J unior biology major Wesley DeMontigny was awarded the Goldwater Scholarship in March—a first for Georgia College. 

For general research in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, the scholarship identifies future researchers and is the most prestigious of its kind. 

“The Goldwater Scholarship is the nation's foremost award for undergraduates studying the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering,” said Anna Whiteside, assistant director of the Honors College and coordinator for the National Scholarships Office. “To earn this award, recipients must have an extensive research experience in addition to an excellent academic record. Wesley worked very hard on putting this application together, and we are so proud of him.”

The scholarship will provide DeMontigny with $7,500 toward his senior year and hold tremendous power on his curriculum vitae. 

“I woke up that morning, knowing the Goldwater would be announced at noon,” he said, “and I was so lightheaded, I thought I would pass out. When I knew I got it, I wasn’t as elated as I thought I’d be—all of a sudden, I realized how much weight had been on my shoulders, and I just felt relaxed.”

His research centers on environmental microbiology. DeMontigny secured the scholarship with an essay about a project he did. It explored bacteria that engulf themselves in crystals and the potential applications of that ability. 

“I’m interested in using genetic engineering for potential environmental remediation for industrial uses,” he said. “Microbes are fascinating in that they are everywhere, they’ve been around for an extremely long time, and they are the reason we have almost every resource we need to survive.”


While growing up in Marietta, Georgia, DeMontigny had a natural talent for science. He taught himself to code in middle school and was a programmer for a healthcare company in high school. Yet, DeMontigny entered college expecting to practice law. 

“As I was getting less interested in law, I learned I was very good at understanding cellular biology,” he said. “Natural laws are a fascinating topic. They are descriptive, rather than prescriptive. So, we aren’t telling nature what to do, we’re describing it. We’re saying ‘This is what it is.’”

Georgia College’s liberal arts approach made his journey possible, he said. If DeMontigny hadn’t been required to take biology, he may not be where he is today.

“If I was in a class of 100 people, getting the professor’s time would be more difficult,” DeMontigny said. “Easily communicating with my professors has been a big deal for both the scholarship and my development as a student.”

Getting the scholarship doesn’t mean DeMontigny is finished. The relief that came with securing the award only lasted four days. After he graduates in the fall, DeMontigny will take an eight-month hiatus, before applying straight into a Ph.D. program.

After that, he plans to go where the graduate experience takes him.

“One of the things I like about the career of a researcher is asking your own questions,” DeMontigny said. “You can ask your own questions and pursue them whether or not someone’s going to pay you to pursue them. I like the freedom to be creative."