Schmid Seniors Recognized at 2021 Campus Leadership Awards Congrats to Ashley Nichols for receiving the Huntington Award!

On May 7, 2021, Dean of Students Jerry Price, Ph.D., held the 2021 Campus Leadership Awards to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Chapman students. Dean Price presented the awards via the @LifeatCU Instagram account. You can view the videos here. 

Ronald M. Huntington Award for Outstanding Scholarship Co-Recipient Ashley Nichols

The Ronald M. Huntington Award is presented to the graduating senior judged to have exhibited the most distinguished record of scholarly accomplishments while a student at Chapman University. The student must also demonstrate evidence of exemplary scholarship well beyond normal classroom activities.

Biochemistry and molecular biology sciences major Ashley Nichols was the co-recipient of the Huntington Outstanding Scholarship Award this year.

Originally from San Diego, CA, and a first-generation student, Nichols was recently awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP). This award provides opportunities for international research and professional development, as well as financial support for graduate school. She is planning to pursue a Ph.D. in immunology with a focus on cancer development and treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

Starting her freshman year, Nichols completed high-level research with Dr. Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi and Dr. Marco Bisoffi and completed the prestigious Scripps REU Fellowship resulting in two peer-reviewed publications, including one in Nature Communications. Nichols served as a supplemental instructor for both General Chemistry and Biochemistry I for three years and during her senior year was asked to be a supplemental instructor for an upper-level biochemistry course. Following the completion of her degree in fall 2020, she was asked to teach Introduction to Molecular Genetics Laboratory at Chapman. 

We also want to recognize Edena Khoshaba ‘21, Natalie Paterson ‘21, and Natasha Lindert ‘21 who were Cecil F. Cheverton Award Finalists, Shun Kato ‘21 who was a Paul S. Delp Outstanding Service Award Finalist and Maddison Milla ‘21 who was a Gloria and Julian Peterson Award for Outstanding Leadership. These awards are Chapman University’s highest undergraduate student honors, and it is an accomplishment to be nominated. 

Outstanding Seniors Award Winners

Daisy Haas – B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, minor in Rhetoric and Writing. In the fall, Daisy will attend the University of Michigan to pursue her Ph.D. in Chemistry. She will be conducting Chemistry Education research to build a more inclusive and equitable STEM learning environment.

Shun Kato – B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, minor in Health Science. Shun is currently applying to the Shinnyo-en Fellowship. If he does not receive the fellowship, he plans to continue his scribing job at CHOC, continue working on research, and taking time to explore community service opportunities in the area. 

Edena Khoshaba – B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, minor in Leadership Studies and Rhetoric and Writing Studies. Edena will be taking a gap year before applying to Ph.D. and MD programs. During this gap year, she will be teaching Organic Chemistry at Chapman and exploring graduate school options. 

Maddison Milla – B.S. Environmental Science and Policy. Maddison has already accepted a fellowship position working as a resource assistant for the Forest Service at The Kaibab National Forest in Arizona known as the “The Gateway to the Grand Canyon,” as well as working at the Williams Visitor Center. She plans to eventually go on to graduate school.

Monroe Roush – B.S. Environmental Science and Policy, minors in Political Science and University Honors Program. Monroe is working at a law firm this summer before taking some time to travel and volunteer. She plans to go to law school in order to practice environmental law and work in advocacy spaces.

Mallory Warhurst – B.S. Environmental Science & Policy and B.A. Political Science. Mallory will be continuing her work in environmental justice and food sovereignty by working with children at an urban farm in Oakland, California.

Sarah Yang – B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, minor in Forensic Science. Sarah has one more semester and is considering continuing to work in Dr. Lindsay Waldrop’s Computational Biology Lab as her full-time lab manager following the completion of her degree in fall 2021. This summer, she has an internship at the OC Sheriff’s Crime Lab as a forensic scientist.

Dean Price also recognized students who received notable scholarships. He highlighted chemistry major Emma Kocik ‘22 for receiving the Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious scholarship given to undergraduate students in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. You can read more about Emma and the award she received here. 

We are so proud of our Schmid students! Congratulations to all who were recognized at the 2021 Campus Leadership Awards!