HPU Student Awarded Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship
HIGH POINT, N.C., April 17, 2026 – High Point University sophomore Jake Ankrum was named a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
One of the most prestigious awards available for an undergraduate student, the Goldwater Scholarship is given to exceptional sophomores and juniors who plan to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics or engineering. Ankrum, a biochemistry and physics major from Monument, Colorado, is one of only 454 students to receive the scholarship out of more than 5,000 applicants nationwide.
During his time at HPU, Ankrum has shown the characteristics that the foundation looks for in a Goldwater Scholar. He has displayed intellectual rigor, a strong commitment to pursuing a research career and the potential for making significant contributions to science.
“The entire Wanek School of Natural Sciences is extremely proud of what Jake has accomplished,” said Dr. Briana Fiser, dean of the Wanek School of Natural Sciences and associate professor of physics.
This is the latest honor for Ankrum, who serves as a Natural Sciences Fellow. He is the first HPU student to be awarded a scholarship from the Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program, which promotes international exchange for talented, young scientists on their way to a successful career. As part of the scholarship, he will conduct research this summer at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany.
He is one of only 350 RISE scholarship recipients out of more than 3,100 applicants from across the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland.
Ankrum has worked in the lab of his research mentor, Dr. Keir Fogarty, an associate professor of chemistry. He studies fluorophores, molecules that selectively absorb and emit light, and specifically a family of compounds known as rhodamine dyes. One dye in particular, Rhodamine B, is incredibly sensitive to its surroundings, acting as a tiny “reporter” of its environment.
Using advanced microscopy, Ankrum tracks the light signals emitted by these molecules to piece together chemical and biological processes unfolding at a scale far too small to see under a conventional microscope. By enhancing the sensitivity of rhodamine dyes and the equipment used to detect them, Ankrum aims to improve the ability to visualize life at its most fundamental level. His research contributes to a broader scientific effort to reveal the microscopic machinery that drives living systems.
“Winning a Barry Goldwater Scholarship as a sophomore is one of the most prestigious awards an undergraduate science major can possibly achieve and speaks to Jake’s professional drive and passion for the scientific research he does in my lab,” Fogarty said.
Ankrum thanked his professors for their guidance and support.
“My application reflected the many lessons I learned from the faculty members who so graciously shared their wisdom. I extend special thanks to Drs. Keir Fogarty, William Carpenter, Eric Rokni, and James Cotton for their unwavering investment in my success.”
Working with HPU’s Office of National Fellowships and Awards since his freshman year, Ankrum completed a summer research internship at Ohio State University in 2025. He was also recognized with the Outstanding Student Poster Award for Exemplary Research at the American Chemical Society National Meeting.
His accomplishments reflect HPU’s strong academic reputation. Other HPU students have previously been named Goldwater Scholars, including Sadie Flagg and Mikaela Seemann.
“I look forward to working with Jake in research during the next few years as he pursues his goal to become a cutting-edge researcher in optical imaging and photonics,” Fogarty said.