Recent Award Recipients

Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences at Western �鶹��ýӦ�� University annually recognizes students who have made significant contributions through scholarly activities, as well as service, research and leadership.

Presidential Scholar

(Department nomination; University award)

2024— Kayla Bryd
2023—Jake Fanizza
2022—Shaneka Johnson
2021—Caroline Wolf
2020—Makayla Long
2019—Marwa Ahmed Saad
2018—Kelsey Cushway
2017—Marine Bolliet
2016—Joseph Barnett
2015—Nicole Carpp
2014—Olivia Walser

Distinguished Senior in Biology

2024—Angela Solis Sarat
2023—Jossalyn Rogalski
2022—Hanna Korn and Rae Miller
2021—Megan Nippa
2020—Isabella Trainor
2019—Eliza Foli
2018—Eric Branch and Samantha Hack
2017—Allison Spring
2016—Shaana Way
2015—Jamie Hentig
2014—John Christie

Distinguished Senior in Biomedical Sciences

2024—Giovanna de Carvalho
2023—Zach McClenny
2022—Hope Welter
2021—Tashifa Fayyaz
2020—Haley Ritsema
2019—Ahmad Faryami
2019—Kori Mecklenburg
2018—Maninder Randhawa
2018—Gabrielle Watson
2017—Meagan Ackerman
2016—Jacob Morton
2015—Emily Manzon
2014—Qing Shu

DISTINGUISHED PRE-PROFESSIONAL IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

2024—Nancy Chau
2023—Nastia Chan
2022—Jake Fanizza
2021—Hope Welter
2020—Benjamin Ulrich
2019—Kendall Jablonski
2019—Matthew Kornas
2018—Ramsey Potter
2017—Salma Mumuni
2016—Matthew Pate
2015—Joseph Barnett
2014—Erin Donovan

DISTINGUISHED PRE-PROFESSIONAL IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

2013—Stephanie Jerger

Merrill Wiseman Award in Microbiology

2024—Molly Hornyak
2023—Syed Daniyal
2022—Sarah Mominee
2021—Grace Filpi
2020—Jacob Evans
2019—Cody Benfant
2018—Helene Woyczesczyk
2017—Garrett Kingsbury
2016—Michael Monaco
2014—Steven Aiello

MARGARET THOMAS DU MOND AWARD

2022—Sarah Mominee
2021—Cora Paul
2019—Hannah Mitchell
2018—Kelsey Cushway and Matthew Gibson
2016—Keith Meyers

HAZEL WIRICK SCHOLARSHIP

(Awarded through the Kalamazoo Garden Club)

2024—Angela Solis Sarat and Samantha McLean
2023—Emily Lulofs and Gabriel Vroman (Delano Award)
2022—Hanna Korn (undergraduate) and Cole Waldvogel (undergraduate)
2021—Alex Kolstoe (graduate) and Laura Otto (undergraduate)
2020—Peter Quakenbush (graduate) and Ashley Pfeifle (undergraduate)
2019—Abbie Bristol (undergraduate) and Louis Mitchell (undergraduate)
2018—Tonia Aho (undergraduate) and Nicole Dubs (graduate)
2017—Dustin Rowland (graduate) and Amy Kobylarz (undergraduate)
2016—Nicholas Martin (graduate), Christian Visser and Allyson Wentala (undergraduate)
2015—Justin Hackett and Alexys Nolan
2014—Scott Warner (graduate) and Mallory Burdo (undergraduate)

Colin J. Gould Memorial Scholarship

2024—Abdulaziz Shebrain
2023—Nancy Chau
2022—Kar Men Lee
2021—Cami Dubois
2020—Humayra Oishi
2019—Hannah Mitchell
2018—Meskerem Tolossa
2017—Aurora Mokris
2016—Allison Spring
2014—Nicole Carpp

Frank Hinds Zoology Award

2024—Leire Garcia Torres
2023—Caitlyn Nolf and Martina Acosta
2022—Nastia Chan
2021—Grace Filpi
2020—Hanna Korn
2019—Yarielis Rosario
2018—MacKenzie King and Emily Bolhuis
2017—Jill Syrotchen and MacKenzie King
2014—Damir Musaev

Dr. Scott and Mary Hodges Scholarship (pre-dental)

2023—Emily Moore
2022—Breanna Glovis
2021—Carly Magiera-Pullen

Roger and Diane Ulrich award for biological and biomedical science

2024—Caleb Learman
2023—Nastia Chan

Dr. Darrell R. Latva Biological Sciences Teaching Excellence Award

(More information)

2024—Dr. Todd Barkman
2023—Dr. Monica McCullough
2022—Dr. Tiffany Schriever
2021—Dr. Wendy Beane
2019—Dr. Kathryn Docherty
2017—Dr. David Rudge
2016—Dr. David Karowe
2014—Dr. John Jellies

