Recent Award Recipients

The Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University annually recognizes students who have made significant contributions through scholarly activities, as well as service, research and leadership.

Presidential Scholar

(Department nomination; University award)

• 2024— Kayla Bryd
• 2023—Jake Fanizza
• 2022—Shaneka Johnson
• 2021—Caroline Wolf
• 2020—Makayla Long
• 2019—Marwa Ahmed Saad
• 2018—Kelsey Cushway
• 2017—Marine Bolliet
• 2016—Joseph Barnett
• 2015—Nicole Carpp
• 2014—Olivia Walser

Distinguished Senior in Biology

• 2024—Angela Solis Sarat
• 2023—Jossalyn Rogalski
• 2022—Hanna Korn and Rae Miller
• 2021—Megan Nippa
• 2020—Isabella Trainor
• 2019—Eliza Foli
• 2018—Eric Branch and Samantha Hack
• 2017—Allison Spring
• 2016—Shaana Way
• 2015—Jamie Hentig
• 2014—John Christie

Distinguished Senior in Biomedical Sciences

• 2024—Giovanna de Carvalho
• 2023—Zach McClenny
• 2022—Hope Welter
• 2021—Tashifa Fayyaz
• 2020—Haley Ritsema
• 2019—Ahmad Faryami
• 2019—Kori Mecklenburg
• 2018—Maninder Randhawa
• 2018—Gabrielle Watson
• 2017—Meagan Ackerman
• 2016—Jacob Morton
• 2015—Emily Manzon
• 2014—Qing Shu

DISTINGUISHED PRE-PROFESSIONAL IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

• 2024—Nancy Chau
• 2023—Nastia Chan
• 2022—Jake Fanizza
• 2021—Hope Welter
• 2020—Benjamin Ulrich
• 2019—Kendall Jablonski
• 2019—Matthew Kornas
• 2018—Ramsey Potter
• 2017—Salma Mumuni
• 2016—Matthew Pate
• 2015—Joseph Barnett
• 2014—Erin Donovan

DISTINGUISHED PRE-PROFESSIONAL IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

• 2013—Stephanie Jerger

Merrill Wiseman Award in Microbiology

• 2024—Molly Hornyak
• 2023—Syed Daniyal
• 2022—Sarah Mominee
• 2021—Grace Filpi
• 2020—Jacob Evans
• 2019—Cody Benfant
• 2018—Helene Woyczesczyk
• 2017—Garrett Kingsbury
• 2016—Michael Monaco
• 2014—Steven Aiello

MARGARET THOMAS DU MOND AWARD

• 2022—Sarah Mominee
• 2021—Cora Paul
• 2019—Hannah Mitchell
• 2018—Kelsey Cushway and Matthew Gibson
• 2016—Keith Meyers

HAZEL WIRICK SCHOLARSHIP

(Awarded through the Kalamazoo Garden Club)

• 2024—Angela Solis Sarat and Samantha McLean
• 2023—Emily Lulofs and Gabriel Vroman (Delano Award)
• 2022—Hanna Korn (undergraduate) and Cole Waldvogel (undergraduate)
• 2021—Alex Kolstoe (graduate) and Laura Otto (undergraduate)
• 2020—Peter Quakenbush (graduate) and Ashley Pfeifle (undergraduate)
• 2019—Abbie Bristol (undergraduate) and Louis Mitchell (undergraduate)
• 2018—Tonia Aho (undergraduate) and Nicole Dubs (graduate)
• 2017—Dustin Rowland (graduate) and Amy Kobylarz (undergraduate)
• 2016—Nicholas Martin (graduate), Christian Visser and Allyson Wentala (undergraduate)
• 2015—Justin Hackett and Alexys Nolan
• 2014—Scott Warner (graduate) and Mallory Burdo (undergraduate)

Colin J. Gould Memorial Scholarship

• 2024—Abdulaziz Shebrain
• 2023—Nancy Chau
• 2022—Kar Men Lee
• 2021—Cami Dubois
• 2020—Humayra Oishi 
• 2019—Hannah Mitchell
• 2018—Meskerem Tolossa
• 2017—Aurora Mokris
• 2016—Allison Spring
• 2014—Nicole Carpp

Frank Hinds Zoology Award

• 2024—Leire Garcia Torres
• 2023—Caitlyn Nolf and Martina Acosta
• 2022—Nastia Chan
• 2021—Grace Filpi
• 2020—Hanna Korn
• 2019—Yarielis Rosario
• 2018—MacKenzie King and Emily Bolhuis
• 2017—Jill Syrotchen and MacKenzie King
• 2014—Damir Musaev

Dr. Scott and Mary Hodges Scholarship (pre-dental)

• 2023—Emily Moore
• 2022—Breanna Glovis
• 2021—Carly Magiera-Pullen

Roger and Diane Ulrich award for biological and biomedical science

• 2024—Caleb Learman
• 2023—Nastia Chan

Dr. Darrell R. Latva Biological Sciences Teaching Excellence Award

(More information)

• 2024—Dr. Todd Barkman
• 2023—Dr. Monica McCullough
• 2022—Dr. Tiffany Schriever
• 2021—Dr. Wendy Beane
• 2019—Dr. Kathryn Docherty 
• 2017—Dr. David Rudge
• 2016—Dr. David Karowe
• 2014—Dr. John Jellies

