OSU Welcomes 60 to the Freshman Research Scholars Program

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Sixty incoming Oklahoma State University freshmen representing 35 majors from Aerospace Engineering to Secondary Education will receive anearly, hands-on introduction to university-level research in the Freshman Research Scholars Program (FRS), which was recently recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for excellence in undergraduate research programming. In this unique first-look at academic inquiry students will expand their education beyond the classroom by engaging in cutting-edge research under the guidance of some of the most innovative faculty on campus.

The program's $1,000 scholarships had been funded entirely by the Robberson Trust endowment. But due to increased popularity and a surge of applications, this year each of the participating colleges united to match the endowment contribution, doubling the program's funding and allowing more students to benefit from the experience.

Sam Wallace, former FRS and recent EPA research fellowship recipient reflects, "My participation in the Freshman Research Scholars program played an integral part in my introduction to research and built a solid foundation for my understanding of the discipline. My faculty mentor, Dr. Tyson Ochsner, is like most faculty at OSU—more than willing to guide a student through a problem and share their passion for their field of study with interested students."

FRS students will learn basic research ethics and methodology while working closely with their mentors and graduate assistants to design and conduct projects of their choosing. In the fall, students will participate in major-related orientation courses taught by experienced faculty researchers. As a capstone to the FRS experience, students will share the results of their research at a peer-level colloquium in the spring.

Shannon Watson, former FRS notes, "[FRS] impacted my course of study tremendously and has opened many doors to advance my intellectual curiosity to new levels."

By elevating their education with research, these undergraduates distinguish themselves as leaders capable of contributing to the community in ways that coursework alone cannot. In just the past five years, five FRS students have been named Barry M. Goldwater Scholars, the most prestigious undergraduate distinction in the sciences. And upon graduation, former FRS students have been admitted to elite graduate and professional programs at the University of Cambridge and Carnegie Mellon among others.

Rosa Yorks, former FRS and 2012 Goldwater Scholar reflects, "College is the time to figure out what you want to do with your life and participating in as many opportunities as possible is the way to figure it out. If I had never participated in research, I would most likely have never thought of a future in it."

OSU understands that students who graduate without a significant research experience have not taken full advantage of all that acomprehensive research university has to offer, so this early introduction is an important part of a broader initiative to increase undergraduate research in all fields of study—not just the laboratory sciences.

With robust, nationally-recognized undergraduate research programs, such as the Lew Wentz Research Program ($4,500 scholarships for up to 50 students annually) and the Niblack Research Scholars ($8,000 scholarships for up to 12 students annually), OSU offers many opportunities for students of all majors and classifications to continue their research beyond the first year. Through these programs, former FRS were awarded $114,500 in research funding for the current academic year.

Lauren Foley, former FRS says, "Through Freshman Research Scholars and now my Wentz Project, I have acquired better presentation skills, research techniques, networking opportunities, and a passion for a scientific education.

Whether one intends to make a career of research or to solve a simple problem, students interested in pursuing research will always findreceptive faculty to mentor them through the process regardless of funding through a formal program, making OSU a truly vibrant community for young scholars with big questions.

For more information about the Freshman Research Scholars program and other undergraduate research opportunities at Oklahoma State University, please contact The Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Recognition at 334 Student Union, Stillwater, OK 74078, 405-744-7313, schdev@okstate.edu or visit us online at http://scholardevelopment.okstate.edu.

The Freshman Research Scholars are listed below by their hometowns.

OKLAHOMA

*ALVA

Brooke Nation Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

*BARTLESVILLE

Kayla Castleberry Nutritional Sciences

*BLACKWELL

Zekariah Cochran Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology

*BRISTOW

Ricky Shriner Plant and Soil Sciences

*BROKEN ARROW

Jacob Kulp Aerospace Administration and Operations

*CLAREMORE

Jonathan Luscomb Chemical Engineering

*EDMOND

Emily Ellis Geography

Alyssa Pasquini Psychology

*EL RENO

Adrienne Horner Zoology

*ELK CITY

Aaron Cromer General Business

*HOLDENVILLE

Samantha Fox Electrical Engineering

*INOLA

Todd Edmonds Physics

*MANNFORD

Kimberly Rogers Botany

*MARLOW

Desiree Wright Animal Science

*MCALESTER

Chris Maxcey Chemistry

*MOORE

Joy Strickland Communication Sciences and Disorders

*MOORELAND

Carson Cooper Animal Science/Agricultural Communications

*OILTON

Summer Krlin Nutritional Sciences

*OKLAHOMA CITY

Josh Birdwell Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Erika Jensen Nutritional Sciences

Cierra Keith Biology

Susan Pham Biochemistry

Erin Ungerecht Architecture

Joseph Webber Zoology

*PAULS VALLEY

Mary Temple-Lee Agribusiness

*SAPULPA

Eric Myers Chemical Engineering

*SENTINEL

Tancy Williams Nutritional Sciences

*SHATTUCK

Samuel Morse Secondary Education

*SHAWNEE

Alexandra Tilton Hotel and Restaurant Administration

*STILLWATER

Ryan Anderson Aerospace Engineering

Lydia Bruce Chemical Engineering

Jesse Kraybill English

Liqiang Shen Management Information Systems

Jodi Vinyard Biosystems Engineering

*TULSA

Daniel Anderson Industrial Engineering and Management

Bailey Bruns Architectural Engineering

Joseph Crook Biochemistry

Brett Humphrey Finance

William Jennings Biological Science

Don Isaac J. Sappington Architecture

*WEATHERFORD

Karen McPhearson Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology

ARKANSAS

Rogers

Melanie Pickering Human Development and Family Science

KANSAS

Basehor

Ashlee Richardson Nutritional Sciences

Derby

River Crawford Nutritional Sciences

Overland Park

Anndrea Fenton Chemical Engineering

MICHIGAN

Brighton

Sarah Frank Agricultural Economics

MINNESOTA

Lakeville

Avery Martin Secondary Education

MISSOURI

Columbia

Julia Matera Animal Science

NEBRASKA

Lincoln

Katherine Janike Nutritional Sciences

TENNESSEE

Memphis

Anna McCrarey Entrepreneurship

TEXAS

Arlington

Sydnee Homeyer Biochemistry

Borger

Austin Keeton Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Burleson

Melissa Pongratz Environmental Science

McKinney

Rhyder Robison International Business

Plano

Megan Nolte Microbiology

Matthew Wucher Accounting

Rowlett

Joshua Brown Food Science

NIGERIA

Lagos

Christopher Apeh Management Information Systems