Noah Lape '26 Wins Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship
Noah Lape '26. Photo by RIley Heffron '26.
He's the fifth Dickinsonian, first physics major to earn a Goldwater in recent years
Noah Lape ’26 has been awarded a coveted Goldwater Scholarship, one of the most prestigious honors for undergraduate students in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Lape, who triple-majors in physics, mathematics, and data analytics, with a minor in Japanese, says he was “very excited” to learn about the award.
“My mentors at Dickinson shook my hand, and I got many kind words from faculty who knew I was pursuing the Goldwater and helped me out during my application process.”
The Goldwater Scholarship stems from a partnership between the Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs and the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The foundation bestowed 441 scholarships this year to college students from across the United States. “It’s incredibly prestigious and competitive,” says Professor of Physics Lars English, who’s conducted student-faculty research with Lape during the past year. “In my more than 20 years at Dickinson, no physics student was ever able to win it, until Noah.”
Lape plans to earn a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics, focusing on how special geometries allow for unique lattice dynamics and novel mechanisms for quantum phenomena like superconductivity. The announcement of Lape’s Goldwater arrives on the heels of his award-winning presentation at the 2025 American Physical Society Global Summit. Lape and English are currently finalizing a second research publication with collaborators in South Korea.
This year marks Lape's second attempt at applying for the Goldwater. To strengthen this year's application, he undertook additional research opportunities in the interim. He also took great care to refine his application, working closely with the High-Impact Learning & Fellowships team and Dickinson’s Goldwater advisors.
"That combination of persistence, intellectual curiosity and clarity of purpose is characteristic of Noah," says Amity Fox, associate provost for high-impact learning & fellowships. “From the moment Noah arrived at Dickinson, I have been impressed by his curiosity, focus, drive and eagerness to learn. And throughout this process, I’ve seen him take full advantage of these experiences to refine his goals and articulate his path forward, while also strengthening his application materials. I'm confident that his contributions to physics and beyond will be exceptional.”
Lape joins fellow Dickinsonians Billy Wilkerson ’24 (biochemistry & molecular biology, data analytics), Jordan Cox '21 (chemistry), Olivia Wilkins '15 (chemistry, mathematics) and Phoebe Oldach '13 (chemistry, biochemistry & molecular biology) as recent Goldwater awardees.
“I’m very grateful for all the help I received that put me in this position. A student really can't be competitive for this kind of award without the support of faculty, and my professors definitely spent a lot of time supporting me, allowing me to work on their research projects and going above and beyond,” says Lape. “I’m excited to work on fun new projects in the future.”
Applying to prestigious fellowships like the Goldwater encourages students to pause and reflect on their experiences and goals. The process is rigorous and reflective, offering students the opportunity to connect their academic paths with personal experiences and future aspirations. With the support of faculty and staff, students emerge as stronger writers, sharper thinkers,and more confident in their voice. As many fellowships require institutional nomination, students are encouraged to plan ahead. For more information, contact fellowships@dickinson.edu.A contact fellowships@dickinson.edu.
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Published April 8, 2025