“If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self-interest.”
-John Glenn, Mercury 7 Astronaut
STARKVILLE, Miss.- Mississippi Beta chapter brother Garrett Knotts was recently named to the 2023 class of Astronaut Scholars, a group of the most dedicated and accomplished science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students in the country.
Knotts, a rising senior from Moss Point, MS, is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology with minors in biological sciences and chemistry and a certificate in computational biology. Knotts credited his involvement across campus for allowing him to pursue his passions and make an impact on those around him — an impact the scholarship committee clearly recognized:
My passions for learning, science, and serving others, particularly in the health field, made me feel confident in my ability to have a chance at winning the scholarship. That passion has led me to participate in undergraduate research in the chemistry department here at MSU and become active in the Student Association, where I have had the opportunity to research policies to improve the student experience of my fellow Bulldogs.
Aside from his involvement with research and student government, Knotts is also an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. As a freshman, he was awarded the Mattiace-Richards Balanced Man Scholarship, a testament to his impressive achievements and dedication to the sound mind and sound body ideals. Since joining the chapter, Garrett has served as Learning Community chairman and as a part of the Balanced Man Scholarship committee.
Coming into freshman year, I, like many other freshmen, was not very confident in myself and who I was. I fell in love with SigEp because of the genuine relationships I made and my chapter’s strong commitment to our cardinal principles of virtue, diligence, and brotherly love. I feel like my scholarship journey has followed along the path of these principles, as I have worked for the past three years, with the support of my brothers, to grow myself in order to better serve others.
The Astronaut Scholarship is a prestigious award given through the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), an organization founded in 1984 by astronauts from the crew of the Mercury 7 mission. The founders of the ASF set out with the goal of ensuring that the United States would remain the global leader in technology for years to come by supporting the research and educational endeavors of some of the country’s brightest students.
Knotts said he is grateful for the financial support the scholarship provides, but also emphasized how impactful the experiential support will be for his career path.
I am excited to join the extensive network of previous Astronaut Scholars and connect with my mentor. The funding provided by this scholarship has also allowed me to broaden my horizons for applying to graduate programs by removing some of the financial burden associated with applying to and entering doctoral programs.
Knotts looks forward to continuing his education after he graduates from Mississippi State and eventually pursuing a career in the biological sciences.
“I plan to attend graduate school and pursue a doctoral degree in the health field. After earning my PhD, I would like to work as a professor and potentially even start my own biotech company,” Knotts said.
Our chapter is extremely proud to call Garrett a brother, and we look forward to seeing him positively impact those around him just as he has positively impacted us in his time as a member.
Want to learn more about the Astronaut Scholarship? Visit https://astronautscholarship.org/aboutasf.html to learn more.