2025 CoSM Student Awards

Emmanuel Asiedu

Award Received: Graduate Student Award - Oral Presentation

Favorite class: My favorite class at VSU was Plant Physiology because it explored how plants respond to stress at both the physiological and molecular levels, which aligns closely with my research interests. I also really enjoyed Plant pathology for its focus on host-pathogen interactions and the mechanisms of plant disease resistance.

Career Goals: I will be graduating this summer, and I have been accepted into a Ph.D. program in Biological Science at Washington State University, where I will begin in Fall 2025.

Keith Alvarez

Jordan Bechler

Award Received: Martha H. Barnes Scholarship

Joshua Benton

Award Received: Outstanding Student Award - Engineering Technology

Paige Bland

Award Received: Martha H. Barnes Scholarship

Hudson Bowen

Award Received: Outstanding Computer Science Major Award

Tara Brooks

Award Received: Chemistry Freshman Scholarship

Diah Brown

Award Received: Marsha Paulk Scholarship

Lily Burnham

Award Received: Chemistry Freshman Scholarship

Austin Byrd

Awards Received: Outstanding Student Award - Engineering Studies

Activities: Participated in numerous clubs such as Engineering Club and Directed Study. Favorite activies so far has been working on an engineering project with a few other peers where I was able to hone some of my hands-on skills. I have also been able to convert my real-world industrial bakery experience into a research project with the help of Dr. Barry Hojjatie. I presented my research at VSU's Engineering Night this March and will do the same at VSU's Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Favorite class: My favorite class so far is probably a tie between Calculus III with Dr. Shaun V. Ault and Ordinary Differential Equations with Dr. Denise T. Reid. Dr. Ault is exceptionally knowledgeable and has been able to answer all of my questions to make the topic easily digestible. The same can be said about Dr. Reid, and her passion for the subject combined with the real-world problems we have to solve makes an incredibly difficult topic fun.

Career Goals: As of now, now, I would love to work in the design and implementation of control systems after I complete my electrical engineering degree. I plan on earning at least a Master's degree either in Robotics or Electrical Engineering so that I can hone my craft further. I am not opposed to working as a researcher in the field of automation/control systems, and wherever I work, I intend to see my efforts materialize in front me, be it in a lab or on a production floor.

Alma Diaz

Awards Received: Outstanding Student Award - Geosciences & CoSM Outstanding Student Finalist

Allison DiNapoli

Award Received: Outstanding Student Award - Geosciences

Jordan Flemming

Award Received: Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry, Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry, & Chemistry Undergraduate Research Award

Activities: I have done research for the past year with Dr. Woldman on the study of superoxide. I am the president of SMACS and have also been the treasurer. I also am a lab intern at CJB industries.

Favorite class: Quantitative analysis! I love working with the instruments and interpreting the data.

Career Goals: I plan to continue working at CJB and apply to grad school next year.

Airionna Fordham

Award Received: Southwest Georgia ACS Optima Chemistry Award & Chemistry Undergraduate Research Award

Carlton Francis

Award Received: American Institute of Chemists Award

Debora Gonzalaz-Meeks

Awards Received: Gerald Petrella Award for Outstanding Student Achievement in Mathematics Education

Activities: Awakening Collegiate Fellowship

Favorite class: My  favorite class thus far has got to be Communication for Middle Grades Education Teachers with Dr. Cox and Mathematical Reasoning with Dr. Wares.

Career Goals: My post-graduation plans are to get a job teaching my at a Middle School whilst attaining my Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction!

Allayna Henriquez

Award Received: Julia Wisenbaker Sumerford Scholarship & Dr. M. Elizabeth (Betty) Derrick Award

Jordan Hewins

Award Received: Outstanding Student Award - Physics & CoSM Outstanding Student Finalist

Julia Higdon

Award Received: President's Award for Academic Excellence - Fall 2024 

Favorite class: Immunology with Dr. Kang, Emerging Infectious Diseases with Dr. Chambers, and Biodiversity of Macrofungi with Dr. Cantonwine.

Career Goals: I plan to apply to medical school and continue furthering my medical experience through volunteer work.

Karli Icard

Award Received: Outstanding Senior Chemisty Award

Kiersten Ley

Award Received: Martha H. Barnes Scholarship, Biology Senior Award, Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry, CoSM Outstanding Student, & President's Award for Academic Excellence - Spring 2025

Emily Ann Livingston

Awards Received: Martha H. Barnes Scholarship

Favorite class: My  favorite classes have been Chemistry with Dr. Duncan and Anatomy and Physiology with Dr. Doscher.

