM educators in remote places. 

“One of my memories from grade school is rotating the handle of a generator in a physics lab,” said Kebede. “I remember feeling satisfied when the generator finally lit up the bulb attached to it. From then on, I enjoyed science as a clever way of solving problems. I am excited to pursue a lifelong career in the subject that I love—physics.” 

Munzing, a biochemistry major, intends to pursue a PhD to continue research in organic and green chemistry. Outside of the classroom, he is a member and incoming captain of the Augsburg men’s soccer team, where he has been recognized with the Ed Saugestad Award for outstanding student-athlete.

“This past summer I had the opportunity to conduct research in an organic chemistry lab with Dr. Michael Wentzel,” said Munzing. “While at the start the experiments I ran didn’t go as planned, eventually I was able to synthesize biologically significant compounds. Spending the necessary time to [become an expert in a specific field] requires patience, but the reward of discovery makes it worth it.”

This year, Augsburg is one of Minnesota’s top producers of Goldwater Scholars. Applicants for the Goldwater Scholarship are nominated by faculty, sponsored by their academic institutions, and selected by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Kebede and Munzing were chosen from a pool of 1,350 applicants nationwide. 

“To have two winners is really terrific,” said Professor Jacqueline deVries, who supports students through the application process as director of major grants and fellowships in Augsburg’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO). “The Goldwater Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships an undergraduate can win in science, engineering, and mathematics.”

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Garver, a mathematics major and religion and economics minor from Madison, Wisc., was recently awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. He joins Brian Krohn ’08, who will study environmental change and management at Oxford, and Victor Acosta ’04, who is earning his doctorate in physics at Berkeley.

“I was really surprised to get this award in some ways,” Garver says. “I have worked very hard, but this award isn’t just about me. It’s a testament to the faculty…I think the faculty here are really outstanding.”

Garver says Augsburg faculty have encouraged and inspired him in many ways, particularly to pursue graduate school, something he only recently imagined himself doing. “I’ve had incredible faculty in every department where I’ve taken courses. They are passionate people who are willing to help students…very inspiring.”

As a math tutor, Lilly Scholar, Honors student, co-president of the Mathematics Club, and member of the StepUP program, Garver says he has enjoyed being involved on campus. “I like the idea feeling a part of an academic community.”

Garver currently conducts research in dynamical systems with associate professor Jody Sorensen. He is considering studying at a mathematics program in Budapest next spring and hopes to continue his education in graduate school.

The Goldwater Scholarship is a national academic prize for undergraduate work in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Applicants must be nominated by their school in order to apply.

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