Seven EMU students heading to careers in science and medicine have earned funding for summer research, provided by the Kauffman-Miller Research Awards and the CT Assist Summer Experiential Learning Program.

“We are pleased that we can work with such a large group of students this summer, since these opportunities were so limited last summer.” said, a biochemistry professor who holds the Daniel B. Suter Endowed Chair. 

* Erin Clayton and Graciella Odelia  will work with Professor Jeff Copeland to measure gene activity in a Parkinson’s disease model in the fruitfly. 

* Hannah Giagnocavo and Cheyenne Suamatae’a-Te’o will work with Professor Kristopher Schmidt, solving the many puzzles of roundworm development.

* Theo Yoder and Nicole Miller will travel to Hawaii with Professor Matt Siderhurst to develop and assess new methods of tropical agricultural pest control.

* Rebekah Amstutz will work with Professor Jim Yoder on an investigation of the possibility of institutional nitrogen tracking.

The Kauffman-Miller Research Awards are named for emeritus professors Glenn Kauffman (chemistry) and Roman Miller (biology), each of whom were “champions of undergraduate involvement in authentic scientific research at EMU,” said Cessna. “These awards from the Daniel B. Suter Endowment Fund provide opportunities for biology, chemistry and environmental science students to build the key skills of scientific inquiry from writing the proposal to presenting and potentially publishing their findings.”

Over their 30-plus year tenures, Kauffman and Miller each worked with more than 40 undergraduates on research projects ranging in topics from organic blueberry production to the synthesis of new cyclic organic compounds.

The CT Assist Health Experiential Learning Program awards funds to pre-professional health science students at EMU to support clinical experiences that help prepare students for professional health programs. is a Harrisonburg-based healthcare staffing business owned by two alumni. 

Traditionally, funds from CT Assist’s program have supported overseas clinical experiences [read about 2018 and 2019]. As that priority is limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s award supplements the research project and clinical shadowing experiences of awardee Erin Clayton.

What do soldering electrodes, discussing psychiatric medicine with clients, and cryostating (a.k.a., dissecting frozen) mouse brains all have in common? They’re job responsibilities that neuroscience alumni from ��ݮ���� (EMU) are tackling in the variety of fields in which they find themselves.

The neuroscience program is a collaboration between the psychology and biology departments.  It’s been available as a minor since 2017, and is now also offered as a concentration within EMU’s biology program. This option is particularly useful for those looking into medical school, neuroscience graduate programs, or clinical psychology. 

“This new concentration requires students to have a more thorough knowledge in biology and chemistry than what is required from the neuroscience minor,” said Professor Jeffrey Copeland, a faculty member in the Pre-Professional Health Sciences program.

“With small classes, devoted instructors, and four faculty members doing neuroscience research, EMU students in this concentration will have the foundation and skills for further professional developments,” Copeland said. 

Recent graduates are already applying what they learned through the minor program in interesting ways. Melissa Kinkaid ’20 is a laboratory technician at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville working on three projects examining different causes of epilepsy. She majored in biology and minored in neuroscience and chemistry.

“Where do I fit in all of this?” Kinkaid asks. “Just about everywhere. Most of my daily job ranges from genotyping mice to soldering tiny electrodes the size of my pinky nail to slicing frozen mice brains to look at specific morphological changes. It might be seen as an odd combination, but I enjoy it!”

Jonah Short-Miller ’19 is a coworker in UVA Professor Alex Kuan’s lab, and Marcy Smucker ’18 also worked there. Kinkaid gave “special thanks” to all her EMU professors in the STEM department, and says that the neuropsychology course taught by Professor Eric Wengert has been especially useful.

Neuropsychology “bridged the gap between psychology and biology. This course was the cherry on top for me,” says Kinkaid. Wengert taught Kinkaid and her classmates to operate an electroencephalogram, which monitors electrical activity in the brain.

