Barry Goldwater was a well known politician and businessman who was the Republican Party’s nominee fro President in 1964. Ultimately, Goldwater lost to Lyndon B. Johnson in the general election, the same election which saw many Republicans lose their seats. This election is seen as a point in time after which many conservative Republicans began to rally. His Presidential campaign was also notable for employing Ronald Reagan as a spokesman and a powerful speech delivered by Reagan during the campaign led to the actor’s decision to run for the Governor of California and is widely viewed as having kick-started the political career that resulted in Ronald Reagan serving two terms as President of the United States of America. Barry Goldwater was a U.S. Senator from Arizona and during that time was a powerful member of the Senate who served as the Chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee from 1981 through 1985 and as the Chairperson of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1985 through 1987. Before his time as a Senator, Goldwater served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces where he delivered army supplies to war zones all across the globe during World War II. He later played a big part in establishing the United States Ari Force Academy and spent time on the Academy’s Board of Visitors. Barry Goldwater passed away in 1996 after suffering a stroke but his legacy lives on thanks to the Barry Goldwater Scholarship which was established in 1986 in his honor and seeks to provide financial aid to qualified students.
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is meant to assist students who are majoring in science, math, or engineering, and to alleviate some of the financial burden of attaining such a degree. Congress founded the scholarship to honor Barry Goldwater for his years of service to his country which included 30 years in the Senate as well as to provide the country with a steady flow of young people entering the workforce with science, math, and technology backgrounds. To apply students must create an account on the scholarship website, provide college transcripts and proof of citizenship, and write an essay. The essay is to be no longer than two pages with a font no smaller than 11 and must have the applicants name, school, and signature on the top of both pages. The complete application must be received by February 1st and are to be mailed to Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program, Scholarship America, One Scholarship Way, Saint Peter, MN 56082. The application form also requires references who feel that the student has potential for a successful career in research and who can also attest to the applicant’s academic success and ambition as well as their overall character. The staff used as references will be contacted via email shortly after the application deadline and they will then be able to access the Barry Goldwater Scholarship website to fill out the recommendation form.