May 5, 2023
Johnson Cancer Research Center awards banquet recap
The Johnson Cancer Research Center had its annual awards banquet on April 21 for the Cancer Research Award recipients. Twenty-seven undergraduate students received Cancer Research Awards, and 18 graduate students received Cancer Research Awards.
Guest speakers at the banquet included Ruth Mekuria, a senior in medical biochemistry, pre-medicine, who will be attending the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She spoke about her experience at K-State and performing cancer research throughout her undergraduate career. David Rosowsky, vice president for research, also presented. The emcee was Dave Lewis.
The undergraduate awardees presented posters of their cancer research projects, and all undergraduate and graduate awardees were recognized during the banquet and received their certificate.
The following students are award recipients:
Undergraduate Cancer Research Award recipients: Summer Adamson, freshman in biology; Lauren Apprill, sophomore in biochemistry; Michael Bartkoski, junior in biology; Louie Cabrera, senior in medical microbiology; Kaden Creamer, senior in medical biochemistry; Jane Eilers, junior in chemistry; Dylan Feist, junior in medical biochemistry/microbiology; Maddison File, sophomore in biology; Michaela Garcia, senior in biochemistry; Annabelle Hall, senior in biochemistry-medical track; Cole Hayden, sophomore in medical biochemistry; Katie Janzen, sophomore in biology environmental science; Caleb Kutz, senior in biology, pre-medicine; Karrin Larson, senior in chemistry; Samira Laytimi, junior in biochemistry/medical biochemistry; Tyler McCoach, senior in anatomy and physiology; Kathleen McDaniel, senior in biology/integrative health studies; Ruth Mekuria, senior in medical biochemistry/pre-medicine; Kinsley Ochsner, senior in medical biochemistry; Aiden Ozga, junior in biology/pre-medicine; Rachel Pang, senior in chemistry; Marrissa Raynesford, sophomore in chemistry/Spanish; Brandon Rider, senior in biology; Avanelle Stoltz, junior in biological systems engineering; Mia Thompson, sophomore in medical biochemistry; Emily Tolbert, sophomore in microbiology; Olivia Waren, sophomore in medical biochemistry/psychology; and Kameron Wildeman, senior in chemistry.
Graduate student Cancer Research Award recipients: Chao An, chemistry; Grant Brooke, biology; Emily Burghardt, biology; Sarah DeVader, anatomy and physiology; Jordan Gipper, chemistry; Cathryn Haas, biology; Bingun Habarakadage, biology; Peter Hodoameda, biology; Suna Jo, chemical engineering; Olivia Kunkel, kinesiology; Zolian Zoong Lwe, biology; Vidya Nadar, chemistry; Chinemerem Onah, biology; Fidelis Onwuagba, geology; Aloka Amarasooria Prins, chemistry; Tanner Richie, biology; Britton Scheuermann, kinesiology; and Ramona Weber, anatomy and physiology.
Travel awardees: Anna Bottiglieri, Punit Prakash, electrical and computer engineering; Yungui Guo, Erika Geisbrecht Lab, biochemistry and molecular biophysics; Peter Hodoameda, Rollie Clem Lab, biology; Olivia Kunkel, Brad Behnke, kinesiology; Shannon Parr, Carl Ade, kinesiology; Britton Scheuermann, Carl Ade, kinesiology; Vanessa Turpin, Carl Ade, kinesiology; and Ziwei Zhao, Erika Geisbrecht Lab, biochemistry and molecular biophysics.
Helen Graves Heart Award: Prabhu Joshi, graduate student in biology.