Avon Alum Wins Prestigious Science Award

AVON, OH — An Avon High School alum has received a prestigious honor from Ohio State University. Scott Garner, class of 2014, is one of four OSU students to be recognized by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. He has been named a 2017 Goldwater Scholar.

The Goldwater designation is one of the most prestigious national awards for undergraduate researchers in the fields of science, math, and engineering. Scholars receive awards to cover their tuition, fees, books, and room and board. The maximum award is $7,500.

Garner is studying chemistry at OSU. He is currently investigating the spectroscopy of reactive chemical intermediates with Dr. Terry Miller. Specifically, his current project analyzes the Jahn-Teller distortions in atmospherically important NO3 radicals through rotationally and vibrationally resolved spectra.

Garner has also served as a teaching assistant for the Department of Chemistry and was given the 2016 Distinguished Teaching Award. His extra-curriculars don't stop there, either. He is the Vice President of the Chemistry Club, a site leader for Pay It Forward, and a volunteer for the Science Olympiad.

Garner said he plans on getting his Ph.D in physical chemistry before pursuing a career as a university professor investigating topics in theoretical chemistry and spectroscopy.

Nearly 1,300 students in STEM fields were nominated for Goldwater awards by colleges and universities nationwide. Only 240 scholarships were awarded. An additional 307 Honorable Mentions were awarded.

The Goldwater Award was created in 1986. Ohio State has produced 55 Goldwater Scholars and 46 of the university's last 48 nominees have been recognized as a scholar or honorable mention.

Photo from Avon Schools