Graduate Research and Creative Scholar

(Department nomination; given by the Graduate College)

• 2024—Keke Ray (master's teaching), Darby Finnegan (master's research), Julie VanGyseghem (Ph.D. teaching), Ruchi Ojha (Ph.D. research), Ruchi Ojha (Ph.D. research- All University Award)
• 2023—Alyssa Lopez (accelerated master's research), Enish Pathak (master's teaching), Christian Smith (master's research), Joanna Sblendorio (Ph.D. teaching), Joanna Sblendorio (Ph.D. teaching- All University Award), Samantha Hack (Ph.D. research), Samantha Hack (Ph.D. research- All University Award)
• 2022—Alyssa Lopez (accelerated master's teaching), Aurora Mokris (accelerated master's research), Parks Marion (master's teaching), Jake Spitsbergen (master's research), Elizabeth Ketchum (Ph.D. teaching), Victor DeBrito (Ph.D. research), Luke Kinsey (Ph.D. teaching- All University Award)
• 2021—Halle Nienhaus (master's teaching), Makayla Long (accelerated master's teaching), Zach Whitacre (master's research), Lindsey Dehaan (accelerated master's research), Luke Kinsey (Ph.D. teaching) and Alberto Cintron-Colon (Ph.D. research)
• 2020—Joshua Paris (master's teaching), Megan Stanchfield (master's research), Paige Blinkiewicz (accelerated master's research), Gabriel Almeida Alves (Ph.D. teaching) and Susanne Var (Ph.D. research)
• 2019—Christopher Frazier (master's teaching), Allie Spring (master's research), Tanya Petrachkova (Ph.D. teaching) and Alanna Van Huizen (Ph.D. research)
• 2018—Angela Kennedy-Mendez (master's teaching), Christy Kalata (master's teaching), Jamie Smith (master's research), Taylor Birkholz (Ph.D. teaching) and NaTasha Schiller (Ph.D. research)
• 2017—Diana Carter (master's teaching), Ryan Wessendorf (master's research), Erin Grabarczyk (Ph.D. teaching) and Ruiqi Huang (Ph.D. research)
• 2016—Matthew Deighton (master's teaching), John Christie (master's research), NaTasha Schiller (Ph.D. teaching) and Carol Beaver (Ph.D. research)
• 2014—Yih Wen Goh (master's teaching), Eeleng Choong (master's research), Jacob Job (Ph.D. teaching) and John-Mary Vianney (Ph.D. research)

Distinguished Biological Sciences Graduate Student

• 2024—Samantha Hack
• 2023—Luke Kinsey
• 2022—Sydney Sheltz-Kempf
• 2021—Sarah Webster
• 2020—Amy Janik
• 2019—Allie Spring
• 2018—Alanna VanHuizen
• 2017—Taylor Birkholz and Erin Grabarczyk
• 2016—Justin Hackett
• 2015—NaTasha Schiller
• 2014—Jacob Job

Leo C. Vander Beek Graduate Student Plant Biology Award

• 2024—Theo Addo
• 2023—Alex Kolstoe
• 2022—Peter Quakenbush
• 2020—Shejal Soumen
• 2019—Peter Quakenbush
• 2018—Sadia Kana
• 2017—Manasa Bellur Satyanarayan
• 2016—Ruiqi Huang
• 2014—Justin Hackett

Outstanding Research Award

• 2024 (Charles River)—Molly Hornyak (undergraduate), Keke Ray (master's), and Sara Diller (Ph. D.)
• 2023 (Charles River)—Andrew Kaczmar (undergraduate), Adam Austin (master's), and Joanna Sblendorio (Ph.D.)
• 2022 (Betina Chapman)—Nastia Chan (undergraduate), Jake Spitsbergen (master's), and Ruchi Ojha (Ph.D.)
• 2021 (Charles River)—Hope Welter (undergraduate), Nicole Stewart (master's), Josh Paris (master's) and Alberto Cintron-Colon (Ph.D.) 
• 2020 (MPI)—Alyssa Lopez(undergraduate), Zach Whitacre(master's) and Susanne Var (Ph.D.)
• 2019 (MPI)—Katelyn Kurrie (undergraduate), Joanna Sblendorio (master's) and Gabriel Alves (Ph.D.)
• 2018 (MPI)—Marwa Saad (undergraduate), Breanna Varker (undergraduate), Jamie Smith (master's) and Thomas Groves (Ph.D.)
• 2017 (MPI)—Eric Branch (undergraduate), Megan Stanchfield (undergraduate), Nicholas Martin (master's) and Tiantian Zhang (Ph.D.)
• 2016 (MPI)—Harrison Bach (undergraduate), Diana Carter (master's) and Carol Beaver (Ph.D.)
• 2015 (MPI)—Justin Hackett  Tetiana Petrachkova (master's), Jacob Job and Chuck Nutting (Ph.D.)
• 2014 (MPI)—Evan White (undergraduate), Hannah Borton (master's) and Amy Gyorkos (Ph.D.)

Students advancing biological research and engagement (sabre)

• 2017—Sianoush Fereidani, Devon Volz and Zach Stoner