Successor to Herman B Wells, Elvis Jacob Stahr Jr. was inaugurated as president of Indiana University on November 19, 1962. Dr. Stahr arrived at IU with an already extensive resume, having been a Rhodes Scholar, a practicing attorney, provost of the University of Kentucky and University of Pittsburgh, president of the West Virginia University, and Secretary of the Army under John F. Kennedy. In 1966, the prestigious Elvis J. Stahr Awards were established in Dr. Stahr’s namesake to honor IU seniors that have excelled academically while serving as active campus and community leaders.
For 2022, we would like to honor Kate Adaniya, Eduardo Duro, Catherine Qing, Hana Shafique, Mary Slaughter, and Amberly Xie with the Elvis J. Stahr Award to honor all of their achievements on the IU Bloomington campus and service efforts within the Hoosier Community.
Award Winners:
Kate Adaniya
Eduardo Duro
Catherine Qing
Hana Shafique
Mary Slaughter
Amberly Xie
Kate Adaniya
Kate is graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Sciences in Human Biology with a concentration in Human Health and Disease.
Academic Accomplishments
Kate’s outstanding academic accomplishments include being selected as a Cox Research Scholar as well as a Hudson and Holland Scholar. She has also been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, a distinguished and exclusive academic society that honors the best and brightest liberal arts students. Since her freshman year, Kate has diligently worked in The Demas Lab, where she studies the effect of the microbiome on animal personality. During her time there, Kate has published twice, presented at two conferences, and ran an independent project that resulted in a first-author publication entitled “The ontogeny of personality: Repeatability of social and escape behaviors across developmental stages in Siberian hamsters.”
Campus and Community Involvement
For the past three years, Kate has found a love for teaching and mentoring other students through working as an undergraduate teaching assistant for Molecular Biology. Currently, she is a mentor ambassador for Mentor Collective, where she strives to be a support system for other students entering college. Kate is a member of the Board of Aeons, a 12-member student research and advisory organization that focuses on pertinent issues on Indiana University’s campus and presents the research and solutions to President Whitten. Outside of campus, Kate has developed a passion for providing healthcare in underserved communities through her volunteer work at the Heart and Soul Free Clinic, a medical clinic in Westfield, Indiana that provides free healthcare to uninsured and underinsured individuals. Next year, she will be attending Indiana University’s School of Medicine in Indianapolis.
Acknowledgments
In reflecting on the individuals and resources that have helped in shaping her journey at IU, she said:
I would like to thank Dr. Gregory Demas, Dr. Sapna Mehta, and Dr. Sidney Shaw for their constant encouragement of my academic and personal growth. To my family and friends, thank you for bringing so much positivity and laughter into my life. To IU and the Cox Research Scholars Program, thank you for providing the space to grow, seek out new opportunities, and make long-lasting friendships.”
Eduardo Duro
Eduardo is graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology, a Bachelor of Arts in Portuguese, and a Certificate in Animal Behavior (with honors notation), with minors in molecular life sciences and chemistry, as well as Hutton Honors Notation.
Academic Accomplishments
Eduardo’s outstanding academic accomplishments include his research in developmental biology, as demonstrated in his honors thesis research on butterfly wing development and the role of calcium signaling. On top of his academic achievements, Eduardo serves as a peer mentor for the Faculty and Staff for Student Excellence (FASE) program, wherein he helps students make a successful academic and social transition from their home environments to college. Eduardo takes pride in his leadership role as a teaching assistant for courses in Biology and Portuguese. He has received numerous academic awards during his time at IU, such as the 2021 Goldwater Scholarship, a 2021 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship Award, the 2020 IU Undergraduate Research Advanced Research Scholarship, the 2020 IU Bicentennial Public Science Symposium Winner, and was a runner-up for the Connect Challenge, among other recognitions.
Campus and Community Involvement
As president of the Brazilian Students Association, Eduardo stays in touch with Brazilian cultural representation at IU. As a member of Grupo de Teatro VIDA, Eduardo participates in theatrical performances to apply theory to practice and provide engaging language learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Eduardo also gives back to the community through his participation in the Building Bridges program, which provides guidance in language learning and acquisition to children in the greater Bloomington area. He was also involved as an on-site coordinator for the 2021 LeaderShape Program, where he worked to adapt the program to accommodate COVID-19 precautions. His outstanding work in the community granted him the 2020 Outstanding Undergraduate Community Engagement Award.
