Two Blues Named 2026 Goldwater Scholars

This year, two Whitman College juniors, John Bannon ’27 (a Math-Physics major from Kirkland, Washington) and Keenan RiggsTurpin ’27 (a Chemistry major from Eureka, California), were named Goldwater Scholars, one of the nation’s top awards for undergraduate students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 

Created by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, the scholarship is highly competitive, recognizing students with the potential for significant research careers and postgraduate study. For Bannon and RiggsTurpin, the award will help cover their senior year tuition, marking them as rising leaders in their respective fields.

Building a Future in Physics

John Bannon received the news he’d won the Goldwater Scholarship while studying abroad at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. 

“I was not certain at all that I’d get it,” Bannon says. “ I happened to be very lucky to receive the scholarship.” 

Bannon’s path to the Goldwater began in his first year at Whitman. He chose the college because the low student-to-faculty ratio offered undergraduates early access to advanced research opportunities. Working alongside  Andrés Aragoneses, the Benjamin Brown Associate Professor of Physics, in the optics and photonics lab, Bannon didn’t just assist, he led. Using a Michelson interferometer and nonlinear analysis, Bannon investigated complex behaviors in laser feedback. 

“What was really, really great about that experience was it was just me and another undergraduate in a lab,” Bannon says. “So that meant that we got to see the research process all the way from the beginning—reviewing previous research, … coming up with a research question, developing a hypothesis, coming up with a daily to-do list, … writing code to analyze our system, reading literature from the internet and from the library, and then finally presenting our findings to our advisor.” At the end of the summer, Bannon and his research partner had gathered enough findings to co-author a paper published in Scientific Reports. 

“John is a brilliant student and a great person to work with,” Aragoneses says. “During his research, his maturity stood out, not only as a rigorous scientist but also as a critical thinker. He demonstrated a high level of independence, which contributed to making the research both robust and the results clear and compelling.” 

During his sophomore year, Bannon launched Whitman’s Society of Physics and Astronomy Students, where STEM-minded students can explore academic and career pathways and discuss science culture and history.   

After his sophomore year, Bannon took his research skills to the Princeton Center for Complex Materials through a National Science Foundation research internship. In the lab, he synthesized  2D nanosheets made from graphene and hexagonal boron nitride, the thinnest materials in the world—only an atom thick. 

Alongside his combined major in Math-Physics, Bannon is also considering adding a Music major. A classical flute player, singer, and jazz enthusiast, he views music as a necessary counterweight to the rigors of physics. 

“It’s a time when I can focus on dedicating myself to another craft that I seriously enjoy,” he says. “It uses a whole different part of my brain, and it’s a whole different challenge.” 

After Whitman, Bannon hopes to pursue a doctorate in Physics.

Advancing Green Chemistry

For Keenan RiggsTurpin ’27, the path to becoming a Goldwater Scholar began on a recruitment trip for Whitman’s varsity swim team. After a senior swimmer showed him the chemistry labs and the sophisticated instrumentation available to undergraduates, he knew Whitman was the place for him.  

Now a junior, RiggsTurpin works in the Hendricks Lab, which investigates the synthesis of nanocrystalline materials. RiggsTurpin specializes in zinc sulfide quantum dots. These nanocrystals are at the forefront of “green” chemistry because they are nontoxic and biocompatible compared to traditional materials like cadmium. 

One of the hallmarks of the Whitman research experience is the level of independence granted to students. “We are leading the charge,” says RiggsTurpin. “We're pretty independent, and it's really nice because, as undergrads, the level of independence that we have is rare.” 

RiggsTurpin credits much of his success to his mentor, Associate Professor of Chemistry Mark Hendricks, and Director of Fellowship and Grants Dr. Jess Hernandez. 

“I would not be where I am without Mark. He's a remarkable mentor. He’s very understanding and patient, but he also knows what you're capable of. He pushes you,” RiggsTurpin reflects. “Knowing professors on a much more intimate basis than if you were in a lecture with a thousand people contributes massively to the research that I get to do and the skills and experiences that I will have had when I go to grad school.”

With the Goldwater Scholarship in hand, RiggsTurpin is looking toward a future doctorate in inorganic materials chemistry. He aims to apply his research to global challenges like carbon capture, sustainable plastics and clean energy. Ultimately, he hopes to return to the classroom. 

“I could see myself working as a professor at a place like Whitman because you get to combine your love of research with your love of teaching, and that seems like a pretty nice sweet spot.”

Learn more about fellowship and grant opportunities at Whitman.