“This was so helpful having an introduction to the machine and its purpose because I am in the process of building one for our lab with the help of collaborators,” says Kinkaid. “You always read about equipment in textbooks, you might play with them a bit in a lab … but you never think you will be the one building it!”

Lara Weaver ’18 has taken her neuroscience foundation, which she studied alongside a psychology major and art and biology minors, to the mental health field. Weaver most recently worked for the National Counseling Group in Harrisonburg, Va., as a community mental health counselor and therapeutic day treatment counselor. She’s currently pursuing a masters in social work at Boston College, where she intends to take neuroscience electives.

As a counselor, Weaver mostly worked with students at a local elementary school, “de-escalating any classroom outbursts and gaining social and behavior management skills” both during the school day and after-hours with families. Being an artist as well (), she would also use art as a tool for calming and teaching empathy. Part of her job was following up with clients and healthcare providers about their psychiatric medications.

“Understanding how each particular medicine works was helpful,” Weaver says, “in giving me a more accurate understanding of my clients. Gaining an understanding in neuroscience helped me communicate with medical providers and other mental health providers more accurately. “

(VCOM) has created new opportunities for ��ݮ���� pre-med students in recognition of their academic preparation, commitment to community service, and aptitude to succeed and serve in the medical field.

The Rocovich Scholar Early Admissions Program grants selected EMU scholars with early acceptance to VCOM in their third year of undergraduate studies and guaranteed admission upon satisfactory completion of the undergraduate degree. 

Additionally, qualified graduates of EMU’s undergraduate programs and of the MS in Biomedicine program are also eligible for the Guaranteed Admissions Interview Program.

“VCOM values candidates from ��ݮ���� who perform well and anticipates they will be well-prepared to succeed in the rigorous medical curriculum at VCOM,” said John Rocovich Jr., VCOM founder and board chair.

Established in 2002 to alleviate the critical shortage of physicians in the Appalachian region, VCOM’s mission is to prepare globally-minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations and promote research to improve human health. The institution has campuses in Blacksburg,Virginia; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Auburn, Alabama; and a new campus currently under construction in Monroe, Louisiana. 

“EMU students preparing for medical careers are exposed to a rigorous curriculum and equipped with the skills to serve diverse populations,” said Dean Tara Kishbaugh, of EMU’s School for Science, Education, Arts and Nursing. “VCOM has collaborated on similar agreements with EMU for many years and we’re honored that these new partnerships will continue to open pathways for our graduates to serve in the medical field.”

The new admissions agreements expand an 11-year partnership between the two institutions. Several EMU graduates have graduated from VCOM. Two graduates of the MS in Biomedicine program are current students.

Anca Chirvasuta Dauer, who graduated from EMU in 2012 with a degree in biology, said of her education at VCOM: “Studying at VCOM has been everything I expected and more. I expected an academically rigorous program, which VCOM definitely provided, but I did not necessarily expect the atmosphere of support and camaraderie that I have experienced from fellow students and staff like the kind I enjoyed as an undergraduate at EMU. From daily classroom interactions, to anatomy labs and outreach projects, I have become close to many of my classmates and will feel honored to one day work as colleagues with such well-rounded, smart, and genuine people.”

More on VCOM

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is a four-year private osteopathic medical school offering the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. VCOM provides state-of-the-art medical education and research that prepares globally minded, community-focused physicians who improve the health of those most in need. 

With campuses in Blacksburg, VA, Spartanburg, SC, and Auburn, AL, VCOM has graduated over 3,100 new physicians since its founding in 2001, with over 65% going into primary care specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology. The fourth campus in Monroe, LA, will open in the summer of 2020.

VCOM has become one of the largest medical schools in the country, yet each campus maintains the nurturing small private college atmosphere for the student. VCOM partners with many community-based hospitals throughout Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama for clinical rotations. The College is known for its national award-winning programs in primary care and global medical outreach, as well as a sports medicine department that cares for athletes at Virginia Tech, Auburn University, and Radford University. The College sustains an environment for innovative, impactful research that is well-positioned for long-term success. VCOM and its partners collaborate on research that will improve the quality of healthcare in its communities and throughout the world.

