February 09, 2017
La Roche Students Awarded National Science Foundation Scholarships
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 9, 2017 – Twenty-one students entered La Roche University’s CheM Scholar Program after receiving a scholarship from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The CheM Scholar program, which was developed in 2014 after La Roche received a $607,000 grant from the NSF, provides scholarships of up to $10,000 annually to academically talented undergraduates who demonstrate financial need. The following students are recipients of the NSF scholarship at La Roche:
Amber Alcindor of Kingshill, U.S. Virgin Islands
St. Croix Central High School
Major: Chemistry
Robert Behers of Bethel Park, Pa.
Bethel Park High School
Major: Biochemistry
Amanda Bodner of Finleyville, Pa.
Hillcrest Christian Academy
Major: Biochemistry
Noah Borland of Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville Early College High School
Major: Chemistry
Nicole Fulton of Moon Township, Pa.
Freedom Area High School
Major: Chemistry
Felicia Gehres of Hadley, Pa.
Cochranton Junior-Senior High School
Major: Biochemistry
Owen Hill of Sharpsburg, Pa.
Penn Hills High School
Major: Chemistry
Alexander Hudak of Ellwood City, Pa.
Laurel High School
Major: Chemistry
Jinsuk Kim of Gibsonia, Pa.
Pine-Richland High School
Major: Chemistry with Forensics
Miranda Lasher of Ford City, Pa.
Ford City High School
Major: Mathematics
Dakota Leonard of Coraopolis, Pa.
Cornell High School
Major: Mathematics
Breanna Marvin of Albion, Pa.
Conneaut Area Senior High School
Major: Biochemistry
Megan Mason of Conneaut Lake, Pa.
Conneaut Area Senior High School
Major: Biochemistry and Health Science
Kayla Ordos of Linesville, Pa.
Conneaut Area Senior High School
Major: Biochemistry
Gina Quahliero of New Castle, Pa.
New Castle Senior High School
Major: Biochemistry
Alaya Rhymer of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School
Major: Chemistry with Forensics
Kara Sainato of Ellwood City, Pa.
Lincoln High School
Major: Mathematics
Ricardo Serrano Perez of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Charlottle Amalie High School
Major: Mathematics
Aleta Tyrell of Kingshill, U.S. Virgin Islands
St. Croix Central High School
Major: Chemistry with Forensics
Thomas Vukson of McCandless Township, Pa.
North Allegheny High School
Major: Mathematics
Isabella Wallance of Freeport, Pa.
Freeport High School
Major: Biochemistry
Chemistry Department Chair Don Fujito, Ph.D., said, “Our NSF scholarship recipients certainly excelled in mathematics and chemistry in high school, but these students not only demonstrated promise of excelling in their chosen majors – they also had diversified, well-rounded interests.”
CheM Scholars have the opportunity to design novel, hands-on learning kits through La Roche’s ChemSOLVE (Chemistry Student-Operated Laboratory Venture) and receive one-on-one mentoring by award-winning faculty, alumni and professionals in the field. The scholarship recipients also benefit from peer-led team leading.
The NSF recognized La Roche’s collaborative approach and awarded a grant for the University to offer a limited number of competitive scholarships to students majoring in math, chemistry or biochemistry. The NSF based its decision to award the grant on two unique aspects of La Roche’s proposal: the fact that the school’s program focused on both chemistry and mathematics, recognizing the interdisciplinary nature of the two disciplines; and the team-based approach used in educating chemistry and math majors throughout the year in the undergraduate curriculum. La Roche was one of 95 recipients out of approximately 375 proposals submitted nationally in the 2014 funding cycle.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs and one doctoral program, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,500 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
###