Young Harris College Students Receive Accolades at Georgia Academy of Science Annual Meeting

Friday, April 15, 2016
Academics
General College

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Kyle Huneycutt
(706) 379-5319,
khuneycutt@yhc.edu

Young Harris College Students Receive Accolades at Georgia Academy of Science Annual Meeting

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Three Young Harris College students recently received top honors at the annual Georgia Academy of Science (GAS) annual meeting held at Gordon State College, April 1-2.

“Every one of our students did very well and were terrific models of student-researchers at YHC,” said Dean of the Division of Mathematics and Science and Associate Professor of Biology Linda Jones, Ph.D., who serves as councilor-at-large for the organization. 

Senior biology major Andrew Lyons of Township of Washington, N.J., won the Best Undergraduate Presentation Award in Biology for “Patterns in Snake Behavior in Response to Increasing Human Interaction,” senior biology major Christian Hambrick of LaFayette, Ga., won the Best Undergraduate Presentation Award in Biomedical Sciences for “Examining CYP1A1 Expression in Mouse Hepatocytes Following Exposure to Hickory Smoke Concentrate in the Presence or Absence of Bioflavonoids,” and senior biology major Kristina Kauffman of East Ellijay, Ga., won one of three Best Poster Awards for her poster titled “Alterations in Behavioral Responses Following Acute Exposure to Alcohol in Adult Zebrafish.” 

"Being able to participate at the GAS meeting has strengthened my ability as a student to take the knowledge that I have gained from my undergraduate studies and be able to share that outside of the classroom,” said Hambrick. “As I continue to pursue the biomedical field, I will always remember this experience and how it helped shape me for the future."

Other students who presented during the annual meeting include senior biology majors Fernando Serrano of Cartersville, Ga., Allison Cox of McDonough, Ga., Danielle Heald of Dallas, Ga., Kallie Epperson of Winder, Ga., Jordana Freitas of Kennesaw, Ga., Matthew Heard of Gay, Ga., Irenee Payne of Blairsville, Ga., Kyle Dennis of Dacula, Ga., and Jaclyn Kernohan of Ontario, Canada.

“Having an opportunity to do research as an undergraduate is an opportunity to sharpen a different group of skills and set oneself apart from the many other students vying for places in post-graduate programs or the job market. Most of our students who have gotten into graduate, medical, and dental school, or PA, PT and PharmD programs have completed research projects,” said Dr. Jones.

YHC faculty members serving as officers for GAS include Chair of the Biology Department and Professor of Biology Paul Arnold, Ph.D., president-elect, Assistant Professor of Biology Johnathan Davis, Ph.D., chair of the biological sciences section, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Charlie Swor, Ph.D., councilor for the chemistry section, Assistant Professor of Biology Jennifer Schroeder, Ph.D., co-chair for the biomedical sciences section, and Assistant Professor of Biology Andrea Kwiatkowski, Ph.D., secretary for the biomedical sciences section.

Organized in 1922 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1953, the Georgia Academy of Science is dedicated to the promotion of science education and the fostering of scientific research in the state of Georgia. The organization holds scientific meetings emphasizing the presentation of undergraduate and graduate research.

For more information on GAS, visit gaacademy.org.

About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private, baccalaureate degree-granting college located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires and empowers students through the highest quality liberal arts education. The College currently has more than 1,200 students across five divisions—Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The historic campus in Young Harris, Ga., is currently undergoing major campus improvements to accommodate the College’s growth. Recent LEED-certified campus improvements include the 121,000-square-foot Rollins Campus Center, new residence facilities, and a 57,000-square-foot recreation and fitness center. In 2014, the College was granted active membership in NCAA Division II and is a fierce competitor in the prestigious Peach Belt Conference. YHC is among fewer than 300 colleges and universities nationwide named to the 2015-2016 list of Colleges of Distinction. For more information, visit yhc.edu.

Senior biology major Andrew Lyons of Township of Washington, N.J., won the Best Undergraduate Presentation Award in Biology for “Patterns in Snake Behavior in Response to Increasing Human Interaction.”

 

Senior biology major Christian Hambrick of LaFayette, Ga., won the Best Undergraduate Presentation Award in Biomedical Sciences for “Examining CYP1A1 Expression in Mouse Hepatocytes Following Exposure to Hickory Smoke Concentrate in the Presence or Absence of Bioflavonoids.”

 

Senior biology major Kristina Kauffman of East Ellijay, Ga., won one of three Best Poster Awards for her poster titled “Alterations in Behavioral Responses Following Acute Exposure to Alcohol in Adult Zebrafish.”