Lone Star College-University Park student earns prestigious scholarship

HOUSTON, TX -- The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation awarded the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarships to 441 college students nationwide interested in pursuing research careers in natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Alexander “AJ” Jefferson, Lone Star College-University Park and LSC Honors and International Education student, is among the 2025-2026 scholarship recipients.

“Lone Star College System is excited that another one of our students received the prestigious Bary Goldwater Scholarship which will help him fund his educational goals,” said Katharine Caruso, Ph.D., LSC associate vice chancellor, Honors and International Education. “We're especially delighted to see AJ recognized for his STEM research potential. This scholarship will support his journey toward a research career, ultimately helping to ensure we all benefit from an environmentally and technologically-advanced world.”

Jefferson initially enrolled at LSC-University Park to major in computer science, but gaining geological research opportunities through the classroom and LSC’s Honors and International Office changed his focus to the clean energy industry. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship will give him up to $7,500 per academic year to pursue a chemical engineering degree to help improve Earth’s atmosphere.

“I am very grateful to receive the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. This opportunity will help me financially and allow me to conduct research in membrane distillation or other water treatment methods to develop efficient and economically feasible methods for desalination,” said Jefferson. “This prestigious scholarship will also connect me to more than 3,000 Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients, allowing me to communicate with other researchers to help determine the best options for my research project moving forward.”

Jefferson has been an LSC Honors and International Education student for four semesters. Through the Take Flight Program, he interned for 10 weeks in the Ecohydrology of Tropical Montane Forests REU program with Texas A&M University spending five weeks each in College Station and Costa Rica. Jefferson learned how to run simulators to predict biofilm growth, analyze the data and compare predicted biofilm mass with real-world measurements.

"Undergraduate research transforms students by developing critical thinking skills and fostering intellectual curiosity beyond the classroom,” said Aurora Lugo, LSC-CyFair biology professor and Honors College director and LSC Goldwater campus representative. “These valuable experiences establish the foundation for future scientific leadership in students like AJ, as recognized by the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship which identifies and supports promising STEM researchers."

Jefferson will graduate from LSC-University Park in May as a Chancellor’s Fellow and plans to transfer to Rice University to pursue a degree in chemical engineering. His future includes working in research and development to support humanity’s transition from fossil fuels and earning a Ph.D.

“This experience allowed me to apply what I learned at Lone Star College to real-world scenarios, particularly in a global context like Costa Rica, which provided me a unique perspective that will guide my future career path,” he said.

The LSC Honors and International Education Office offers a wide range of opportunities for honors students like freshmen wanting to graduate with an Honors AA or Honors AS degree, high-achieving students seeking to graduate with Honors distinction and students interested in earning individual honors course credit. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/HonorsCollege.