(L-R): Maggie Liang, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Kristi Tough, Medical School; Kerén S. Herrera, School of Allied Health Sciences; Kaci Cerka, Dental School; Julie M. Hudson, School of Nursing
Printer Friendly Format

The Women’s Faculty Association (WFA) celebrated outstanding students last week during a special awards ceremony. The students, one from each school, were chosen for leadership skills, outstanding academic record, and professional service and teaching activities to receive the 2006 Leadership Award. The celebration included presentations given by Ellen Kraig, Ph.D., professor of cellular and structural biology; Margaret Brackley, Ph.D., R.N., professor of nursing; Sue Naylor, Ph.D., professor of cellular and structural biology; and Janet F. Williams, M.D., professor of pediatrics. Lyn Daws, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology and Alice Gong, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, were the award coordinators.

Keren Herrera, School of Allied Health Sciences – presented by Shirlyn McKenzie, Ph.D., professor and chair of clinical lab sciences

Keren is a leader in her class, her profession and her community. She has served as president of both the Chemistry Club and her junior class, and has been a successful peer advisor. From her participation in recruiting events in the School of Allied Health Sciences to visiting community college campuses, she has promoted awareness of her profession. Keren organizes teams for performing community service and teaches literacy classes, as well as offers personal and family counseling in both English and Spanish at her church. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and is in the top 5 percent of her class, making the Dean’s List every semester. Listed in Who’s Who for two years in a row, Keren serves as an excellent role model for other minority women in a health profession.

Kristi Tough, Medical School – presented by Janet Williams, M.D., professor of pediatrics

Kristi was notably outstanding for her consistent achievements in student leadership and community activism, particularly in the area of women’s health. Through serving as president of the local student chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), and subsequent work with the AMWA, Kristi raised funds for local nonprofit organizations, organized informative presentations on women’s health topics, directed a regional conference and started writing a column for the association’s national newsletter. She recently worked with the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health to create a successful community health fair for women. Kristi has helped many first- and second-year medical students by serving as a tutor. Her work has been recognized by several departments during her clinical training. Kristi is a true leader with great enthusiasm and diligence in bringing people together and building successful collaborative relationships. In June, Kristi will start her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at New York University.

Kaci Cerka, Dental School – presented by Barbara MacNeill, M.S., D.M.D., assistant professor of general dentistry

Kaci is an extremely active and involved individual both professionally and socially. A natural leader, she is well respected by her peers and faculty. Kaci has been both the junior and senior class vice-president, and was the sophomore class fundraiser representative. She has served as a mentor for dental students in their first year, as well as for local high school students. Kaci has been involved with research activities since her first year and has won a variety of awards for her research. Next year, she will be entering the orthodontic residency program at the University of Washington.

Julie M. Hudson, School of Nursing – presented by Norma Martinez-Rogers, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor of family nursing

Julie is especially active in bettering student life in the School of Nursing. She created an orientation program and guide for incoming students and served as president of the Student Body Organization where she developed an electronic newsletter distributed to faculty, staff and students. Julie is well respected and has mentored students in Juntos Podemos, a federally funded program designed to enhance student success. She served as a member of the Student Advisory Council to the UT System and was selected to join Sigma Theta Tau, the national honor society in nursing. Her goal is to become an advanced practice nurse with the ability and certification to diagnose and treat illnesses.

Hanyu “Maggie” Liang, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences – presented by Holly VanRemmen, Ph.D., assistant professor of cellular and structural biology

Maggie has shown excellent academic achievement and has been the recipient of two highly competitive research awards. She received a student research award from the American Federation for Aging Research in 2003, and in 2004, she received a travel award to present her research at the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine Annual meeting. Throughout her graduate career, Maggie has always led by example though her hard work and determination. She has also served the university as the student representative for the Committee on Graduate Studies in the department of physiology and as a student representative for the Health Science Center Library Committee.

In addition, the recipients of the WFA science fair awards were recognized. Amrita Kamat, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine, and Lily Dong, Ph.D., assistant professor of cellular and structural biology, were the judging coordinators for the WFA Science Fair Award Recipients.

Senior winners:
First place: Ashwathi Mohan from Health Careers High School for her project titled "Selective targeting and diagnosis of head and neck cancers in immunocompromised rats"
Second place: Kathryn Wittman from Churchill High School for her project titled "Solar water purification".

Junior winners:
First place: Kaitlin Joest from Keystone Middle School for her project titled "The effects of water impurities from cataclysmic events on crops"
Second place: Ahva Sadeghi from School of Science and Technology for her project titled "My heart will go on"

Congratulations to each award recipient.