NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – Two University of Oklahoma students, Brooke Rogachuk and Liam Thompson, have been named 2025 Goldwater Scholars for excellence in natural science, engineering and mathematics. They are the 66th and 67th Goldwater Scholars from OU since the award was established in 1986.
“Brooke and Liam exemplify the very best of OU’s dedication to research and the unwavering pursuit of excellence,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “In addition to reflecting their extraordinary talent and determination, their accomplishments are representative of the high caliber of students thriving at our university. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and are excited to see how they will shape the future of science and engineering.”
Brooke Rogachuk
Rogachuk is a junior in the Gallogly College of Engineering focusing on aerospace and mechanical engineering. In addition to this honor, she was one of 71 students recognized as a 2024 Astronaut Scholar, which honors the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity and excellence in their chosen field. Her undergraduate research, which has led to the publication of seven papers and a textbook, focuses on sustainable aviation.
“I always knew I wanted to be an engineer because I really loved building and solving problems,” she said. “Today I’m studying sustainable fuels for jet engines. Being named a Goldwater Scholar not only recognizes this research but financially supports my educational endeavors. I’m so honored to be part of this elite community.”
Outside of the classroom, Rogachuk is a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the OU Steel Bridge Team, serves as an Engineering Pathways mentor and interns at Boom Supersonic, where she works on sustainable aviation fuel implementation.
Liam Thompson
Thompson, a junior in the Honors College and the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, focuses on meteorology and environmental sustainability. He is also the recipient of the NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. His research focuses on understanding how people are impacted by the atmosphere, which has led to the publication of a manuscript in the Elsevier Journal Urban Climate and multiple poster presentations. He has several other publications currently under review.
“I became interested in meteorology because of the 2015 El Nino while living in Interior Alaska. I was fascinated by how equatorial water temperatures could cause droughts and wildfires where I lived,” he said. “Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship recognizes the work I’ve done and the researcher I’ve become. I never thought I could become a Goldwater Scholar, but it’s so exciting to receive this award and get to continue to do the atmospheric research that I love.”
In addition to his academic efforts, Thompson works with the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, sits on several committees of the American Meteorological Society, and serves on the OU Student Affairs Committee and the OU Integrity Council.
From an estimated pool of over 5,000 applicants, Rogachuk and Thompson were selected alongside 439 other science, engineering, and mathematics students for the 2025 Goldwater Scholarship. Each Goldwater Scholar receives up to $7,500 per academic year for up to two years. OU has had at least one Goldwater Scholar each year since 2003.
About the Goldwater Scholarship
The Goldwater Scholarship Program, one of the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics in the United States, seeks to identify, encourage, and financially support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this Nation’s next generation of research leaders in these fields. With the 2025 awards, the Goldwater Foundation has awarded 11,162 scholarships since 1989, the first year the scholarship was bestowed.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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