Sebastian Corry ’27 Receives Goldwater Scholarship

Grinnell College student Sebastian Corry ’27 was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship given by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.  

In 2026, the Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation proudly celebrates 40 years working to support talented college sophomores and juniors who aspire to become this nation’s next generation of researchers in science, engineering, and mathematics. This year, 454 new scholars were selected from a total of 1,485 nominees from colleges and universities around the country.

“I am honored to receive the Goldwater Scholarship,” said Corry.

“In all my mathematical work, I seek to do two things. The first is to understand the essence and appreciate the beauty of my objects of study. Such reflection often yields a narrative played out by the objects, and my second objective is to disseminate this story, be it through research or expository writing, so that it may be understood and appreciated by others,” expressed Corry. “The Goldwater provides me with support and encouragement as I continue in this endeavor, as part of my undergraduate degree, in graduate school, and beyond.”

The scholarship provides financial support as scholars complete their undergraduate degree and prepare for graduate school. Corry, a mathematics major from Appleton, WI, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics and a career in academia, with research interests including algebraic geometry, representation theory, and the interactions of the two.

This summer 2026, Corry will be conducting research in algebraic combinatorics at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In summer 2025, he conducted research in representation stability titled ‘Stable Equivariant Ehrhart Theory’ as part of the New York Discrete Mathematics REU at Baruch College. Corry presented this work at Grinnell College, the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Washington, DC, and the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Wisdom in Lincoln, NE.

Corry is a teaching assistant/mentor for linear algebra, member of the Mathematics Student Educational Policy Committee (SEPC), and three term dean’s list recipient at Grinnell College. In high school, he was a teaching assistant for AP Calculus BC. In addition, Corry has independently written the following expository articles: ‘Symmetries of the Non-Canonical: An Exposition of the Galois Correspondence’ and ‘A Natural Introduction to Linear Algebra’.

Corry’s academic advisors and mentors are Dr. Joe Webster, assistant professor of mathematics, and Dr. Jenny Kenkel, assistant professor of mathematics, both of Grinnell College; Dr. Eric Ramos, assistant professor of mathematics at Stevens Institute of Technology; and Dr. Elizabeth Sattler, associate professor of mathematics at Lawrence University.

“The College joins the Foundation in recognizing Sebastian’s academic contributions and leadership in research and curricular settings,” said Ann Landstrom, assistant dean and director of global fellowships and awards at Grinnell College. “It is a very high honor to be recognized by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.

”In addition, Landstrom acknowledges the three other Goldwater Scholarship nominees: Pallavi Baliyara ’27, a biological chemistry major and neuroscience concentrator from San Jose, CA, planning to obtain a PhD in neuroscience and conduct biomedical research on the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases; Andrew Fargo ’27, a mathematics major and linguistics concentrator from Naperville, IL, planning to obtain a PhD in applied mathematics and conduct research in combinatorial algebra as it applies to formal syntax; and Quinn Wright ’27, a biological chemistry major from Platteville, WI, planning to obtain a MD/PhD in pharmacology to work as a surgeon-scientist investigating the use and development of drugs for the advancement of surgical and perioperative care. 

Congress established the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation in 1986 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 in collaboration with UWorld and the Department of Defense National Defense Education Program (NDEP) supports the 2026-2027 academic year Goldwater Scholars. Since the inception of the program, 11,616 undergraduates have now been named Goldwater Scholars.

The Goldwater Scholarship provides financial assistance with undergraduate tuition and connects students with a network of fellow students, early career scientists, and experienced scholars. The Goldwater Foundation maintains an active community forum for discussions about STEM careers and graduate school opportunities.