Acknowledgments
Eduardo’s gratitude goes out to the faculty, mentors, coworkers, and friends who have stood by his side and supported him through his achievements. When asked to acknowledge those who have impacted him during his time here at IU, he said:
I would like to thank my IU mentors who have helped me develop and grow every day: Dr. Lydia Borjon, for her extensive support in my Biology honors thesis; Dr. Dan Tracey, for welcoming me into the Tracey lab and supporting my research; Dr. Luciana Namorato, for her help with my Portuguese honors thesis, and for being a great Portuguese instructor; Dr. Rhi Johnson and Dr. Sapna Mehta, for their support in my academic growth; and Lillian Casillas and Nicky Belle, for their support in my community engagements. These individuals – as well as several other faculty, mentors, coworkers, family and friends – are the reason I am here today, and this great community has surrounded me, believed in me, encouraged me, and supported me during every step of my time here at Indiana University.”
Catherine Qing
Catherine will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Informatics from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. Additionally, she will be receiving a Certificate in Clinical Psychological Science.
Academic Accomplishments
Catherine has interned for Middle Way House, a non-profit organization in Bloomington, Indiana that provides shelter and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. She has also worked with the IU School of Nursing on the Aldrich Project, where she taught a social-emotional learning curriculum to middle school students in rural Indiana as a part of substance abuse prevention efforts. Catherine has also done research in both Dr. Amanda Diekman’s and Dr. Kurt Hugenberg’s psychology labs, where she has contributed to research on social roles, stereotypes, and prejudice. She is currently completing her honors thesis on the social pain perceptions of low-socioeconomic status individuals and their consequences in education.
Campus and Community Involvement
During her time at IU, Catherine has served as the president of Culture of Care, a student organization that does advocacy work in the areas of mental health, sexual wellbeing, drug and alcohol awareness, and respect. In that role, she also served on the United Council for Equity (led by the Office of Vice Provost for Diversity & Inclusion), the Coalition for Substance Use (led by Substance Use Intervention Services), and the Student Health and Wellness Council (led by the Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President). Through Culture of Care, she has aimed to foster a more caring environment in which Hoosiers look out for each other and have the resources needed to cultivate enjoyable and safe experiences at IU. In addition to Culture of Care, Catherine worked as an English tutor in the Asian Culture Center and served on the committee that created and established the first Asian/Pacific American Thematic Community located in Teter Residence Hall. She was also the co-president of HHart, a student organization under the Hudson and Holland Scholars Program and the Hutton Honors College that seeks to make artistic spaces at IU more inclusive and provide a platform for underrepresented artists.
Acknowledgments
Catherine is incredibly grateful for her time as a Hoosier. When asked who she would specifically like to extend her gratitude for supporting her college journey, Catherine said:
I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and love. To Sam Hammett and the entire Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy, thank you for not only supporting me as a leader, but also for teaching me infinitely many new things. To Dr. Mimi Attenoukon of the Hudson and Holland Scholars Program, thank you for bringing so much joy and kindness into my life. Finally, I want to thank Dr. Timothy Patrick and Dr. Kurt Hugenberg for helping me grow as a researcher and educator, and for allowing me to further explore the world of psychology.”
Hana Shafique
Hana is graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Scientific Communication – a major that she created with the Individualized Major Program.
Academic Accomplishments
Hana takes immense pride in being selected as a Herman B Wells Scholar, a Hudson and Holland Scholar, and a Science, Technology, and Research Scholar (STARS). She has also recently been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, a national academic honor society honoring liberal arts students. Hana participated in a Wells Scholars seminar course about activism, communication, and Belizean culture taught by Dr. Pyburn, where she had the opportunity to travel to Belize with a cohort of Wells Scholars for a service-learning project at the Tumul K’in Center of Learning.
Hana was accepted into the Pre-Medical Program at St. Anne’s College at the University of Oxford, where she took coursework in subjects such as medical ethics, metabolic regulation, and endocrinology. Hana’s interest in medical education led her to serve as the US ambassador for SmashMedicine, a renowned online medical education platform which seeks to improve its learners’ lives through inclusive and impactful educational experiences. Hana was involved in research at the Mackie Lab at the Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, where she helped examine the role and function of the endocannabinoid system using a variety of techniques. Her academic excellence molded her to become an undergraduate teaching assistant for biochemistry, organic chemistry, and molecular biology courses.
