Kayla Smith Named Winner of Barry Goldwater Scholarship

Award Recognizes Undergraduate Research

WILBERFORCE, OH - Central State University junior Kayla Smith, an environmental engineering major from Cincinnati, Ohio has been named a winner in the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. Smith is also a student in CSU’s Honors College, a founding member of the Philosophy Club, and the Parliamentarian for the National Society of Black Engineers, among other activities. Further, she is a WAVE Fellow at the California Institute of Technology and a mentor for the Penn State EnvironMentors Program. She is the first student to win the Goldwater Scholarship at Central State University.

Smith is one of only 12 college students in Ohio named a recipient of this prestigious national scholarship, and one of only 5 students from Ohio public higher education institutions. From an estimated pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors, 1,242 students from 433 institutions were nominated to compete for the 2022 Goldwater Scholarship. Approximately 417 students were selected as 2022 Goldwater Scholars.

“Kayla is the epitome of the type of outstanding student we serve at Central State University, and her achievement is the fruit of the stellar academic opportunities provided to our students," noted CSU President Jack Thomas. "We are incredibly proud of Kayla for reaching this exceptional achievement, and we know that she will continue to accomplish great things through her innovative research.”

F. Erik Brooks, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, stated, “Our goal is to maintain strong and innovative academic programs at Central State University. Our university is searching for academically strong, well-rounded, and intrinsically driven students in particular fields of study.” Brooks continued, “We are looking to recommend students for these kinds of prestigious academic awards. Kayla Smith is our first Goldwater Scholarship recipient, but she will not be our last. We have great expectations. We are also searching for students to nominate for the other prestigious academic awards such as the Rhodes Scholarship, Truman Scholarship, Boren Scholarship, Gilman International Scholarship, Fulbright Scholarship, and more.”

Smith decided to study environmental engineering at Central State University after her plan to enlist in the military following high school did not come to fruition, thus eliminating one opportunity to fund her university education. She explained, “I chose Central State ultimately because it was the best fit for me. I love the small class sizes, which enable me to work closely with my professors and ensure that my voice is heard.” She continued, “Central State University gives me access to a well-rounded and affordable education, which is a worthwhile investment for my life. I have benefited greatly from the scholarships and opportunities for academic engagement this world-class University has provided. My professors push me to engage and achieve.”

“I fell in love with CSU the moment I visited campus and met the caring people here. Since arriving in the fall of 2019, I have worked diligently to maintain my 4.0 GPA, build professional and academic relationships, and make my family proud,” Smith added.

Smith recognizes that she did not make it to this point on her own and would like to thank: her parents, T. Bernard Smith & Chandra Mathews-Smith; President Jack Thomas; Provost F. Erik Brooks; Dr. Ramani Ramanitharan Kandiah; Dr. Yuk L. Yung; Danica Adams; Dr. Christopher Blaszczak-Boxe; Dean Michelle Corley; Dr. Paul A. Schlag; Dr. Theresa Aikens; Dr. Holtgrave; her family and friends in Muskegon, Michigan; her family and friends in Cincinnati, Ohio; and the Cincinnati STAR Alumni Chapter.

Only five students per institution can be nominated for the Scholarship each year. Dr. Michelle Corley, the Dean of the College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture and Director of the 1890 Land Grant Programs, serves as the institution's official Goldwater representative and assists nominees with the application process.

“Kayla has put in a Stellar academic performance during her matriculation here in the College of Engineering Science Technology and Agriculture (CESTA) at CSU. The sky is not the limit for her as evidenced by her aspiration to earn a terminal degree in Planetary Science,” said Corley. “We are very proud of Kayla. Her achievement of receiving the Barry Goldwater Scholarship is just the tip of the iceberg in her career achievements. There is a lot more to come! Everyone, buckle up. The Kayla Smith ship is taking flight!"

“This is a pivotal accomplishment in the history of Central State University and will change Kayla’s life,” noted Dr. Paul A. Schlag. “We consider Kayla to be one of the Honors College’s top students. As Executive Director of the Honors College & International Affairs, my responsibility is to identify and recruit high-achieving and highly motivated students. She is the ultimate example of what it means to be an honors student at Central State University,” Schlag said. “She is a well-rounded scholar with an inquisitive mind, a flawless academic record, a pioneering spirit, and a sincere desire to help every individual with whom she comes in contact.”

At Central State, Smith has been on the University Dean’s List every academic year. She received a Freshman Academic Merit Scholarship, an Upperclassmen Scholarship, the USE4WRM Scholarship, the Cincy STAR Alumni Chapter Scholarship, the 1890 Land Grant Scholarship, the Continuing Student Honors Scholarship, and now the Goldwater Scholarship. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, the National Society of Black Engineers, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Social Work Student Association. She also serves as a mentor for the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation.

Professor and Chair of the Environmental Engineering Program in the Department of Water Resources Management, Dr. Ramani Ramanitharan Kandiah said, “Kayla is a focused and diligent student. She has excelled in academia with a perfect GPA of 4.0. She is an excellent example for the nation’s only ABET-accredited environmental engineering program, which is offered at Central State University.” Kandiah continued, “Kayla has utilized the university resources and departmental support optimally to achieve her goals. She is a role model for peers and juniors, and my colleagues and I congratulate her for this singular recognition.”

After graduation from Central State, Smith plans to obtain a Ph.D. in planetary science, with a research focus on atmospheric biosignatures of life on planets inside and outside of our solar system.

According to the Goldwater Scholarship’s website, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. The foundation provides scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The purpose is to ensure that the U.S. is producing the number of highly qualified professionals the Nation needs in these critical fields. Over its 30-year history, Goldwater Scholarships have been awarded to thousands of undergraduates, many of whom have gone on to win other prestigious awards like the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship, Rhodes Scholarship, Churchill Scholarship, and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship that support our Scholars’ graduate school work (see goldwaterscholarship.gov).



Learn more about Central State University’s Environmental Engineering Program in the Department of Water Resources Management at centralstate.edu/academics/cse/wrm.php?num=12, the College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture (CESTA) at centralstate.edu/academics/cse, and the Honors College at honors.centralstate.edu.