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K-State Today

November 9, 2012

Cancer crusaders: Awards from Johnson Cancer Research Center help undergraduates join fight against cancer

Submitted by Communications & Marketing

The Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University is giving 50 undergraduate students the chance to conduct cancer research projects.

The center's Cancer Research Award program promotes undergraduate participation in laboratory research and encourages students to consider careers in cancer research and medicine.

"We are enlisting a new generation of cancer researchers and medical workers, and helping train them to do scientific research," said Rob Denell, center director and a university distinguished professor of biology.

The award program, which is open to K-State undergraduate students interested in doing cancer-relevant research, provides $1,000 awards to up to 50 students a year, and $1,000 per student to their faculty mentors for research expenses.

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

"These are outstanding students working closely with faculty on real research projects, and some will undoubtedly go on to be top scientists and physicians," Denell said.

The students will be recognized in the spring at a banquet attended by their families, center supporters and university faculty and administrators.

The center also provides other undergraduate scholarships and support for graduate student and faculty research and training. All of these programs are funded through private gifts.

The center is committed to furthering the understanding of cancer by funding cancer research and supporting higher education, training, and public outreach. More information is available at http://www.cancer.k-state.edu or by calling 785-532-6705.

Cancer Research Award winners are:

From Dodge City: Jenny Barriga, junior in chemistry; Nallely Barron-Garcia, senior in microbiology; Phuoc Bui, senior in microbiology; Adrian Gomez, senior in biology; and Pamela Maynez, senior in chemistry.

Allison Niederee, sophomore in kinesiology, Great Bend.

From Greater Kansas City: Joshua Ames, sophomore in microbiology, Jessica Long, senior in chemical engineering, and Emily Schnell, junior in electrical engineering, all from Lenexa; Eric Geanes, junior in biology, Jared Kevern, senior in biochemistry, Brandon Pfannenstiel, junior in microbiology, Samantha Talley, junior in chemistry, and Terrahn Wall, senior in biology, all from Olathe; Joshua Beyer, senior in microbiology, John Nail, sophomore in biochemistry, Carrie Remillard, junior in biology, and Charles Andrew Roach, senior in biology, all from Overland Park; and Denise Cobb, junior in biochemistry, and Andrea Keifer, junior in biology, both from Shawnee.

Jessica Eisenbarth, sophomore in biology, Hoyt.

From Hutchinson: James Arpin, junior in biology; Sarah Carr, senior in electrical engineering; and Morgan Armbruster, senior in life sciences.

Obdulia Covarrubias-Zambrano, junior in biochemistry, Liberal.

From Manhattan: Wren Michaels, sophomore in biology; Amanda Osarczuk, senior in microbiology; Neema Prakash, junior in biology; Megan Reid, undergraduate in biology; Job Shiach, sophomore in biology; Joseph Smith, senior in biology; and Jazmin Zeledon, senior in psychology.

Parker Miller, senior in biology, McPherson; Grace Winter, junior in biochemistry, Mount Hope; Rachael Ott, senior in biochemistry, Mulvane; Sarah Cossey, sophomore in biology, Ogden; Emily Williams, sophomore in microbiology, Salina; Matthew Klenda, senior in biochemistry, Tampa.

From Topeka: Jordan Parker, sophomore in biology; Eric Strand, senior in chemical engineering; and Luke Wenger, senior in microbiology.

Jeremy Goering, junior in microbiology, Valley Center;Caroline Braun, junior in clinical lab science-medical technology, Victoria; Brianne Pierce, junior in microbiology, and Alexander Vo, freshman in biological systems engineering, both from Wichita; and Elizabeth Riedy, senior in biochemistry, Woodbine.

From out of state: Christine Spartz, sophomore in chemistry, Ellington, Conn.; German Cuevas, freshman in biology, Uniontown, Pa.; Zachary Goldsmith, sophomore in microbiology, Germantown, Tenn.;and Tyler Dubek, senior in biochemistry, Flower Mound, Texas.