ASHEVILLE, N.C. —  University of North Carolina Asheville student Mick Williams has been awarded a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards for students pursuing research careers in science, engineering, and mathematics,

Williams, a third-year biology and art double major from Huntersville, N.C., was selected from an estimated pool of more than 5,000 college sophomores and juniors nationwide.

In 2026, 454 scholarships were awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.

Williams’ research focuses on supporting the reintroduction of blight-resistant chestnut trees and ongoing restoration efforts for a species once dominant in eastern North American forests.