The Zaida C. Morales-Martinez and Howard E. Moore Chemistry Award is presented by the Florida International University Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Chemistry majors who will be entering their junior or senior year in the Fall 2014 semester and who have not previously won the award are eligible for the 2014-15 award. This year’s awardees are:
Diane Edgar, BA Chemistry major, minor in Biological Sciences
Diane is the Secretary for Phi Delta Epsilon International Pre-Medical Fraternity and was their historian the preceding year. Next fall marks her second year of initiation and she has been a very active member. Diane is also a peer advisor at the Pre-Health Office, working closely with the FIU advisors. This year she participated in ARCH through the Honors College with Professor Stephen Winkle as her advisor. She worked in his lab for about a year to execute her project and recently presented her poster with the title “Probing the Effects of the Binding of Tetra Substituted Porphyrins to DNA on DNA Structure.”
Roboan Guillen, BS Chemistry major, minor in Biological Sciences
Roboan will be completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. During his years at FIU, he has been involved in several clubs including the FIU Chemistry Club, Florida Golden Key Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, and Alpha Epsilon Delta Medical Honors Society. Roboan’s experiences throughout his undergraduate years have proven that there are endless possibilities available in the chemistry field for contributing to our community. He is currently working in a biochemistry research lab to design a novel high throughput drug-screening assay.
Shantell Rolle, BS Chemistry major, 2nd major in Biological Sciences
Shantell was a Teaching Assistant for the General Chemistry I Lab (CHM 1045L) and was a Learning Assistant for CHM 1045 last semester. She performed as a chemistry teacher in the Upward Bound Math and Science program with the FIU Pre-Collegiate office in summer 2012 and 2013. For the past two years, she has had the honor of presenting research on the Brazilian Pepper at the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meetings and is an ACS Chemistry Ambassador. She is a member and past secretary of the FIU-BBC Science Club. As a member of the Science Club, she helped plan, host and participate in many of their events such as National Chemistry Week demos, club fairs, workshops for high school AP Chemistry students, AP Chemistry Teacher Workshops, coastal clean-up days, community outreach programs like ‘Nano-Einsteins,’ and a Community Science Fair.
Jose Roque, BS Chemistry major
During the summer of his freshman year, Jose was a Chempal Proctor for General Chemistry 1 and then General Chemistry 2. The same year he joined the Chemistry Club and the Pre-Pharmacy Club. During his sophomore year he became a Learning Assistant for General Chemistry 1 and then General Chemistry 2. He has participated in the Heart Walk with the Chemistry Club and attended their meetings. Jose received recognition for excellence in Organic Chemistry at the SoFlacs event. Last fall semester, he taught the CHM1032L Lab, tutored for Organic Chemistry 1, and became a Learning Assistant for Organic Chemistry 1. He recently became CPR certified and got his Pharmacy Technician license, and he volunteers at a local hospital. At this time, he is tutoring Organic Chemistry 2, teaching CHM1032L lab and is a Learning Assistant for Organic Chemistry 2.
Fred Hoover Memorial Scholarship Fund
Fred Hoover was known throughout the university as a kind, caring, friendly and outgoing man who was a passionate believer in the importance of education. He enrolled at Florida International University in 1972 and was in the original graduating class as FIU’s first ever physics major. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 1974, and later earned a Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration from FIU. After he graduated, he remained at FIU as the Laboratory Manager for the Chemistry Department, until his death on Nov. 5, 1998. The Fred Hoover Memorial Endowment Fund was created to honor Mr. Hoover’s memory by providing financial support to undergraduate students majoring in Physics at Florida International University.
Farid I. Salazar Wong, Physics and Mathematics double major
The 2014 Fred Hoover Scholarship Fund award winner is Farid I. Salazar Wong. Farid is an international student from Lima, Peru, double majoring in Physics and Mathematics. He is an Honors College invitee and Dean’s list junior student. Intending to apply to Physics graduate school and develop extensive research in Mathematical Physics, he believes that higher level science plays an important role in cutting edge technology and the understanding of our surroundings. He is part of the Learning Assistant Program at FIU, helping students in both lower and upper level courses. In his spare time, he usually plays guitar and actively participates in a parish community group.
Southern Cross Astronomical Society Award
The Southern Cross Astronomical Society Award is presented in recognition of Physics majors at FIU who have demonstrated a strong interest in Astronomy. The year, the award goes to Daniella Roberts.
Daniella Roberts, BS Physics major, Astronomy minor
Daniella is a senior pursuing a major in physics with a minor in astronomy, and she is a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma physics Honor Society. After joining the Astronomy Club in 2012, Daniella became treasurer the following year and has been re-elected for the upcoming academic year. She has been a Learning Assistant for the Physics I Lab students the last two years. SCAS has played a major part in developing her love for astronomy, as she has attended all of their lectures and assists the society as much as possible. Being active in the Astronomy Club, Daniella has helped many students at star parties learn how to operate telescopes, find the seasonal constellations, and answer many astronomy related questions. She is working on research under the supervision of Dr. James Webb, and will be conducting an independent study with him over the summer based on his research into micro-variability of Blazars.
Elaine Gordon Scholarship in Women’s Studies
Elaine Gordon…Trailblazer…Feminist…Activist…Champion of Human Rights
The Elaine Gordon Scholarship program was established in 2000 to honor the life and work of Elaine Gordon, a former state legislator who, for 22 years, championed equal rights for women.
Laura Hernández
Laura Hernández is completing a double major in Women’s and Gender Studies & Political Science. She is the president of College Democrats at FIU and also serves as the Vice-President of the National Organization for Women (NOW) at FIU. Laura interns at the Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade, and is a Young People For fellow. Laura hopes to pursue a career in policy-making where she can help achieve gender parity through legislation.
