Biological science award recipients announced
July 24, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Thirteen Western Michigan University students were honored for achievement this spring by WMU's Department of Biological Sciences. The following students received awards at a departmental luncheon.
Michael Ahrens of Grand Rapids, Mich., was chosen as the WMU Presidential Scholar in Biological Sciences, a University distinction awarded to students who demonstrate the most exceptional classroom performance. In addition to the honor, the award includes a $150 honorarium. Ahrens also was awarded $150 as the Distinguished Senior in Biology, which is an award given to an outstanding senior biology major and requires a minimum 3.5 overall grade point average.
Anthony H. Hardaway of Stevensville, Mich., received a departmental nomination to become a Graduate Research and Creative Scholar, an award given by WMU's Graduate College.
Barbara R. Heard of Kalamazoo has been named a Distinguished Biology Graduate Student, a student who has completed the requirements for a master's degree in biology within the past year and who has shown outstanding research productivity. In addition to the honor, the award includes a $150 honorarium. Heard also was nominated to become a Graduate Research and Creative Scholar, an award given by WMU's Graduate College.
Jennifer L. Heyn of Bridgman, Mich., has been awarded a $150 Merrill Wiseman Award in Microbiology, an award given to an outstanding student in the field of microbiology. The award is named in honor of Merrill Wiseman, a distinguished professor who taught Biological Sciences at WMU for 40 years.
Bethany R. Huot of Kalamazoo, has been awarded a $1,000 Hazel Wirick Scholarship, an award given by the Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan Foundation to a junior or senior biology major, who is working on a project in the area of botany or ecology. In order to receive the award Huot was required to have a minimum 3.5 overall grade point average.
Justin J. Knight of Portage, Mich., has been named a Distinguished Senior in Biomedical Sciences, an award given to an outstanding senior with a biomedical sciences major. In order to receive this award, Knight was required to have a minimum 3.5 overall grade point average. The award includes a $150 honorarium.
Seok-Hong (Jamie) Lim of Kalamazoo has been awarded a $1,000 Hazel Wirick Scholarship, an award given by the Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan Foundation to a junior or senior biology major, who is working on a project in the area of botany or ecology. In order to receive the award Lim was required to have a minimum 3.5 overall grade point average. Lim also received a $500 Leo C. Vander Beek Graduate Student in Plant Biology Award, an award given to a graduate student studying plant biology, and established in memory of Leo C. Vander Beek, who was a distinguished faculty member in WMU's Department of Biological Sciences for 33 years.
Sarah M. McDonald of Kalamazoo has received a $500 Margaret Thomas DuMond Award, an award given to a junior or senior biology or biomedical sciences major, who demonstrates outstanding potential for a career in biological sciences. In order to receive the award, McDonald was required to have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average. The award was established in honor of WMU alumna Margaret Thomas DuMond.
Jeffrey M. Muston of Flushing, Mich., has been awarded a $500 Colin J. Gould Memorial Scholarship, an award given to an exemplary student who is in the Lee Honors College and majoring in the biological sciences. This award was established as a memorial to Colin J. Gould, who was a student in the Department of Biological Sciences at WMU.
Jessica Pennewill of Jackson, Mich., has been awarded a $500 William Follis, M.D. Scholarship, an award given to an incoming full-time freshman who demonstrates great potential in the field of biological sciences.
Wendy Guat Hoon Tan of Kalamazoo has been named a Distinguished Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student, an honor given to a student who has completed the requirements for a master's degree in biomedical sciences within the past year and who has shown outstanding research productivity. The award includes a $150 honorarium.
Elizabeth Weiss-DeBoer of Lawton, Mich., was awarded a $100 Edwin B. Steen Book Award, an award given to a student to assist in the purchase of books. This award was established in memory of Edwin B. Steen, a former faculty member in WMU's Department of Biological Sciences.
Holly K. Yettaw of Battle Creek, Mich., has been named a Distinguished Pre-professional in Biological Sciences, a student deemed by faculty to be the most outstanding student with a biology or biomedical sciences major, in a pre-professional curriculum. To receive the award, Yettaw was required to have minimum 3.5 overall grade point average. In addition to the honor, the award includes a $150 honorarium.
Media contact: Tonya Hernandez, 269 387-8400, tonya.hernandez@wmich.edu