Ann Weaver, recipient of the Shirley Jolliff Memorial Biology Research Award

This award is presented to a graduating senior biology major in recognition for outstanding quality and effort in the pursuit of his/her senior research in biology.

Ann worked on a neurobiology project with Rick Dobrowsky and Debbie Bohlander from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. Ann’s research topic was “Modification of CCAAT-enhancer-binding-protein C/EBP beta by sumolylation in HEK-293 cells”. Ann presented her research findings at the 2003 Nebraska Academy of Sciences meeting in Lincoln.

Ann plans to take a couple of classes in the Fall of 2003 and become a Certified Nurses Aid while applying to Physician Assistant school.

Nick Markin, recipient of the Dr. C. J. Shirk Memorial Biology Achievement Award

This award is presented each year to the senior student who has demonstrated academic excellence, participated in research, and shown leadership potential through service in the Biology Department.

Nick is a Phi Kappa Phi member, NWU’s most prestigious academic honorary, and received degrees in both Biology and Chemistry. Nick studied abroad in Manchester, England during his junior year and was a teaching assistant for Biology of Plants for two years. Additionally, Nick worked two summers in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha with Drs. John Jackson, Sue Brusnahan, Sam Sanderson, Barb Murphy, and Graham Sharp. His research project was “The effects of response-selected C5A agonist decapeptide, YSFKPMPLaR, on proliferation and differentiation of hematopoetic stem cells in long term bone marrow cultures". Nick presented his research findings at the 2003 Nebraska Academy of Sciences meeting in Lincoln.

Nick will enter the University of Nebraska Medical School in the Fall 2003. He plans to pursue a career in surgery, perhaps reconstructive plastics or thoracic surgery.

Becky Flegel, recipient of the Biology Leadership Award

The award is presented to the student who has shown outstanding leadership in the activities and functions of the Biology Department.

Becky resurrected a campus environmental club, Environmental Action, during her time at NWU. She served as the co-president and president of this organization. The club completed several service action projects and organized a very successful Earth Day 2003 celebration. Additionally, Becky served on Student Affairs Senate for two years.

Becky completed work with Dr. Tamera Minnick, formally of NWU, for her senior research project at the Cedar Point Biological Station near Ogallala, Nebraska between her sophomore and junior years. Her project title was “The effect of mowing and grazing on soil water, nitrogen, and biomass in Arapaho Prairie, a Nebraska Sand Hills prairie”. Becky presented her research findings at the 2002 Nebraska Academy of Sciences meeting in Lincoln.

Becky plans to earn her Ph.D., complete field research and eventually teach in a Liberal Arts College. She is interested in tropical ecology and conservation genetics and will enter graduate school in the fall of 2003.