Campus and Community Involvement
On campus, Hana served as Co-Director of the Wells Activism and Volunteer Effort (WAVE). She has also been involved in TEDxIndianaUniversity, the Indiana University Journal of Undergraduate Research (IUJUR), as well as the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Student Advisory Board (OVPUE SAB), where she interacted with innovative and bright students at Indiana University to research initiatives put forth by Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. During her senior year at IU, Hana served on the Board of Aeons, a student advisory team that works with the Office of the President to propose informed recommendations on important campus issues. Hana looks forward to presenting her findings later this spring through a written report and presentation to President Pamela Whitten.
Acknowledgments
When acknowledging those who have impacted her time here at IU, Hana said:
I’d like to thank Professor Christoph Irmscher, Professor Anne Pyburn, and Professor Cathrine Reck because they have been influential in helping shape my academic and professional endeavors. I am eternally appreciative to my family, Farah, Shoaib, and Adam, for their unconditional love and constant support. I also want to thank the Wells Scholars Program (WSP) as well as the Mackie Lab for providing me with a sense of community during my time at Indiana University.”
Mary Slaughter
Mary is graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Literature, and a minor in chemistry.
Academic Accomplishments
Mary’s outstanding academic accomplishments include being inducted into and serving as Co-Vice President of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honors Society. In addition, she has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society for students in the arts and sciences. She works as an undergraduate researcher for four research groups and mentors on-campus. During her freshman year, she was a member of the inaugural class of the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) in Dr. Michael Manzella’s Genome Engineering lab. At the same time, Mary also worked through the Center of Excellence for Women & Technology’s Emerging Scholars Research Experience for Undergraduate Women (REUW) program. Mary received notoriety for her research project in the Newton Lab exploring Wolbachia in Caribbean island flies. For this work, she won the 2021 Executive Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. Mary took an academic opportunity to study abroad in Ghana through the Hutton Honors College, where she explored the intersections of culture and health in Africa. During her time abroad, she participated in a research group focused on assessing the knowledge that local school teachers had regarding preventative measures against malaria and how this affected classroom instruction.
Campus and Community Involvement
Mary currently serves as the President of Hoosier Health Advocates, an organization dedicated to reducing health disparities both locally and abroad. As President, she has guided the 14-member executive team through the process of breaking from their partner, Timmy Global Health (TGH), to form an independent entity. Prior to the pandemic, Mary served as Vice President of Programming and later Historian for Phi Delta Epsilon, a co-ed medical fraternity on campus. In addition, she served as Director of Advocacy for Build at IU, a club dedicated to reducing poverty and illiteracy. Off-campus, Mary has volunteered with Beacon Inc., the Shalom Community Center, the Indiana Recovery Alliance, and Remote Area Medical. Mary has given back to the Bloomington community by engaging in service-learning through the Spanish Department, specifically at the Boys and Girls Club and local elementary schools.
Acknowledgments
Mary has said that her accomplishments at IU not have been possible without my mentors along with the support of my friends and family. She went into detail about the uniquely formative roles each of her IU mentors had on her time at IU and beyond:
I would like to thank my IU mentors for their continual support and mentorship: Dr. Mike Manzella, for opening up the research world to me; Dr. Irene Newton, for her investment into me as a scientist; Dr. Cate Reck, for her guidance and wisdom; Dr. Cecilia Obeng, for believing in me; and Dr. Israel Herrera, for his advocacy and outreach.”
Amberly Xie
Amberly is graduating from the College of Arts & Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Chemistry.
Academic Accomplishments
While at IU, Amberly found many opportunities to research related to her interests in biology. On campus, she conducted research under Dr. Bogdan Dragnea studying the assembly of virus-like particles around various optical cargo. This research led to her first published paper in Bioconjugate Chemistry, a peer-reviewed scientific journal by the American Chemical Society, titled, “Hydrophobic Cargo Encapsulation into Virus Protein Cages by Self-assembly in an Aprotic Organic Solvent.” She had additional research experiences as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow in the Barry Lab, a Student Researcher at Mayo Clinic, and at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Center for X-Ray Optics at the University of California Berkeley. She has also received numerous departmental awards and scholarships in physics and chemistry.
Campus and Community Involvement
Amberly’s co-curricular involvement has included leadership roles on the IU Swim Club and as a member of the IU Journal of Undergraduate Research. In the Bloomington community, she volunteered at the Bloomington Animal Shelter and Middle Way House. She has also quite literally made her mark in the Bloomington community as a muralist, where she planned, designed, and painted a mural for the Artisan Alley Mural project.
Acknowledgments
When asked who she would like to thank for their support during her journey at IU, Amberly said:
Thank you to my friends and family for all of the support throughout university! And thank you to my mentors – whether through working under your guidance or taking one of your classes – for making university and research so enjoyable.”
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