K-State Cancer Research Center to present awards to 47 undergraduate students

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Source: Marcia Locke, 785-532-6705, marcia@k-state.edu
Note to editors: Sara A. Mueting is a graduate of Salina South High School; Michelle D. Amthauer is a graduate of Buhler High School; Clay Houser is a graduate of Meade High School; Stephanie Oursler is a graduate of Newton High School; and Matthew T. Basel is a graduate of Kansas City Christian School, Prairie Village.
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Thursday, March 22, 2007

K-STATE CANCER RESEARCH CENTER TO PRESENT AWARDS TO 47 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

MANHATTAN -- Forty-seven undergraduate students at Kansas State University are earning cancer research awards through K-State's Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research.

The $100,000 cancer research award program provides $1,000 stipends to students and $1,000 to their faculty mentors for research expenses.

Students applied for the awards in the fall by co-writing research proposals with faculty mentors affiliated with the center. The winners conduct the research in the mentors' laboratories during the spring semester.

The program was created to promote undergraduate participation in laboratory research and to encourage students to consider careers in research and medicine. K-State undergraduate students interested in working in a cancer-relevant laboratory are eligible to apply.

"This program provides exceptional students the opportunity to work closely with faculty on real research projects," said Rob Denell, center director and university distinguished professor of biology. "We are proud of these students and confident that some of them will go on to be among the nation's top scientists and physicians."

The awards will be presented to the students at a banquet Friday, March 30. Also attending will be the center's affiliated faculty, benefactors and friends.

The center's programs are funded through private gifts. The center is committed to furthering the understanding of cancer by funding basic cancer research and supporting higher education, training, and public outreach. More information about the center is available at http://www.k-state.edu/cancer.center or by calling 785-532-6705.

Students receiving research awards include:

Maria Wittman, senior in biology, Andover; Katie Clowers, junior in biology, Belpre; Austin Rogers, junior in biology, Derby; Olga Martinez, junior in biology, Dodge City.

From Greater Kansas City: Amber McBride, senior in biology, Gardner; Maureen McKiernan, junior in chemistry, Kansas City, Kan.; Lindsay Podhajsky, senior in nutritional sciences, Olathe; Brian Gengler, junior in biology, Samantha Hartin, junior in biology, Robert Jonathan McCully, senior in biochemistry, and Bradley Scheu, senior in economics, all of Overland Park; and Lara Pickel, senior in electrical engineering, Shawnee.

Lance Noll, senior in geography, Greensburg; Leah Cox, senior in biology, Halstead; Michael Albrecht, senior in microbiology, Herington; Kreg M Calhoon, senior in biology, Holton; Jenna L. Kennedy, senior in microbiology, Hoxie; Garrett Hooker, senior in biology, Hutchinson; Michelle D. Amthauer, senior in biochemistry, Junction City; Charlie Cong Dao, senior in life sciences, and Areli Monarrez, junior in biology, both of Liberal.

From Manhattan: Asma Al-Rawi, senior in physics; Matthew T. Basel, senior in chemistry biochemistry and biology; Sarah Devlin, senior in biochemistry; Clay Houser, junior in political science; Yuka Isayama, junior in chemistry; Daniel K. Madgwick, senior in biochemistry; Nozomi Matsumiya, senior in biology; Sara A. Mueting, senior in biology; Linette Ngaba, junior in dietetics; Takahiro Ohira, junior in biology; Stephanie Oursler, senior in microbiology; Brian Ransom, senior in nutritional sciences; and Liang Zhang, senior in biochemistry.

Lydia Roberts, senior in chemistry, Pomona; Jeremy Wiltz, junior in nutritional sciences, Sabetha; Jennifer Reischman, senior in animal sciences and industry, Tonganoxie.

From Topeka: Nathan Bammes, senior in biology; Bridget McGuire, senior in microbiology; Bradley J. Schmidt, senior in biology; and Nicole Wayant, junior in mathematics.

Erica Cain, senior in microbiology, Wamego; and Rachel Lawn, senior in biology; Wichita.

From out-of-state: Maya Pettit-Scott, senior in nutritional sciences, Palatine, Ill.; Denton Shanks, senior in biochemistry; Liberty, Mo.; and Jessica Strafuss, senior in biology, Collierville, Tenn.