Graduate Research and Creative Scholar

(Department nomination; given by the Graduate College)

2024—Keke Ray (master's teaching), Darby Finnegan (master's research), Julie VanGyseghem (Ph.D. teaching), Ruchi Ojha (Ph.D. research), Ruchi Ojha (Ph.D. research- All University Award)
2023—Alyssa Lopez (accelerated master's research), Enish Pathak (master's teaching), Christian Smith (master's research), Joanna Sblendorio (Ph.D. teaching), Joanna Sblendorio (Ph.D. teaching- All University Award), Samantha Hack (Ph.D. research), Samantha Hack (Ph.D. research- All University Award)
2022—Alyssa Lopez (accelerated master's teaching), Aurora Mokris (accelerated master's research), Parks Marion (master's teaching), Jake Spitsbergen (master's research), Elizabeth Ketchum (Ph.D. teaching), Victor DeBrito (Ph.D. research), Luke Kinsey (Ph.D. teaching- All University Award)
2021—Halle Nienhaus (master's teaching), Makayla Long (accelerated master's teaching), Zach Whitacre (master's research), Lindsey Dehaan (accelerated master's research), Luke Kinsey (Ph.D. teaching) and Alberto Cintron-Colon (Ph.D. research)
2020—Joshua Paris (master's teaching), Megan Stanchfield (master's research), Paige Blinkiewicz (accelerated master's research), Gabriel Almeida Alves (Ph.D. teaching) and Susanne Var (Ph.D. research)
2019—Christopher Frazier (master's teaching), Allie Spring (master's research), Tanya Petrachkova (Ph.D. teaching) and Alanna Van Huizen (Ph.D. research)
2018—Angela Kennedy-Mendez (master's teaching), Christy Kalata (master's teaching), Jamie Smith (master's research), Taylor Birkholz (Ph.D. teaching) and NaTasha Schiller (Ph.D. research)
2017—Diana Carter (master's teaching), Ryan Wessendorf (master's research), Erin Grabarczyk (Ph.D. teaching) and Ruiqi Huang (Ph.D. research)
2016—Matthew Deighton (master's teaching), John Christie (master's research), NaTasha Schiller (Ph.D. teaching) and Carol Beaver (Ph.D. research)
2014—Yih Wen Goh (master's teaching), Eeleng Choong (master's research), Jacob Job (Ph.D. teaching) and John-Mary Vianney (Ph.D. research)

Distinguished Biological Sciences Graduate Student

2024—Samantha Hack
2023—Luke Kinsey
2022—Sydney Sheltz-Kempf
2021—Sarah Webster
2020—Amy Janik
2019—Allie Spring
2018—Alanna VanHuizen
2017—Taylor Birkholz and Erin Grabarczyk
2016—Justin Hackett
2015—NaTasha Schiller
2014—Jacob Job

Leo C. Vander Beek Graduate Student Plant Biology Award

2024—Theo Addo
2023—Alex Kolstoe
2022—Peter Quakenbush
2020—Shejal Soumen
2019—Peter Quakenbush
2018—Sadia Kana
2017—Manasa Bellur Satyanarayan
2016—Ruiqi Huang
2014—Justin Hackett

Outstanding Research Award

2024 (Charles River)—Molly Hornyak (undergraduate), Keke Ray (master's), and Sara Diller (Ph. D.)
2023 (Charles River)—Andrew Kaczmar (undergraduate), Adam Austin (master's), and Joanna Sblendorio (Ph.D.)
2022 (Betina Chapman)—Nastia Chan (undergraduate), Jake Spitsbergen (master's), and Ruchi Ojha (Ph.D.)
2021 (Charles River)—Hope Welter (undergraduate), Nicole Stewart (master's), Josh Paris (master's) and Alberto Cintron-Colon (Ph.D.)
2020 (MPI)—Alyssa Lopez(undergraduate), Zach Whitacre(master's) and Susanne Var (Ph.D.)
2019 (MPI)—Katelyn Kurrie (undergraduate), Joanna Sblendorio (master's) and Gabriel Alves (Ph.D.)
2018 (MPI)—Marwa Saad (undergraduate), Breanna Varker (undergraduate), Jamie Smith (master's) and Thomas Groves (Ph.D.)
2017 (MPI)—Eric Branch (undergraduate), Megan Stanchfield (undergraduate), Nicholas Martin (master's) and Tiantian Zhang (Ph.D.)
2016 (MPI)—Harrison Bach (undergraduate), Diana Carter (master's) and Carol Beaver (Ph.D.)
2015 (MPI)—Justin Hackett Tetiana Petrachkova (master's), Jacob Job and Chuck Nutting (Ph.D.)
2014 (MPI)—Evan White (undergraduate), Hannah Borton (master's) and Amy Gyorkos (Ph.D.)

Students advancing biological research and engagement (sabre)

2017—Sianoush Fereidani, Devon Volz and Zach Stoner