Convocation Celebrates Spring Graduates, Including Three, 4.0 Grads
More than 400 bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree candidates participated in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) Spring Convocation on May 11. The ceremony was held at the 葫芦影业鈥檚 Hofheinz Pavilion.
Although nearly 650 NSM students completed degree requirements, not all were able to attend the ceremony. NSM鈥檚 doctoral candidates, numbering close to 40, earned degrees in atmospheric sciences, biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, geophysics, mathematics, or physics. Approximately 100 NSM students were candidates for master鈥檚 degrees, and nearly 500 students were candidates for bachelor鈥檚 degrees.
Kristina Duan delivers the student address at NSM Convocation.There were 23 summa cum laude graduates, the highest academic honor for bachelor鈥檚
degree recipients. An additional 96 undergraduate students graduated either cum laude
or magna cum laude.
The ceremony included a student address delivered by summa cum laude and 4.0 graduate Kristina Duan, who received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology. Each year, NSM holds a competition for student speaker that is open to all summa cum laude graduates.
NSM鈥檚 4.0 Summa Cum Laude Graduates 鈥� Focus on Medical School
Kristina Duan, Trong Nguyen and James Tran were honored as NSM鈥檚 4.0 summa cum laude graduates. All three plan to attend medical school.
Kristina Duan 鈥� Undergraduate Research
A Texan since the age of 5, Duan completed a capstone Honors Thesis in addition to her bachelor鈥檚 degree.
From left, Trong Nguyen, Kristina Duan and James Tran 鈥� NSM鈥檚 4.0 Graduates.After transferring to UH from a small, liberal arts college, she quickly became involved
in undergraduate research receiving a Provost鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Scholarship
and a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in the lab of Dr. Timothy Cooper. Her
research focuses on experimental evolution and a beneficial mutation in E. coli that
increases fitness.
鈥淒r. Cooper mentioned his research in class. Afterwards, I talked with him about it,鈥� Duan said. 鈥淚 was shocked and grateful that he spent so much time with me explaining his work. He connected me with his graduate students, and I worked with them at first. Eventually, I got my own independent project.鈥�
Outside of UH, Duan volunteers at Texas Children鈥檚 Hospital鈥檚 Ronald McDonald House, where she has been volunteering since entering college.
After graduation, Duan plans to continue her research in Cooper鈥檚 lab and hopes to publish the results and present her findings at scientific conferences. She will also be applying to medical schools for admission in 2017. Duan is interested in pediatrics.
Trong Nguyen 鈥� Will Attend UTHealth for Medical School
Trong Nguyen, who emigrated from Vietnam five years ago, is receiving a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology.
Nguyen participated in undergraduate research with a project in Timothy Cooper鈥檚 lab, followed by a year-long renal disease research project in the lab of Dr. Stuart Dryer.
鈥淭he opportunities to do undergraduate research really impacted my education,鈥� Nguyen said. 鈥淭he research I am doing on renal disease with Dr. Dryer is the subject for my Honors Thesis.鈥�
Nguyen has been an active member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the Pre-Medical Honor Society, and was the recipient of scholarships from the NSM Alumni Association and the British-American Foundation of Texas.
In his spare time, he tutored in the American Chemical Society Tutor Room, which reminded him how much he loves to teach.
Nguyen will attend the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston in August.
James Tran 鈥� Helping Others through Tutoring
James Tran is receiving a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology with a minor in health.
A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Tran has been active in the American Chemical Society Student Chapter, holding the office of webmaster this year. He is also a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta. This year, he received the Phi Kappa Phi honor society鈥檚 award for the Highest GPA of its senior members.
鈥淎t UH, I made friends that will last a lifetime,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne of the best experiences was finding 鈥榣ike-minded鈥� people who helped me, worked with me, and studied with me. That really impacted my teamwork and social skills.鈥�
Throughout college, Tran has tutored in the American Chemical Society Tutor Room. He also served as a workshop facilitator in NSM鈥檚 Scholar Enrichment Program, helping student鈥檚 master general chemistry.
After graduation, he will be focusing on volunteerism and applying to medical school for admission in Fall 2017. Tran is interested in the field of cardiology.
Convocation Banner Bearers
NSM started a new tradition in May 2015. The College鈥檚 Convocation processional includes outstanding students from NSM鈥檚 six departments carrying the University, College and Departmental Banners. The banner bearers have the additional honor of sitting on stage as part of the Convocation platform party.
University Banner
James Tran, biology major
College Banner
Trong Nguyen, biology major
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
Kristina Duan
Department of Chemistry
Fabiana Toro-Figueira
Department of Computer Science
Marden Joseph Benoit
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Jarret Lee Garber
Department of Mathematics
Shaun Bulsara
Department of Physics
Brian McElhenny
- Kathy Major, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics