USC Aiken Leading STEM in South Carolina

Aiken, SC (04/22/2022) — The University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) recently hosted the 94th annual meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Sciences (SCAS) and the South Carolina Junior Academy of Science (SCJAS).

The mission of SCAS is to promote the advancement and constructive use of science in South Carolina, per the organization's website. This one-day event brought together over 500 students from throughout the state. The meeting features a distinguished speaker, governor awards ceremony, oral and poster presentations, networking, and the SCJAS awards ceremony.

USC Aiken professor Dr. Michele Harmon is the current president of SCAS. The event's distinguished speaker was Dr. Vahid Majidi, the Savannah River National Laboratory director.

In total, USC Aiken students and faculty represented almost 20% of those that presented from institutions around the state, and over 50 USC Aiken students and faculty were at the event.

"This was our largest number ever to participate. There were entire presentation sessions that were just USC Aiken students," said Dr. Chad Leverette, dean of the College of Sciences and Engineering. "I'm grateful to Dr. Michele Harmon for all she does for USC Aiken and our state with regards to STEM education."

A total list of the USC Aiken student winners and their faculty mentors for each category is below.

Oral Session for Cellular and Molecular Biology, second place: Andrew Gregory, Dr. Bill Jackson from the Department of Biology and Geology

Oral Session for Biochemistry, first place: Tyneisha Bradley, Dr. Nathan Hancock from the Department of Biology and Geology

Oral Session for Biochemistry, second place: David Weidner, Dr. Nathan Hancock from the Department of Biology and Geology

Oral Session for Engineering and Computer Science I, second place: Malik Fordham, Dr. Bethany Fralick from the Department of Mathematical Sciences

Oral Session for Engineering and Computer Science II, first place: Harrison Olsewski, Dr. Bethany Fralick from the Department of Mathematical Sciences

Oral Session for Engineering and Computer Science II, second place: John Pretorius, Dr. Bethany Fralick from the Department of Mathematical Sciences

Poster Session for Cellular Biology, second place: Jourdan Gruber, Dr. April DeLaurier from the Department of Biology and Geology

Poster Session for Biochemistry, second place: Megan Collins, Dr. Nathan Hancock from the Department of Biology and Geology

Poster Session for Molecular Biology, second place: Zara Lacera, Dr. Nathan Hancock from the Department of Biology and Geology

Poster Session for Computer Science, first place: Austin Hartley, Dr. Marcus McGhee

Poster Session for Computer Science, second place: Samuel Boyd, Mr. Mackenize Morris

Poster Session for Exercise and Sports Science, first place: Elizabeth Allen, Dr. Christopher DeWitt from the Department of Exercise and Sports Science

Poster Session for Exercise and Sports Science, second place: Michaela Caughman and Sarah Powell, Dr. Andrew Hatchett from the Department of Exercise and Sports Science