Eleven ��ݮ���� students and graduates presented at the annual fall STEM Student Research and Internship Symposium.

Three students were selected for the National Science Foundation and its Research Experience for Undergraduates program (REU), a highly competitive and prestigious 10-12 week summer opportunity. Prospective participants apply directly to REU-funded sites in 19 research fields. Sometimes as many as 200 students apply for 10 or fewer positions. 

Funding was also provided by EMU-specific research funds and grants, including the Kauffman and Miller Research Grants and the  CT Assist Health Experiential Learning Program  

Participants included:

Jonah Short-Miller and Maria Yoder: RING Finger Protein 11 (RNF11) modulates dopamine release — modeling Parkinson’s disease in Drosophila

Short-Miller and Yoder, both 2019 graduates, coauthored the research with Professor Jeff Copeland, Eve Champaloux and B. Jill Venton, with support from EMU’s Kauffman Miller research award, CT Assist, the National Institutes of Health, and Biogen-Idec at the University of Virginia.

Jacob Myers: Effects of Invasive Tree Species on Daily Nest Survival of Birds in Missouri River Riparian Forests

Myers, a sophomore in the National Science Foundation grant-funded  STEM Scholars Engaging in Local Problems program, spent his summer with the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of South Dakota. His co-authors are Sierra Rider, Amanda Hegg, David Swanson and Mark Dixon.

James Paetkau: Analyzing Fungal Growth on Cellulose Nanofibrils

Paetkau, a senior, was selected for an NSF-REU with University of Maine Forest Bi-products Research Lab Institute and Unidad Desarrollo Techologico. His co-authors are Caitlin Howell and Emily LeClair.

Melissa Kinkaid: Characterizing Classroom Practices in Undergraduate Inorganic Chemistry Courses Using COPUS

Kinkaid, a senior, co-authored this research with Cole Pate and Barbara Reisner in an NSF-REU and an NSF grant focused on “Improving Undergraduate STEM Education” at James Madison University.

Sylvia Mast: The Role of unc-53 in the apoptotic pathways of Caenorhabditis elegans

As part of research funded by the Kauffman-Miller Research Award and CT Assist, Mast conducted this work with Professor Kristopher Schmidt. She is a 2019 graduate.

Karissa Sauder: internship with Secure Futures, Staunton, Virginia

Sauder spent her summer working with , a solar developer that finances, builds, owns, operates and maintains on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for schools, hospitals, governments and businesses to enhance their sustainability goals and to reduce their electricity costs. Secure Futures is EMU’s main partner in its own solar project development. The company’s executive director of former EMU business and economics professor Anthony Smith, and several EMU alumni work with the company. 

Clara Weybright and Maya Dula: Agroforestry Parcels: A Preliminary Assessment

The research partners, a senior and a junior, respectively, spent four weeks in Guatemala over the summer conducting a biodiversity evaluation and a sociological study involving Q’echi communities involved in programming hosted by the Community Cloud Forest Conservation Center. This project was funded by a Kauffman-Miller Research Award and a CT Assist grant. Professor Jim Yoder was the advisor.

Anastasia Dronov and Kayley Scottlind: La Costa, La Selva, La Sierra: A Multi-Facility Experience in Peruvian Healthcare

This project, funded by a CT Assist Health Experiential Learning Award and advised by Professor Kristopher Schmidt, included travel in Peru: observations at National Hospital Docente in Lima; one week in the jungle city, Iquitos; hosting of a medical campaign for anemia and diabetes control and three weeks assisting with laboratory and clinical work at Centro Medico Belen, in Ayacucho. Dronov, a senior biology and Spanish double-major who also speaks fluent Russian and is a practicing EMT, hopes to become a physician. Scottlind, a junior double-major in biology and Spanish, hopes to become a doctor and serve Spanish-speaking communities.

