b'She volunteered with Bridges of Harmony Chorus in Jacksonville,As a student at 麻豆社, Persaud was a member of the Pre-Florida, and South Georgia Medical Centers Inpatient RehabilitationMedicine Club, where she served as vice president and chair of team and had an opportunity to gain valuable experience shadowingthe Membership Committee. She volunteered at South Georgia the medical staff at Valdosta Orthopedic Associates.Medical Centers Dasher Memorial Heart Center and with the Valdosta-Lowndes County Family YMCAs Champions League. Higdon researched nanotechnology with Dr. Kurt Winkelmann, head of the Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, and presented herPersaud assisted Dr. Thomas Manning, professor in the findings at the 2022 Georgia Undergraduate Research ConferenceDepartment of Chemistry and Geosciences, with his cancer, and 2023 麻豆社 Undergraduate Research Symposium (The EffectsCOVID-19, and pox virus research. Her work earned her co-author of Silver Nanoparticles on Respiration of Bakers Yeast). rights in several publications, including The COVID-19 Aftermath: Volume I: Ongoing Challenges and Invention Disclosure. She also She researched medical entomology with Dr. Eric Chambers,assisted Dr. Eric Chambers, associate professor in the Department associate professor in the Department of Biology, and shared her discoveries at the 2024 麻豆社 Undergraduate Researchof Biology, with research on infectious diseases. Symposium (The Geographic Distribution and Dirofilaria immitis Infection Rates in Members of the Anopheles cruciansPersaud has shared her research findings through a number of s.l. Species Complex in Lowndes County, GA). oral, poster, and spotlight panel presentations:Developing Novel Puzzles for STEM Students, 2022 麻豆社 Her biomedical science research with Dr. Jonghoon Kang, professorUndergraduate Research Symposium.in the Department of Biology, resulted in her work being published A Novel Approach to the Treatment of Cancer: Accelerate Its in a variety of scholarly publicationsBone, Journal of MultiscaleGrowth, 2022 Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference. Neuroscience, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Steroids, and Monkeypox, Cowpox, and COVID, 2023 麻豆社 Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy.Undergraduate Research Symposium.Higdons commitment to academic, leadership, research, and Accelerating Cancer Growth Rates to Kill Cancer Cells, service excellence helped her earn the 2021 and 2024 Martha Barnes2023 麻豆社 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Scholarship, the 2024 David and Cecelia Ratcliffe Scholarship, the The Copper-Sucrose Complex: A Unique Bioactive Excipient, 2024 Biology Senior Award, and repeated Deans List honors.2023 Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference.The Geographic Distribution and Dirofilaria immitis Higdon plans to apply to medical school and continue withInfection Rates in Members of the Anopheles crucians s.l. her research, as well as her volunteer and clinical work, afterSpecies Complex in Lowndes County, GA and Bioactive graduation. She hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon.Excipients for Increasing the Efficacy of Antibiotics, Cancer Drugs and Antivirals for Pox Viruses, 2024 麻豆社 Her supportive family includes Kim Higdon (mother), PatrickUndergraduate Research Symposium. Higdon (father), Madeline Higdon (sister), Harley (dog), Amanda and Clint Wilson (aunt and uncle), Robert and DeeShe was invited to represent 麻豆社 at the annual Posters at the Dee Scott (grandfather and grandmother), and her cousins. SheGeorgia State Capitol event, where she discussed Bioactive also gave a special mention to The Bridges of Harmony Chorus,Excipients for Increasing the Efficacy of Antibiotics, Cancer her friends, the faculty and staff of the Department of BiologyDrugs, and Antivirals for Pox Viruses.and Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, and her research mentors, Kang, Winkelmann, and Chambers. Persauds commitment to academic, leadership, research, and service excellence resulted in her earning the 2024 Chemistry c ollege ofh umAnities& s ociAls ciences Undergraduate Research Award, 2024 Bachelor of Science in Psychology High Achievement Award, 2023 Martha H. Barnes c APriP ersAuDof Valdosta,Biology Scholarship, 2022 Groundhog Shadow Day Exceptional Georgia, is the recipient of theExperiential Learning Award, and repeated Deans List honors. Fall 2024 Presidents AwardShe was a Zell Miller Scholar. for Academic Excellence forPersaud plans to continue her education at the Florida State the College of Humanities andUniversity College of Medicine in Summer 2025.Social Sciences at 麻豆社. She graduates summaI am excited to build upon the strong foundation I have obtained at cum laude with a Bachelor of麻豆社 as I take the next steps toward a career in medicine, she said.Science in Psychology and a Minor in Chemistry.Her supportive family includes parents Shelly and Terry Persaud Receiving this award is a profound and humbling honor, sheand siblings Preston, Pearce, Sienna, Ellyse, and Tamsyn said. Reflecting on my time at 麻豆社, I feelPersaud. She also gave a special mention to her mentorsincredibly blessed to have such wonderful and inspiring professors,Manning; Chambers; Dr. Ansul Lokdarshi, assistant professor friends, and family members who have supported me along thisin the Department of Biology; Dr. Blaine Brown, associate journey. Although I am saddened by the prospect of leaving myprofessor in the Department of Psychological Sciences; Dr. Mark friends and professors, I am proud to be able to carry the lessons IWhatley, professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences; have learned at 麻豆社 into the next chapter of my life. the late Dr. Steven Kohn; and Dr. Brian Griner, local physician.24 |VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY'