Belmont University College of Sciences and Mathematics hosted the annual Middle Tennessee Collegiate Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science in the Janet Ayers Academic Center on April 21. This event serves as an opportunity for students to highlight their scholarly work and fosters collaboration with other universities. This year, 24 students from Belmont University, Columbia State Community College, Tennessee State University and Tennessee Tech University presented their research as oral presentations in one of four different sessions including chemistry, cellular and molecular biology/microbiology, health and medical sciences and zoology/ecology/environmental sciences.
All sessions were moderated and judged by faculty volunteers who awarded 1st, 2nd & 3rd place certificates to the top three presenters in each session. The meeting is coordinated and run by Dr. Duane Hatch, assistant professor of chemistry at Belmont. Dr. Nick Ragsdale, biology, assisted with the event.
Faculty judges included Drs. Lori McGrew (BU biology), Steve Murphree (BU biology), Danny Biles (BU math), Justin Stace (BU chemistry), Robert Grammer (BU biology), John Niedzwiecki (BU biology), Karen Kendall-Fite (Columbia State Community College) and Radhika Ramjee (Columbia State Community College).
Winners from each session included:
Chemistry: 1st – Christopher Hansen (BU), 2nd – Alekzander Garcia (TSU), 3rd – Avery Daniels (BU).
Cellular and Molecular Biology/Microbiology: 1st – AC Dowd (BU), 2nd – Dana Cornwell (BU), 3rd – Brandi Duke (BU), and Honorable Mention – Haley Hatfield (BU).
Health and Medical Sciences: 1st – Rebecca Derby (BU), 2nd – Elizabeth Sparks (BU), 3rd – Sargoel Rezanejad (BU), and Honorable Mention – Christian Candler (BU).
Zoology/Ecology/Environmental Sciences: 1st – Taryn Anderson (BU), 2nd – States Labrum (CSCC), 3rd – Shaoyun Yang (BU), and Honorable Mention – Terra’lexus Roberts (BU).