The awards funds to pre-professional health science students at EMU to support clinical experiences that help prepare students for professional health programs. is a Harrisonburg-based healthcare staffing business owned by two alumni.

“Students learn an incredible amount by taking a research project from start to finish,” said Dr. , who co-directs the program with Dr. . “As they enter their final semester here at EMU, many are applying to medical school or other professional health schools, and their research projects give them an important and unique experience that sets them apart from other applicants.”

Since 2013, the MA in Biomedicine program has helped 27 graduates prepare for careers as health professionals. The research project is an important and distinctive curricular challenge, bringing students together with faculty advisors and community mentors as they develop and conduct original research.

“EMU’s Biomedicine program provides students with the opportunity to conduct research that is original and hypothesis-driven,” says Stauffer. “This equips each student with a unique niche that they can optimally leverage when applying for professional health schools. Original research opens doors and can make all the difference as a springboard for a student’s future.”

Jessica Morris hopes to become a doctor of osteopathic medicine or earn a PhD in medical scientific research. Milan Sheth is most interested in the field of emergency medicine. The research project offered the opportunity to delve into topics relevant to their career goals.

Morris, a George Mason University graduate, investigated the impact of the Affordable Care Act on Shenandoah Valley residents falling into the “coverage gap” created by Virginia’s limited Medicaid benefits.

She came away with a new knowledge of the objectivity required to conduct research, a healthy skepticism about media coverage of health issues and how that affects patient knowledge.

Sheth, an Ohio State University graduate who is interested in emergency medicine, researched the factors involved in responses of patients undergoing rapid induction of a common anesthetic, ketamine.

His research has specific applications for first responders and other medical personnel, who need identify patients who may be most susceptible to potential adverse effects associated with rapid sequence intubation of ketamine.

He says he’s gained new skills, such as identifying relevant published research and interpreting statistical results, and a new appreciation for the impact of clinical research on patient treatment. “I have a deeper appreciation for researchers and the dedication they put forth towards finding breakthroughs and cures,” he added. “My passion for medicine continues to grow and this project solidified my purpose for entering the healthcare field.”

Student research

A comprehensive list of researchers, their projects and committee members follows:

��Nkem Asianua: “African American’s/African’s Awareness of Their Increased Risk of ACE Inhibitor Induced Angioedema in Ventura County, Ca.” Committee members: Professors Esther Tian and Greta Ann Herin.

Lujain Binyahya: “An Analysis of Patient Experience at Sentara-RMH.” Committee members: Professor Carolyn Stauffer, Steve Nelson.

Sanjay Dick: “Felis Catus and Chronic Renal Disease: A Comparison of Clinical Treatments Found at Rural and Urban Animal Hospitals in Southeastern Pennsylvania.” Committee members: Professor Tara Kishbaugh and Jennifer Lyle, D.V.M.

Alexandar Hetrick: “Student Influenza Vaccination Rate and Risk of Infectious Disease at ��ݮ����.” Committee members: Professors Carolyn Stauffer and Jeffrey Copeland.

Jessica Morris: “Reforming Health Care: The Impacts of The Affordable Care Act on the Health Insurance Status of Individuals Residing in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.” Committee members: Professors Kim Brenneman and Jenni Holsinger.

Melody Nyoni: “Examination of STI awareness among transitioning youth in the Valley Youth House (VYH) Program in Allentown, Pa.” Committee members: Professor Kim Brenneman, Elizabeth Allen.

Nikita Patel: “The Value of Time and Patient Satisfaction during Physician-Patient Visits in Central Virginia.” Committee members: Professors Carolyn Stauffer and Ann Hershberger.

��Noor Qureshi: “Mental Health Attitudes in the Dallas Pakistani Community.” Committee members: Professors Jeffrey Copeland and Gregory Koop.

Chanel Sampson: “Possible Risk Factors of Uterine Fibroids Evaluated through a Self-Assessment of Symptom Severity.” Committee members: Professors Greta Ann Herin and Cathy Rittenhouse.

