Dalton Hubble spent his summer wearing safety goggles instead of sunglasses while researching techniques to create molds of human tissue, and he didn’t think twice about it.

“That is a normal summer,” the Academy of Math and Science senior from Rineyville said. “Among my people, that’s a normal summer.”

But Dalton’s “normal” summer turned into an unique honor when he received the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, a scholarship for research in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.

Dalton wasn’t the only Western student to receive such an honor.

Western was the only public or private school in Kentucky to have students honored for three prestigious federal scholarships this year, said Amy Eckhardt, director of scholar development in the Honors College.

A total of six students were honored by federal scholarships including the Goldwater, the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, she said.

“This is evidence that by coming to Western you are able to achieve and be competitive with students at the best schools throughout the nation,” Eckhardt said.

Salem junior Johnathan Brantley and Joseph Marquardt, a junior from Memphis, Tenn., received Goldwater honorable mentions, said Kevin Williams, Goldwater faculty representative and associate chemistry professor.

Louisville sophomore Joey Coe and Summer Shade junior Patrick Stewart received Western’s first Udall Scholarships, which honor students committed to the environment, Eckhardt said.

“It is quite extraordinary for a school to get two Udalls because there are only 80 scholarships, and there are 50 states,” she said.

Coe’s environmental interest led him to villages in Costa Rica to work on controlling erosion of rainforest trails for two weeks this summer, he said. He also helped lead Western’s ONE Campaign last year.

Stewart lives without access to city electricity and looks for innovative ways to maintain a sustainable lifestyle, Eckhardt said.

“He really walks the walk,” she said.

Stewart continues to research new technology for biologically based alternative energies, Eckhardt said.

Teressa Rerras, a senior from Norfolk, Va., is a finalist for the Truman Scholarship, which honors students for leadership skills and public services, she said.

Rerras’ photojournalism work, focused on advancing the status of women, earned her a spot as a finalist out of an applicant pool of 500, according to a Western press release.

Eckhardt said she expects Western’s success with prestigious scholarships to continue.

“I hope this encourages students to come and keep me busy,” she said.