Honors Students Shine at ABRCMS

By Gary Hyatt, WSU Honors College, gary.hyatt1@wsu.edu

Washington State University students made an impressive showing at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS), one of the nation’s premier research conferences. A delegation of 19 undergraduate students and one graduate student represented WSU, and 16 of the 19 undergraduates were Honors students, highlighting the strength of undergraduate research across campus.

Students represented 10 majors across three colleges, from sophomores through seniors, and 16 undergraduates and one graduate student presented research at the national conference. For many this was first time at a national conference and underscores the strength of WSU’s research pipeline at every stage.

The Honors College was especially proud of students in the ESTEEMED MIRA program, supported in partnership with the Honors College. Eight ESTEEMED MIRA students attended ABRCMS, and seven presented research, all of whom previously received Honors College summer research support.

This success was made possible in large part by the generosity of Honors College donors. Philanthropic support provided critical funding for summer research, conference travel, and presentation preparation, removing financial barriers and allowing students to fully engage in high-impact scholarly experiences.

The conference proved especially rewarding, as five WSU students earned Research Presentation Awards:

• Jo Castaneda Gonzalez (Senior, Chemistry and Biochemistry; MARC Program, LSAMP)
Advisor: Anjali Sharma
• Amelia Ramirez Vargas (Sophomore, Neuroscience; LSAMP)
Advisor: Bert Tanner
• Taylor Page (Junior, Biochemistry; MARC Program)
Advisor: Kanako Hayashi
• Katy Touretsky (Junior, Neuroscience and Psychology)
Advisor: Kristen Delevich
• Bruce Redden (Sophomore, Microbiology; ESTEEMED MIRA Program)
Advisor: Arden Baylink

In addition to student success, WSU faculty made a strong impact at ABRCMS. Matt Peck, Deirdre Fahy, Nora Rye, and Lisa Gloss attended reflecting WSU’s leadership in mentoring, inclusive research practices, and undergraduate research excellence.

From packed presentation rooms to national awards, WSU’s presence at ABRCMS was a powerful reminder that the world is a classroom—and that when Honors students are given opportunities to engage deeply in research, they rise to the occasion. Experiences like ABRCMS not only build confidence and professional identity, but also prepare students to carry their curiosity, leadership, and passion for discovery into graduate school, careers, and communities around the world.

Student Perspective: Kris Herzog

By Gary Hyatt, WSU Honors College, gary.hyatt1@wsu.edu

Name: Kris Herzog

WSU Grad Year: 1989

Major: Marketing

Current Residence: Seattle

Brief Background- (Home Town, Career, Favorite things)

I’m in IT Project Management. I am an avid football fan of both the Cougs and the Hawks. Traveling is high on my list especially when combined with something active such as hiking. I also read approximately 2 books per week. I really enjoy Seattle’s music scene and typically go to 2 live shows per month or more.

Why did you want to travel to the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos has been on my bucket list for a many years. The opportunity to see flora and fauna that you can’t see anywhere else drew me to making this trip.

What is were a few of the highlights from your trip?

I have been asked this many times since I returned and truly, it was the sheer number of animals we were able to see that are nowhere else on the planet. The blue-footed booby was particularly interesting as his/her eyes matched their feet. There were hundreds of sea lions and watching the mothers interact with their young and also the babies or juveniles playing together was highly entertaining.

Was there anything that was unexpected or you found fascinating?

The red crabs have very intricate colors on their shells. It could be art. Also, at one point, the word went out to the sea iguanas that it was time for food and they did a parade out of the bay to the ocean. Seeing a penguin sitting next to a cactus was quite unexpected.

How has your Honors experience impacted your life?

I was hesitant to join Honors as a freshman, so Honors found funding for a scholarship for me. How could I say no? I’ve always felt that being part of Honors is a graduate level experience. I liked being part of Honors so much I decided to be an advisory board member for 10 years. Helping the students is very important to me. I so enjoy hearing about what the students are doing in their journey. I also have great friends that span generations within the Honors college.

Why do you stay connected and support The Honors College?

I think I’d be repetitive to my answer above. I enjoy still being able to help/assist students achieve their goals.

Any other comments?

If you are interested in the Galapagos and want more info, contact Gary Hyatt for my info. I love to talk about my trip.