Alexa Lopez

Award Received: Chemistry Freshman Scholarship

Activities: During my time here at VSU as a freshman, I have had to opportunity to explore clubs such as SMACS, Catholics on campus, and the pharmacy club.

Favorite class: My favorite class at VSU so far has been Chem 1200 with Dr. Gosnell. I enjoyed her class and teaching style, and her class helped me prepare for Chem 1211. 

Career Goals: After graduation I plan to attend pharmacy school. After receiving my Doctor of Pharmacy degree, I plan to become a hospital pharmacist.

Joseph Markovcic

Award Received: Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry

Favorite class: Quantitative Analysis

Career Goals: Post-graduation I plan to work in industry as an analytical or quality control chemist.

Brooke McKay

Award Received: Martha H. Barnes Scholarship

Activities: I've participated in the Pre-Vet Club and, under Dr. Rose, conducted research on pipefish identification and mosquitofish parasitology

Favorite class: Dr. Chambers' BIOL1108!

Career Goals: I plan to attend UGA or UC Davis' veterinary schools to become a small animal emergency veterinarian.

Lizbeth Mendez-Gomez

Award Received: Mack Varnedoe Greer Sr. M.D. Scholarship

Favorite class: My favorite class at VSU had to be human anatomy. The human body has always fascinated me, especially the cardiovascular system. I love how complex it is the human body is and how everything connects with each other.

Career Goals: I plan to apply to medical school soon and hopefully match into internal medicine. After that, I would love to sub specialize in international cardiology and open up my own office in the future.

Damon Negron

Awards Received: Marjorie Carter Award

Favorite class: My favorite class at VSU was my sociology study abroad course.

Career Goals: My plan after graduation is to apply to UGA's new MD program opening in fall of 2026. I will also be applying to Emory Medical School and Medical College of Georgia.

Cameron Newsome

Award Received: Outstanding Freshman Chemistry Award

Pearce Persaud

Awards Received: David and Cecelia Ratcliffe Scholarship

Activities: Pre-medicine Club. Biology Research with Dr. Lokdarshi. Chemistry Research with Dr. Manning. Psychology Research with Dr. Kirchner. Volunteer in the Cancer Center at SGMC.

Favorite class: Biology 1108 with Dr. Grove

Career Goals: Attend medical school and become a doctor.

Mia Price

Award Received: Martha H. Barnes Scholarship

Alisson Rivas

Awards Received: Chemistry Freshman Scholarship

Activities: Pre-med club and SMACs

Favorite class: Pre general chemistry with Dr. Gosnell

Career Goals: Attend medical school to pursue a career in pediatrics

Sarah Rourke

Award Received: Julia Wisenbaker Sumerford Scholarship

Gennaro Scarfogliero

Awards Received: Most Outstanding Student in Aerospace Studies, GMC Category & College of Science and Mathematics Outstanding Student Award Finalist

Timothy Smith

Award Received: Outstanding Student in Mathematics Award

Activities: Mathematical Association of America Senior Seminar - Mathematical averages and the Moskovitz Mean Pi Mu Epsilon

Favorite class: I really can't say I have a favorite class. A vague description would be classes that are more real-world applicable (Numerical Analysis, Operations Research, Probability and Statistics, or Calculus-based. A more perhaps narrowed window of classes are those that build on or mainly use the framework of single Variable Calculus (Math 2261 and Math 2262). Which I'd say then Multivariate Calculus and Ordinary Differential Equations (Math 2263 and Math 3340) have a close call between themselves.

Career Goals: After graduation, I expect to go towards data analysis, ideally working somewhere I can apply my analytical and problem-solving skills.

Lauren Taunton

Award Received: Elizabeth Joy Lohmar Scholarship

Halena Walker

Award Received: Martha H. Barnes Scholarship

Daniel Warren

Award Received: Polymer Chemistry in Organic Chemistry Award

Morgan Wynn

Awards Received: Graduate Student Award - Poster Presentation

Activities: During my time at VSU, I was involved in directed study projects on eukaryotic translational control, and development of antiviral medications. I have also been conducting research in plant stress biology as both an undergraduate and graduate student, under the guidance of my advisor Dr. Lokdarshi. I volunteered at South Georgia Medical Center in both the Emergency Department and Pearlman Cancer Center for over two years during my undergraduate as well. I am also an ambassador for the College of Science and Mathematics, representing the college at various outreach events.

Favorite class: My favorite class at VSU was cell biology with Dr. Lokdarshi. This class gave me my first introduction to biochemistry and prepared me for getting involved in research and taking my MCAT!

Career Goals: I will be graduating this summer and will be attending medical school at Mercer University in the fall. I hope to become a radiation oncologist one day!