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ORAU 2026 Pollard Scholarship recipients announced

ORAU awarded five William G. Pollard Scholarships of $2,500 each to students pursuing undergraduate studies for the 2026-27 academic year. The recipients of this year’s scholarships are Caroline Ferguson, Erin Oswald, Nic Reynolds, Jada Robinson and Jonathan Ward.

ORAU awards Pollard scholarships annually to employees’ children who display exceptional achievements in their high school or undergraduate studies. To be considered, applicants must submit official transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended, three references (at least two of which must be from teachers), and a 500-word essay describing their professional and personal interests.

Below are additional details on each of the 2026 winners:

Impact Areas

Caroline Ferguson

Caroline Ferguson, daughter of Michelle Ferguson, is a rising sophomore at The Ohio State University. She is a research intern in the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. She is investigating the microprotein NRAC (Novel Cardiac and Adipose-Enriched Microprotein) and is preparing to present her findings at the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences conference in Boston, Mass. Caroline volunteers at the Wexner Medical Center in Columbus and The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. On campus, she is a member of Chi Omega and the Euchre Club and contributes to both an oncology research lab and an entropy-focused chemistry lab. Caroline is majoring in biochemistry within the honors program at OSU, and minoring in pharmaceutical sciences. She plans to attend medical school and become a radiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon.

Caroline Ferguson

Erin Oswald

Erin Oswald, daughter of Kenneth Oswald, is a 2026 graduate of Lakota East High School. Throughout high school, Erin served as a chapter president of Civic Leaders of America, a student-led organization dedicated to fostering civic engagement among high school students. She also co-founded Lakota East Economics Club and volunteered with Bold & Brave Kids, delivering care packages to children undergoing proton therapy at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Erin will attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she plans to major in business economics.

Erin Oswald

Nic Reynolds

Nic Reynolds, son of Sheena Reynolds, is studying history and political science at the University of Tennessee. Nic has completed internships for Tennesee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Sen. J. Adam Lowe, as well as in the Washington, D.C., office of Rep. Tim Burchett. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, Nic hopes to attend law school with a focus on regulatory, administrative and labor law. He graduated from Anderson County (Tenn.) High School in 2023 as valedictorian.

Nic Reynolds

Jada Robinson

Jada Robinson, daughter of Jeannie Macquire, is a 2024 graduate of Oak Ridge High School. She is a 2026 graduate of Pellissippi State Community College. She has always been passionate about science and healthcare and is excited to continue learning and growing as she works toward a career where she can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Jada will attend University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, majoring as a pre-health professional with the goal of becoming a dermatology physician assistant.

Jada Robinson

Jonathan Ward

Jonathan Ward, son of April Ward, graduated summa cum laude from Clinton (Tenn.) High School and magna cum laude from Roane State Community College with an associate’s degree in May 2026. In high school, Jonathan was dedicated to band, where he practiced and performed with the Clinton High School Dragon Marching Band at halftime shows, competitions, jazz events and concerts. He volunteered at Clinton Middle School giving music lessons to students and helping 6th graders choose their instruments. Jonathan will attend Tennessee Tech University, majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace.

Jonathan Ward

The William G. Pollard Scholarship Awards are presented in honor of ORAU’s founder in recognition of his dedication to science and education. A University of Tennessee physics professor, Pollard founded the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, which later became ORAU, to link the valuable scientific resources developed in Oak Ridge as part of the Manhattan Project with regional universities.

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About ORAU

ORAU integrates academia, government and industry to advance the nation’s learning, health and scientific knowledge to build a better world. Through our specialized teams of subject matter experts, decades of experience, and collaborations with our consortium of more than 170 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU is a recognized leader when the priorities of our federal, state, local, and commercial customers require innovative solutions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ORAU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and government contractor.

Media Contacts

Pam BoneeDirector, CommunicationsCell: (865) 603-5142
Wendy WestManager, CommunicationsCell: (865) 207-7953