A Rhodes scholar and Paralympian who grew up in Arlington is preparing to graduate Stanford University as one of its top engineering students.
Sydney Barta, who was named a 2026 Rhodes scholar last November, was honored last weekend with the Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Scholastic Award — an honorific that goes to Stanford’s top 30 undergraduate seniors studying engineering.
In receiving the award, Barta thanked an influential high school teacher, Ashley Mattoon, who helped her through a difficult time during her freshman year at National Cathedral School in D.C.
“Ms. Mattoon saw my potential and believed in me when it felt like few others did. I have fond memories of our advisory meetings, where I talked openly about my dreams and we made plans for improvement,” Barta said.
Barta, who studies bioengineering and is preparing for a career as an orthopedic surgeon, credits Mattoon with helping to spark her love of chemistry.
“Her belief in me undoubtedly changed the trajectory of my academic life,” she said.
Barta, who competed in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo and earned a silver medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2024, lost part of her leg in an accident during a kids fun run at the Marine Corps Marathon.
A race banner fell in the wind, crushing her ankle and ultimately requiring amputation. She was 6 years old at the time.
“The ability to move my body, the ability to run, the ability to walk, to study – all these things were not guaranteed to me at one point,” Barta told ARLnow.
Barta was hospitalized for four months and missed being able to go to school. The experience also taught her a deep respect for doctors, and she has wanted to study medicine ever since.
Barta began running paralympic track when she was around 12 or 13.
The athlete has had a packed schedule at Stanford, studying both pre-med and bioengineering all four years, while also competing on the track team. She sees her two passions as intertwined, with her athletics supporting her studies and vice versa.
“When you bring that athlete mentality to studying, which is what I’ve always done, you’re a lot more rigorous in your preparation,” Barta said. “You’re always on a quest to better yourself.”
Right now, the scholar is wrapping up her undergraduate career before heading off to Oxford and, later, returning to Stanford for med school. On Friday, she’ll be running her last race for Stanford — and sitting down for a midterm immediately afterwards.
Barta hopes her most recent award can inspire others to persevere in the face of difficulty.
“This award is kind of a champion for people like that, people who have been doubted and counted out in certain situations, and have decided to persevere anyway, despite the outcome being uncertain,” she said.
