Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§4704 Barry Goldwater scholarship and excellence in education awards

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 59— - BARRY GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION PROGRAM › § 4704

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Foundation can give scholarships, fellowships, and research internships to eligible students studying natural sciences, engineering, and math. Scholarships and research internships are for outstanding undergraduates and should be given first to students at community colleges and the minority-serving institutions listed in section 1067q(a) of this title. Fellowships are for outstanding graduate students pursuing advanced degrees. The Foundation may run a national competition to pick recipients. People who get scholarships or fellowships are called Barry Goldwater Scholars. Research interns are called Barry Goldwater Interns. The Foundation can also give honoraria to outstanding secondary school teachers, educators, and volunteers who improve math and science teaching. When practical, these should be awarded yearly: two people chosen at large from each State, one person from each county in each State, people tied to secondary schools on military reservations, and people tied to the dependent overseas school system. The Board must set the honoraria schedule.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §4704

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Foundation may award scholarships, fellowships, and research internships to eligible persons for study in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Such scholarships, fellowships, and research internships shall be awarded to persons as provided in this chapter who meet the minimum criteria established by the Foundation.
(2)Scholarships shall be awarded to outstanding undergraduate students who intend to pursue careers in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics, which shall be prioritized for students attending community colleges and minority-serving institutions specified in section 1067q(a) of this title.
(3)Fellowships shall be awarded to outstanding graduate students who intend to pursue advanced degrees in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
(4)Research internships shall be awarded to outstanding undergraduate students who intend to pursue careers in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics, which shall be prioritized for students attending community colleges and minority-serving institutions specified in section 1067q(a) of this title.
(5)The Foundation may provide, directly or by contract, for the conduct of nationwide competition for the purpose of selecting recipients of scholarships, fellowships, and research internships awarded under this chapter.
(b)Recipients of scholarships and fellowships under this chapter shall be known as “Barry Goldwater Scholars”. Recipients of research internships under this chapter shall be known as “Barry Goldwater Interns”.
(c)(1)The Foundation may award honoraria to outstanding educators, teachers, and persons who have volunteered to assist in secondary schools who have made significant contributions to improve the quality of instruction in mathematics and sciences in the secondary school. To the extent the Board determines such action practicable, honoraria awarded under this subsection shall be awarded annually to persons described in the preceding sentence as follows:
(A)To two persons selected at large from each State.
(B)To one person selected from each county in each State.
(C)To persons affiliated with secondary schools on military reservations.
(D)To persons affiliated with the dependent overseas school system.
(2)The Board shall establish a schedule of honoraria to be awarded under paragraph (1).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–81, § 6303(a)(1), substituted “Award of scholarships, fellowships, and research internships” for “Award of scholarships and fellowships” in heading. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 117–81, § 6303(a)(2)(B), substituted “the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics” for “science and mathematics”. Pub. L. 117–81, § 6303(a)(2)(A), which directed substitution of “scholarships, fellowships, and research internships” for “scholarships and fellowships”, was executed by making the substitution in two places, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 117–81, § 6303(a)(3), substituted “the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics, which shall be prioritized for students attending community colleges and minority-serving institutions specified in section 1067q(a) of this title” for “mathematics and the natural sciences”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 117–81, § 6303(a)(4), substituted “the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics” for “mathematics and the natural sciences”. Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 117–81, § 6303(a)(5)–(7), added par. (4), redesignated former par. (4) as (5), and in par. (5) substituted “scholarships, fellowships, and research internships” for “scholarships and fellowships”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–81, § 6303(b), inserted “and Research Interns” after “Scholars” in heading, and inserted “Recipients of research internships under this chapter shall be known as ‘Barry Goldwater Interns’.” at end.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 4704

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73