Shanae Scott: “Routine Eye Exams and Awareness of Ocular Disease Associated with Diabetes in Harrisonburg, Va.” Committee members: Professors Esther Tian and Tara Kishbaugh.

Ruchir Shah: “Determining the Link Between Smile Symmetry and Character Perception at ��ݮ����.” Committee members: Professors Gregory Koop and Ann Hershberger.

Milan Sheth: “Ketamine-induced Changes in Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Pre-hospital Intubated Patients.” Committee members: Professors Daniel Showalter and Matthew Siderhurst.

Benjamin Stern: “Essential Competencies for the Rural American Doctor.“ Committee members: Professor Kim Brenneman and Randall Longenecker, MD.

Their varied experiences confirmed both a thirst to continue learning and a conviction that they are ready for the rigors of graduate research. After years of laboring to learn foundational knowledge, the roughly 10-12-week experience also symbolized a significant portal.

“We work hard for so long in the sciences to just get to the threshold of where knowledge is produced,” said Wenger, a senior biochemistry major. “In the first couple of weeks, there were times when I would ask my mentor ‘Why is this happening?’ or ‘Why isn’t this happening?’ and they would say, ‘We don’t know, but let’s keep working and maybe we’ll be the ones to figure it out. …It was tremendously exciting to be at the boundary of knowledge and ignorance, in a place where we were part of knowledge being produced.”

“Research and internship experiences build students marketable skills and give them a broader understanding of jobs and graduate school options upon graduation,” said biology and chemistry department chair , adding the REUs are one example of a host of similar summer opportunities that EMU students are involved in.

All biology and chemistry students are required to complete research as part of their degree, she said, with some form of research, “or least open-ended, question-driven projects being part of the EMU curriculum as early as General Chemistry II.”

Students who have taken the research seminar, a methods and philosophy course, and/or who have already worked with an EMU faculty on a research project are more competitive for these summer programs, Kishbaugh said.

Prospective participants apply directly to REU-funded sites in 19 research fields. Sometimes as many as 200 students apply for 10 or fewer positions. Wenger suggests applying to as many REUs as possible: “as many as you can stand,” he says, adding that the application differs for each site.

“Don’t be afraid to explore an area that you are new to,” added Williams.

Hannah Daley • atmospheric chemistry • University of Michigan Biological Station

What she studied: My research topic was light penetration and nitrogen��dioxide photochemistry under different forest canopies in northern Michigan. Nitrogen dioxide, when broken down by light into highly reactive compounds, contributes to the creation of photochemical smog. Because air pollution travels, what happens when a gust of NO_{2 –}heavy city air gets blown into the neighboring forest? Does NO₂ have enough available light to break down or does it remain as NO₂ throughout the forest?

Supporting skills: To do my research, I first built a remote power supply with six car batteries (weighing about 200 pounds) to power four sensor sites under different canopy covers, such as pine, aspen, maple/beech/oak, and mixed). [Daley shared that one of her professor-supervisors quipped, “We do standard carpentry, HVAC, electrical work, vehicle mechanics and plumbing, and occasionally we do some science.”]

I mostly worked alone before sunrise and after sunset, because my data was collecting at daylight times. After getting up at 4:30 a.m., I biked to my sensor sites between .5 and 3 miles away. I then analyzed data. Between 9-11 p.m. every night, I would move and turn off sensors to conserve my remote power supply.

Connections: Though the REU was based at the University of Michigan Biological Station, my mentors were collaborating professors Dr. Will Wallace and Dr. Rob Griffin from Rice University and Dr. James Flynn from the University of Houston. The biological station hosted an atmospheric chemistry field campaign known as PROPHET. I met about 18 atmospheric chemistry research groups from top institutions, like Harvard, University of Colorado-Boulder and Cal Tech.

