DOSA 2015
DOSA 2015
2015 Dean's Outstanding Senior Awards
Michael Arteaga - Computer Science
Michael is a very accomplished Computer Science major. His self-learning crawling robot in Senior Project was a great example of Machine Learning in Robotics. Michael has been actively involved in computer science organizations such as the RoPros and the ACM, and is a Resident Assistant. He has also worked as a Teaching Assistant over the summer, teaching Robotics and Scratch programming to High School Juniors, and has repeatedly offered his Computer Science expertise asa volunteer at the FIRST LEGO League middle school robotics competition. Michael is looking forward to his new job with ASRC Federal Mission Solutions Engineering.
Andrew Garcia - Biological Sciences
Andrew is a true scholar who has been involved in biological research since his sophomore year. He participated in a field study examining population dynamics of introduced lizards in Mt. Laurel. He also interned for two summers at the Wistar Institute examining the molecular/cellular basis of cancer. He received summer funding to continue this work at Rowan’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and has been a co-author on four posters presented at national scientific conferences. He has tirelessly provided tutoring to students in the EOF/MAP programs. Andrew will be attending dental school or medical school to become an oral surgeon.
Lydia Hanna - Biochemistry
Lydia is a BS Biochemistry major graduating summa cum laude in May 2015 with a concentration in Honors and International Studies. She is the founding president of Rowan Students for Community Service, treasurer of the Rowan American Chemical Society, and a member of Iota Sigma Pi. Lydia has been researching the effect of ethanol on planarian regeneration with Dr. Mary Staehle and studying a novel anti-virulence treatment for bacterial infection with Dr. Lark Perez. Lydia is a certified Pilates instructor and board member at the Glassboro Family Center. She will attend medical school in August 2015.
Colleen Lees - Nursing
Colleen demonstrates the characteristics that many of the Nursing Department’s greatest students must possess to attain a degree. She is a mother, grandmother, wife, and full-time nurse, yet she has managed to complete her BSN. Colleen is an emergency room nurse and has practiced for 30 years. She has functioned in many roles, including bedside nurse, charge nurse, and nurse manager. As the profession of nursing advances, the educational requirements for practice are also increasing. Colleen continuously enrolled in and completed courses while working full-time. The faculty recognizes her commitment and quality of work with this award.
Brooke Logan - Mathematics
Brooke is an outstanding student, one whose passion for mathematics is unbounded. She is a tenacious problem solver, a trait that has helped her to make significant research contributions in coding theory. Her research has led to one co-authored publication and presentations at national conferences. She is also president of the Math Team student club at Rowan, where she led the successful construction of a level-2 Menger sponge (video available on YouTube). Her classmates and professors will miss her infectious enthusiasm for math. Brooke plans to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics and become an applied mathematician.
Lauren Miller - Liberal Studies: Math/Science
Lauren will graduate with honors and dual degrees in Elementary Education and Liberal Studies: Math/ Science. By maintaining an ambitious schedule throughout her four years at Rowan, she successfully completed additional requirements for Middle School Certification in Math and Science, and the Teacher of Students with Disabilities Endorsement. Lauren’s community involvement includes Vice President of the National Panhellenic Conference, Chair positions in Alpha Epsilon Phi, and a member of both Kappa Delta Pi and Order of Omega Honor Society. Faculty describe Lauren as dedicated, hardworking, enthusiastic, and caring - all qualities of an excellent teacher. We wish Lauren the best as a future teacher.
Kyle Munson - Chemistry
Kyle, an outstanding BS Chemistry major, has worked in the laboratory of Dr. Timothy Vaden in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for the past year. He has been working on Raman spectroscopy of ionic liquid solutions, quantum chemistry simulations and electrocatalytic materials synthesis and evaluation. He is the first author on a peer-reviewed article and has generated data for additional publications. He has been accepted to the Chemistry Ph.D. program at Penn State University, where he plans to study physical chemistry and laser spectroscopy. He has become interested in 2-dimensional spectroscopic methods including 2-D NMR and femtosecond 2-D IR spectroscopy, and plans to use these techniques in his future career for materials characterization.
Zachary Reburn - Psychology
Zach’s research activities in the RU Schizophrenia-Spectrum lab have led to multiple conference presentations, both regional and national. He is also preparing a manuscript for submission for publication, which examines the influence of substance use on academic function and quality of life
in college students. During this time, he has managed to excel in his academic work and serve in various student organizations, including as a Senator for SGA, Psychology Alliance e-board member, and a student tutor and peer advisor for the Psychology Department. He is in the process of interviewing with graduate school programs to pursue a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational psychology.
Jeffrey Scaturro - Physics & Astronomy
From freshman to senior year, Jeff has been an outstanding student in every class. Polite, respectful, positive, and enthusiastic are words that describe Jeff’s attitude. He has demonstrated great potential in research to many faculty members with his initiative and unusual insight. Jeff has been instrumental in the preparation and performance of a physics experiment that tests the generalized Bohr complementarity principle for coherent light. Through sustained effort, he has become adept at optical alignment of a custom-designed interferometer, collecting and analyzing interferometer data, and is now working on a single-photon version of the experiment. Jeff will be attending a physics Ph.D. program in Fall 2015.
