Spring 2016 College of Sciences Student Awards

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

At the College’s Advisory Board meeting on April 22, 2016, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs David M. Collard announced the recipients of six undergraduate awards:

Jeffre H. Allen, a biochemistry major, received the Cynthia L. Bossart and James Efron Scholarship, for the top out-of-state junior in the College of Sciences. Allen hails from Tennessee, has been a GT1000 team leader, and volunteers with Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech.

Alexander M. Covington, a graduating physics major, received the Roger M. Wartell and Stephen E. Brossette Award for Multidisciplinary Studies in Biology, Physics, and Mathematics. Covington’s research with School of Physics’ James C. Gumbart involves using molecular dynamics simulations to understand the structure and function of small proteins. Covington was an editor and writer for Georgia Tech’s student newspaper, Technique.

Alex B. George, a biochemistry major, received the Robert A. Pierotti Memorial Scholarship, for a graduating senior excelling in both academics and research. In addition to a 4.0 GPA, George has conducted undergraduate research with the School of Chemistry’s Adegboyega K. (Yomi) Oyelere and with Michael E. Davis of the Walter E. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME). George is a coauthor in a paper published in 2015 in the journal Bioorganic Medicinal Chemistry and in a paper to be published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine. George is headed to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, in Bethesda, Md., where he will conduct full-time research as part of NIH’s Post-Baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Program.

Zixin (Wendy) Jiang, a graduating physics and applied mathematics double major, received the A. Joyce Nickelson and John C. Sutherland Undergraduate Research Award, for an undergraduate student who has jointly studied mathematics and physics and has engaged in research. Jiang has conducted research with the School of Physics’ Tamara Bogdanovic and Michael S. Chapman, as well as with the School of Mathematics’ Igor Belegradek.  In her spare time, Jiang was a violinist for the Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra.

June Y. (Austin) Moon, a biology major, received the Virginia C. and Herschel V. Clanton Jr. Scholarship, for a top pre-medical student in the College of Sciences. Moon participates in undergraduate research with the School of Biology’s Yuhong Fan, in whose lab he studies differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.  He served as treasurer of the American Red Cross Club at Georgia Tech and is now the advocacy coordinator of the American Medical Student Association at Georgia Tech.

Krishma Singal, a physics major, received the Mehta Phingbodhipakkiya Undergraduate Memorial Scholarship. Singal has been an undergraduate research assistant working in the CHAOS (Complex Hearth Arrhythmias and Oscillating Systems) lab of the School of Physics’ Flavio H. Fenton. She served in the organizing committee of the highly successful Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics held at Georgia Tech in January.  

The six award recipients were honored in the campus-wide Student Honors Celebration on April 20, 2016. “That event is an important opportunity in the academic calendar year to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our students,” says Associate Dean Collard.

Almost all awardees joined the College of Sciences Advisory Board Members, Dean Paul M. Goldbart, and guests at the College’s awards presentation and lunch on April 22.

“Introducing our award winners to members of our Advisory Board is a particular honor,” says Associate Dean Collard. “It is something I look forward to each year.”  

Associate Dean Collard also announced the establishment and first beneficiaries of the Leddy Family Scholarship Fund. Six juniors and seniors will be receiving the scholarship for the 2016-17 academic year:

  • Yash S. Mehta, a biochemistry major; conducts research with Amit R. Reddi of the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry on the role of heme in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as with Michael E. Davis of BME on the biochemistry of myocardial infarction; sings with Taal Tadka a capella group.

  • Sarah M. Nay, a psychology major, an undergraduate research assistant in the Child Study Lab at Georgia Tech, working on software applications to flag communication behaviors that might be early markers for developmental disorders.

  • Elizabeth A. (Lizzie) Stubbs, a psychology major with a minor in biology, an undergraduate research assistant in the Child Study Lab at Georgia Tech, investigating social communication behaviors among typical toddlers and those at risk for autism.

Lee, Mehta, Royappa, and Stubbs joined Pam and Jeff Leddy, Dean Goldbart, and school representatives on April 27, 2016, at a lunch celebration of the inaugural Leddy Family scholars in the College of Sciences.

“We take great pleasure in recognizing and nurturing the outstanding, well-rounded students in our care,” says Dean Goldbart. “They are the reason we are constantly striving to strengthen and diversify the educational experiences and research opportunities that we offer.”

“I cannot say a more heartfelt thank you to the benefactors of these awards and scholarships,” Dean Goldbart continues.  “Their generosity marvelously expands our ability to support deserving students and retain them in the College.” 

Media Contact: 

Dione Morton