Advice to fellow students: ‘Do it!’:�� This was my second REU [last year, ] and I loved both experiences. When you go to a small school, it is hard to know the variety and depth of research possibilities available. REUs open a door to more than just hands-on experience. They provide networking opportunities and a place to advance your professional development. I’ll continue to analyze the data I collected this following fall and present it as my Honors capstone project.

Janaya Sachs • chemistry • ELTE University, Budapest, Hungary

What she studied: My summer research involved exploring copper photocatalysts and the process involved in synthesizing them. Copper photocatalysts are more common and inexpensive than iridium and ruthenium, which are typically used.

Living in Budapest: My day in Budapest started with taking public transit to the university. I worked in a lab I shared with an REU student from James Madison University; with Hungarian graduate students; and advisors Dr. Timothy Peelen from Lebanon Valley College and Dr. Zoltan Novak, from ELTE. Depending on where I was in a reaction, my day would include normally a mix of finding and reading journal articles for ideas and procedures, starting a reaction, characterizing it, and working it up to retrieve what I hoped would be the product from the reaction.

Highlights

• Being exposed to the international world of chemistry research, its collaborative nature and funding networks.

• Learning how to stretch resources when funding is low. This is in contrast to my REU last summer at the University of Minnesota where I had resources always at my disposal. The Hungarians had to learn how to characterize reactions without always using an NMR, the standard characterization method in the United States. We also washed and reused our pipets and vials, greatly decreasing glass waste, and when it came time to wash these, we first rinsed with distilled waste acetone allowing for multiple uses of acetone (in the States, acetone is disposed of after every washing). These and many other techniques used when a chemistry research group has to stretch their funding was a very educational experience.

• I also enjoyed how comfortable I was navigating a foreign city for a whole summer. Thanks to everything I’ve learned through the EMU chemistry department and my previous REU experience as well as through my cross-cultural, I felt very ready and capable living and doing science abroad.��I am also prepared to work across language barriers and cultural barriers with other chemists in a way I was not before this experience.

Eli Wenger • chemistry • Pennsylvania State University

What he studied

This research was in the field of synthetic inorganic nanochemistry, the chemistry of materials that can be used in industrial applications. Currently, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen gas to make fuel, but the only electrodes that can handle that chemistry is made of expensive metals like platinum or irridium. The objective of this research, supervised by Dr. Raymond Schaak, was to engineer new, inexpensive and earth-abundant materials to use as electrodes in water-splitting reactions to create fuel. If successful, this could potentially transform the energy economy.

Highlights

• We don’t have inorganic chemistry here at EMU, so this was a whole new field to me. That was pretty exciting … One day I was making copper-palladium alloy particles and they ended up hollow; none of us could say how or why. My mentor, a postdoctoral student, said she was going to keep working on that.

• The other REU students were a fun group, and the graduate students in the lab were very helpful. There was a really positive atmosphere to the lab. There is a misconception that the science lab is an isolated place, but it’s very interactive and feels like a team. There were 25 of us crammed into this lab and when something interesting happened, you’d go check it out.

• This experience was like living 10 weeks as a graduate student before I started a grad program. I was able to work in a lab and build connections with graduate students, administrative staff, professors and, most critically, admissions staff. I sat in on a number of doctoral defenses. We were exposed not just to academia but also to industry, through speakers and a tour of the DOW Chemical facility outside Philadelphia. This experience affirmed that I want to go to graduate school and that by the end of five years, I will have an idea of what was next for me professionally.

Amanda Williams • Marine biology • University of Delaware

What she studied: My research under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Cohen focused on collecting zooplankton from dead-end canals in South Bethany, Delaware, to determine if a recent bioremediation project, using floating wetlands and oyster gardens, was effective in positively changing the water quality and zooplankton biodiversity.

Every day was different: I went on several cruises of the Delaware Bay to help a graduate student collect zooplankton and plastic samples for her research project. Through the REU program, I re-certified my Delaware boating license, and attended weekly seminars presented by professors at the School of Marine Science and Policy. I also worked on my project, which included collecting zooplankton samples, scanning and processing, and performing statistical analyses on the results.

