Sydney Griffith came to the University of North Georgia (UNG) knowing she wanted to take part in undergraduate research. Fresh off volunteer research experience at the University of Georgia before she set foot on campus at UNG, Griffith was ready to dive in quickly.

It didn't take long for Griffith to impress her professors with her work ethic and ability to excel in a team framework. Less than three years later, Griffith has earned the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship. She is one of the 445 college students selected from 1,350 nominees nationwide.

The scholarship program honoring Sen. Barry Goldwater was designed to identify, encourage and financially support outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields and provides up to $15,000 per student over two years.

"It's a little surreal. I'm incredibly grateful for my past experiences that have led me here, and the faculty and staff who have been incredibly supportive along the way. I truly don't think I could have won this award without their support," Griffith, a junior from Dacula, Georgia, who is pursuing a degree in biology, said. "Their wisdom and advice helped me become a better scientist and be more grounded."

Dr. Andrew Taylor, an assistant professor of biology and Griffith's research mentor, first met her in vertebrate zoology laboratory and lecture courses. Griffith asked Taylor about joining his research on freshwater fish biology, and after brief hesitation because of how large his team already was, Taylor has been thankful to have Griffith on board. No matter how challenging any portion of the project has been, Griffith has embraced it with open arms.

In fact, Taylor remembers a time when Griffith learned a new research protocol and immediately pivoted to helping her fellow student researchers understand it.

"She's super smart, and she has a drive that's exceedingly high and rare," Taylor said.

This was the second year Griffith applied for the Goldwater Scholarship. Dr. David Patterson, a professor of biology and assistant director of the Nationally Competitive Scholarships office, has mentored Griffith on both applications.

"She's a level above in terms of asking questions and thinking about implications and having confidence," Patterson said. "She has a very promising future in conservation biology, and she's already demonstrated a lot of the traits you need to be successful."

Taylor is grateful to see such a selfless student earn one of the nation's highest science honors.

"She's just a joy to be around. She's uplifting and empathetic," Taylor said. "She's the kind of person you want on your team. She's raised the collaborative culture of our lab."

Griffith won the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship for study abroad twice. She wasn't able to use it the first time due to scheduling conflicts. But she plans to take advantage of her second Gilman award to spend time this summer in Costa Rica researching cloud forest ecology with Dr. Erin Barding, a professor of biology, and Danyelle Dehner, a principal lecturer of biology.

Griffith is aiming to earn a master's degree and possibly a Ph.D. She is appreciative of the way her various research experiences help pave the way for her future career.

"I'm a very hands-on person," Griffith said. "I figure out what I like and don't like better when I'm actively in the field trying things."

While she excels in academics, Griffith finds purpose in a variety of pursuits. She is a leader in Delight Ministries on campus and keeps a steady work schedule at The Home Depot.

All the while, Griffith remains grounded and is grateful for the relationships she's formed at UNG.

"She's humble in the way she approaches everything," Patterson said. "We're trying to get her to realize she deserves all these honors."