Eight Kennesaw State students were honored recently for their scholarship and research at the 2017 STEM Innovators Conference in Atlanta, hosted by the University. The 12th annual symposium and research conference recognized outstanding Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Participation Scholars.

There are currently more than 50 LSAMP Scholars at Kennesaw State’s Marietta and Kennesaw campuses. The LSAMP initiative is designed to improve minority participation and success in undergraduate and graduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics degree programs.

“Congratulations to all the students who presented and represented KSU so well,” said Donald J. McGarey, interim vice president for research, Office of Research, and chief operating officer, KSU Research and Service Foundation, Inc. “Special thanks to the faculty who gave their time, energy and resources to support and mentor these students. Finally, thank you to the STEM deans and department chairs who continue to place a high priority on undergraduate research. This is an area of excellence and notoriety for KSU.”

With a grant from the National Science Foundation, LSAMP Scholars from Kennesaw State conducted cutting-edge research with top engineers and scientists and presented their work at the STEM Innovators Conference.

Winners from the Marietta Campus (Program Director David R. Veazie):      

• 1^st place – Christopher Roper, engineering (oral presentation)

              Research mentor: Adeel Khalid

• 1^st place – Mizzani Walker-Holmes, technology, electrical engineering or electrical and computing engineering (poster presentation)

              Research mentor: Carl Disalvo, Georgia Tech

• 2^nd place – Andrew Jones, engineering (oral presentation)

              Research mentor: Tien Yee and Eduardo Farfan

• 3^rd place – Alain Santos, mechanical engineering/aerospace (poster presentation)

         Research mentor: Adeel Khalid and Ayse Tekes

Winners from the Kennesaw Campus (Program Director Melanie C. Griffin):

• 1^st place – Christianne Hoggs, chemistry (poster presentation)

               Research mentor: Huggins Msimanga

• 1^st place – Beryl Khakina, cell and molecular biology (poster presentation)

               Research mentor: Susan Smith   

• 1^st place – Julian Mory, chemistry (oral presentation)

               Research mentor: Mark Mitchell

• 2^nd place – Michael Aaron Baker, II, cell and molecular biology (oral presentation)*

               Research mentor: Daniella Tapu

_{*Baker competed in the chemistry classification, although he was classed under cell and molecular biology.}

There were 80 presentations from among the institute participants: University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University-Perimeter College, Kennesaw State University-Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University-Marietta, and Savannah State University.

As the host institution, Kennesaw State organized the LSAMP high school workshop, which was held during the conference.