Highlights

• Working on a project that directly relates to a dream of mine, to help protect Delaware wetlands. Growing up on the Indian River, I hold the Delaware Inland Bays close to my heart, and knowing that I helped make a difference in one of these wetland areas is very gratifying.

• Using the rare ZooScan optical scanner, found in a few other universities throughout the country. This unique technology takes clear, high resolution images of tiny zooplankton.

, director of student programs, opened the service: “Every day on this campus, there are great people doing great things, big and small gestures, accomplishments made after long-term commitments and one-off unexpected triumphs. Most of these good deeds are never recognized. We all carry on our work and responsibilities, working hard at doing the right thing because we care and we are people of integrity…that’s what real leadership is all about.”

While no one works solely with hope of recognition as motivation, Sawatzky said recognition is important “to pause and honor these individuals …and to say thank you to the students who are leaders, scholars, athletes, volunteers, dramatists, future nurses, future teachers, tutors, theologians and advocates.”

She also noted that such students “set the bar high for students around them” and provide “motivation, energy and meaning to us as professional staff … You are what makes EMU not just a good place to work and learn, but a great place.”

Language and Literature Department

Department chair presented the following awards, which honor former faculty members and current scholars:

Nathan Peters was awarded the Jay B. Landis Award for Excellence in Literary Studies.

Naomi Scoville was given the Omar Eby Writing Award and the James R. Bomberger Award for Excellence in TESOL.

English education major Rebekah Hertzler earned the Carroll Yoder Award for Teaching Excellence.

The Ervie L. Glick Award for Excellence in World Language Study was given to Teresa Garcia-Bautista, who Medley said “has exhibited academic excellence and a clear sense of calling in using her studies in graduate studies and service to the church.”

Kari King, who was the student representative on the faculty search committee, earned The Ray Elvin Horst Award for Excellence in Spanish.

Education Department

Teachers of Promise Institute are Austin Mumaw, Erin Nafziger, Isaac Driver, Malea Gascho and Ruthie Beck.

The “Courage to Teach” Award was presented to Angelica Diaz.

Psychology Department

The Exemplary Achievement in Psychology: Service and Scholarship was awarded to senior Brooke Lacock, co-president of the Psychology Club, for her impact on the and the campus as a whole, said Professor .

Mackenzie Lapp and Rachel Bowman earned the G.R. Lehman Outstanding Achievement in Research award for their “exceptional dedication” to their senior research projects. Koop praised their “intellectual curiousity and dogged persistence” and predicted future graduate school success.

All three students are among nine psychology majors at the Virginia Association for Psychological Science annual conference April 20-22, 2016, in Newport News, Virginia.

Science Department

Outstanding Second-Year Biology Student was awarded to Samantha L. Kauffman by Professor

Eyan P. Roth and Hannah L. Weaver were named Outstanding Senior Biology Students, especially impressive, said Professor , as both are transfer students and “distinguished themselves in the two years they’ve been here.”

Professor recognized three students: senior , for his entry into the Student Research Competition of the Special Interest Group in Computer Science Education; and first-year students Claire J. Waedelich and Carolann G. Wengerd for their poster presentations at Capitol Region Celebration of Women In Computing. Wengerd earned a third-place award at the undergraduate level.

Three students, all absent on their cross-cultural trip this semester, were recognized. was named Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student. Janaya M. Sachs earned an award for excellence in research. Maria R. Yoder was recognized as Outstanding First-Year Chemistry Student.

Nursing Department

Jess Rheinheimer was recognized by Professor for academic excellence in n studies. Recently named , Rheinheimer is a member of the Honors Program and has been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honors Society.

Ann Marie Bauer was awarded the , which recognizes student-nurses who exemplify EMU’s “sacred covenant” model : service, empathy, agape love, empowerment, and faith.

Recognition for servant leadership went to Louise Krall, co-president of the Student Nurses Association.

