OSU students awarded $246,500 for undergraduate research
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Media Contact: Jessica Sullins | Director, Office of Scholar Development | 405-744-7313 | jessica.sullins@okstate.edu
Fifty-three Oklahoma State University students were awarded scholarships totaling $246,500 for research projects for the 2021-22 academic year.
The Lew Wentz Foundation and OSU’s Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research provided the funds.
The Lew Wentz Foundation gave $4,500 awards to 40 Wentz Research Scholars across a variety of academic disciplines, who will conduct original research projects under the guidance of OSU faculty members during the 2021-22 academic year.
The students submitted research proposals that underwent a rigorous blind review process by the 20-member Wentz Research Selection Committee in the spring of 2021.
The Wentz Research Scholars are listed below by college with their hometown and major:
College of Arts and Sciences
- Alex Arreola — Coweta, Oklahoma — Microbiology; Cell and Molecular Biology
- Jacinda Berokoff — Edmond, Oklahoma — Zoology
- Kaitlyn Cotton — The Colony, Texas — Microbiology; Cell and Molecular Biology
- Chandler Dean — Edmond, Oklahoma — Microbiology
- John Dorlon — Allen, Texas — Microbiology and Molecular Genetics; Plant Biology
- Mary Erdmann — Tulsa — Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
- Kassandra Gaona — Tulsa — Psychology; Spanish
- Chloe Guthrie — McKinney, Texas — Zoology; Ecology and Conservation Biology
- Taggert Harris — Oklahoma City — Biochemistry
- Samantha Holguin — Lewisville, Texas — Art History
- Crest Koemel — Watauga, Texas — Integrative Biology
- Kate Kouplen — Tulsa — Biology
- Sloane Loges — Stillwater — Political Science; Sociology
- Amber Main — Dallas — Physiology
- Brannon Maravich — Centerton, Arkansas — Biology; Physiology
- Mason Miller — Nixa, Missouri — Zoology
- Kayli Nail — Newcastle, Oklahoma — Biology
- Margaret New — Edmond, Oklahoma — Biology
- Riley Pritzlaff — Owasso, Oklahoma — Political Science
- Daniel Reed — Stillwater — Biochemistry and Microbiology; Cell and Molecular Biology
- Karenna Young — Jenks, Oklahoma — Biology
College of Education and Human Sciences
- Cody Cummins — Oklahoma City — Nutritional Sciences
- Mary Green — Edmond, Oklahoma — Nutritional Sciences
- Tatum Johnson — Frisco, Texas — Design, Housing and Fashion Merchandising
- Alyssa Oates — Irving, Texas — Design, Housing and Fashion Merchandising
- Isabelle Posey — Coweta, Oklahoma — Nutritional Sciences
College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
- Keaton Carter — Stillwater — Industrial Engineering and Management
- Chaz Daggett — Dallas — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Robert Owens — Lawton, Oklahoma — Electrical and Computer Engineering
- C. Tanner Price — Fort Worth, Texas — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Blake Randall — Edmond, Oklahoma — Chemical Engineering
- Gabriel Webb — Elk City, Oklahoma — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Ferguson College of Agriculture
- Myriam Achour — Stillwater — Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Paetyn Armstrong — Choctaw, Oklahoma — Food Science
- Georgia Eastham — Davis, California — Plant and Soil Sciences
- Ashley Gin — Oklahoma City — Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Faith Howe — Sulphur, Oklahoma — Animal Science
- Ethan Shaw — Jenks, Oklahoma — Entomology
Spears School of Business
- Daniel Caughlin — Tonkawa, Oklahoma — Finance; Economics
- Harrison Smith — Stillwater — Finance
In addition to the Wentz Research Scholarships, a gift from a generous donor has enabled significant research scholarships to support undergraduate research in the physical sciences (chemistry, geology, and physics).
This new program honors Dr. Neil Purdie, whose years of distinguished service in the OSU Department of Chemistry were cut short in 2014 after an extended illness. The inaugural class of four 2021-22 Purdie Research Scholars received $6,500 each to continue his legacy of discovery through original research conducted in collaboration with OSU faculty members.
All four are students in the College of Arts and Sciences:
- Reagan Anderson — Sand Springs, Oklahoma — Physics; Philosophy
- Clayton Hedges — Cashion, Oklahoma — Environmental Geology
- Emma Shook — Dallas — Geology
- Jesse Wallace — Stillwater — Math; Physics
For the first time this year, the Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research also provided funding for continuing Wentz Research Scholars. Nine additional students were awarded Wentz Research Extension grants in the amount of $4,500, matching their previous funding to support their continuing research efforts.
The Wentz Extension Scholars are listed below by college with their hometown and major:
College of Arts and Sciences
- Elizabeth Kent — Edmond, Oklahoma — Zoology
- Liesl Melnick — Mundelein, Illinois — Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Danielle Ramirez — Bartlesville, Oklahoma — History
College of Education and Human Sciences
- Bethany Hatter — Stillwater — Nutritional Sciences
College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
- Blake Bartlett — Greenwood, Arkansas — Chemical Engineering
- Cooper Degner — Wichita, Kansas — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Collin Thornton — Duncan, Oklahoma — Computer and Electrical Engineering
- Alexis Vance — Stillwater — Chemical, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Ferguson College of Agriculture
- Kennedy Roberts — Broken Bow, Oklahoma — Animal Science; Wildlife Biology
The Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research coordinates the competitive selection process for these awards.
Applications for the Wentz and Purdie Research Scholarships are due Feb. 9, 2022.
For more information about the Wentz or Purdie Research Scholars Programs and other academic opportunities at Oklahoma State University, contact the Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research at 334 Student Union, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 405-744-7313, schdev@okstate.edu or universitycollege.okstate.edu/scholars.