Some of the best and brightest high school juniors from around the St. Louis area were honored last week by the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Thirty-five Missouri high schoolers received a Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Science at the third annual ceremony held Feb. 12 in the Millennium Student Center on UMSL’s North Campus.
The students were chosen for the honor by their respective high schools. They had to have good grades and demonstrate outstanding capabilities in the sciences.
Students, their parents and teachers were treated to dinner and a piano performance by UMSL Chancellor and jazz aficionado Tom George. Guests heard former Sen. Jean Carnahan read a proclamation issued by Gov. Jay Nixon on science education. The keynote speaker was Michael Nichols, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UMSL. He gave a speech titled “Proteins Behaving Badly in Alzheimer’s Disease.”
Nichols has led a team of researchers in the characterization of a small protein that is the primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease. This protein has a unique property in that it self-associates with itself to form larger species that lead to the death of brain cells.
STEM refers to the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.
“Accomplishments in the STEM disciplines represent an essential component for America’s future,” said Ron Yasbin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “As a nation we need to nurture and support those students who will be the leaders in advancing our knowledge of those disciplines. By honoring students who have demonstrated truly outstanding capabilities in the sciences we are helping to reinforce the importance of these areas of study and research.”
Recipients of the 2013 Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Science are:
Affton High School
Paige Smith
Brentwood High School
Jack Wright
Cardinal Ritter College Prep School
Deondre Strickland-Irvin
Chaminade College Prep. School
Marty Schwarze
Christian Brothers College High School
Joseph Lupo
Clayton High School
Noah Youkilis
Aaron Argyres
Crossroads College Prep. School
Ben Williams
Duchesne High School
Anna Fitts
Eureka High School
Chester Montefering
Fort Zumwalt North
Alexander Schlemeier
Fort Zumwalt South
Sree Datla
Fort Zumwalt West
Olivia Gautier
Fox High School
Adam Thompson
Francis Howell High School
Haley Crosby
Francis Howell North High School
Courtney Vishy
Gateway High School
Timothy Mahood
Jennings High School
Jessica Killen
Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School
John O’Keefe
Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School
Kristin Geczi
Metro Academic & Classical High School
Jordan Banks
Nerinx Hall High School
Madison Hetlage
Normandy High School
Tedrah Ringo
Rosati-Kain High School
Gabrielle Melillo
St. Charles West High School
Luke Jackson
St. Dominic High School
Daniel Sprehe
St. John Vianney High School
Jack Lyons
St. Louis University High School
Sam Beckmann
St. Mary’s High School
Christopher Cain
Troy Buchanan High School
Morgan Grandon
University City High School
Deja Bowie
Villa Duchesne & Oak Hill School
Victoria Ip
Visitation Academy
Komal Kumar
Wentzville Holt High School
Kayla Ann Marie Calvillo
Westminster Christian Academy
Anna Lindstrom