Bible and Religion Department

Professor named the winners of the essay contest as Bekah York and Christian Hershey, sharing first place and a $500 cash prize, and Christian Parks, who won $100, for their scholarly work. Haverim is the alumni group of the department.

Theater Department

Professor recognized Clara Bush, MaKayla Baker and Caleb Townsend for their nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. All three are members of the cast of “,” currently in its final run on campus.

Multicultural Services

Oksana Kittrell, Tae Dews and Christian Parks�� were the student leaders for the first that traveled over spring break. Christian Parks and Philip Watson planned and implemented the first on campus. Londen Wheeler, minister of music, and Christian Parks, choir director, provided leadership to the gospel choir. Brittany Williams, Oksana Kittrell, Kendi Mwongo, Tae Dews and Makora Nyagwegwe led efforts in organizing the first President’s Ball.�� Delight Tigoe and Lynne Cha led the Alpha Omega Dancers for Christ.

Residence Life

Resident director recognized three-year Community Assistants , Andrew Yoder and Sam Stoner, and also senior returning Community Assistants, Valerie Meza-Cooper and Londen Wheeler. Community assistants live and serve in the residence halls.

Academic Success Center

Director presented certificates of thanks to the following student-graduates who provided services in the : Alex Bender (two years, computer science tutor), Tylar Burgdorf (one year, receptionist), Giulio Garner (two years, Spanish tutor), Stephan Goertzen (one year, computer science tutor), Brielle Hoch (four years receptionist), Andrea King (fpur years receptionist and tutor), Jaclyn Kratz (three years, math tutor), Isaac Mast (one year, computer science tutor), Lauren Sauder (one year, writing and economics tutor), and Andrew Yoder (two years, economics tutor).

Kristy Wertz, a two-year nursing tutor, was recognized as Tutor of the Year.

Student Programs

Common Grounds Coffeehouse management team this year was Rachel Schrock, events manager; Abby Dwyer, operations manager; Brianna Kauffman, finance manager; and Valerie Meza-Cooper, catering manager.

Timothy Callahan, Juan Luna and Kegan Yoder served on the Recreation Sports Leadership Council, which oversaw the nearly 500 members of the campus community involved in intermural sports. Terry Dotson and Colton Frey were the Game Room Leadership Council, which helped to set the budget and make decisions regarding programs and offerings for the approximately 2,500 visitors who used the game room this year.

Campus Ministries

, undergraduate campus pastor, recognized ministry assistants in the residence halls:�� Megan Bishop, Perry Blosser, Sarah Boshart, Heyrin (Lynn) Cha, Dylan Grove, Abe Hartzler, Oksana Kittrell, Keyri Lopez-Godoy, Luis Longo, Jasmine Miller, Lydia Musselman, Da’Jahnea Robinson, Austin Sachs and Janet Spain.

Pastoral assistants, who support the MAs, are Jonathan Augsberger, Amanda Helfrich, Christina Hershey, Jolee Paden, Grayson Mast, Lydia Tissue, Courtney Unruh and Wesley Wilder.

Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) Series II Certificate of Completion

The following students completed a leadership seminar series: Brittany Williams, Alex Miller, Abby Dwyer, Meg Green, Hannah Heishman, Rachel Schrock, Grantley Showalter, Olga Balthazar, Delight Tigoe, Malachi Bontrager, Cameron White, Rediet Girma, Gillian Zehr, Ben Zook, Kegan Yoder, Tae Dews, Oksana Kittrell, Richard Robinson, Mario Hernandez, Alejandra Tejada Rivera, Jesse Reist, Jonae Guest, Makora Nyagwegwe and Heyrin Cha.

Student Government leaders and athletes in winter and spring sports who had earned honors (see w) were also recognized.

Editor’s Note: The following Visual and Communication Arts students were recognized in a separate ceremony April 22: Styer Scholarship, Azariah Cox; photography, Jonathan Bush; studio, Brooke Lacock; video, Jonathan Bush and Caleb Schlabach; and motion graphics, Rachel Cardwell.