Twelve biology undergraduates named Most Promising Students

Friday, May 16, 2025

Division of Biology award recipients.

Twelve students from biology, microbiology, and fisheries, wildlife, conservation, and environmental biology have been selected to receive the Division of Biology's 2024-2025 Most Promising Student Award.

The Division of Biology faculty sponsors the Most Promising Student Award, which is awarded to students who have demonstrated excellence and enthusiasm in their academic and extracurricular pursuits. Students must be sophomores or juniors in one of the Division of Biology degree programs to qualify, with faculty members nominating students for the award. Grades, rigor of academic program, extracurricular activities, recommendations by faculty and performance in an interview were factors used to determine the award winners.

The following students are the recipients of the 2025 Division of Biology Most Promising Student Award:

• Isabella Berndt, Salina, human health biology/integrated health studies with a psychology minor
• Thaddaeus Blakley, Hutchinson, conservation biology/wildlife ecology and management
• Brynn Collier, Mound City, human health biology/integrated health studies/pre-pharmacy
• Jossie Coloma, Maple Park, Illinois, human health biology/integrated health studies/global health, medicine, and society certificate, pre-dentistry track.
• Taylor Ewer, Gretna, Nebraska, cellular and molecular biology/integrated health studies, psychology minor
• Brynn Grosdidier, Overland Park, human health biology, business and Spanish minors
• Gimhan Sandi Hettiarachchi, Pannipitiya, Sri Lanka, general microbiology, member of the University Honors Program
• Emily Pray, Caldwell, human health biology/chemical science, Spanish minor
• Derek Siefring, Fort Recovery, Ohio, wildlife ecology and management, geographic information systems certificate
• Sam Speck, Smithville, Missouri, conservation biology, geographic information systems certificate
• Grace Thompson, Chanute, integrative Bbiology/biological science education
• America Zarate, Dodge City, conservation biology/wildlife ecology and management, entomology and statistics minors

The faculty of the Division of Biology are delighted to award these outstanding students the Most Promising Student Award and look forward to their continued success in their respective fields.