Awards presented to Individuals
Associated with the Department of VCAPP

Academic/Student Successes

Congratulations to Neuroscience students Alan Emanuel and Eddie Rooney.  These students were awarded the 2009 Auvil Scholar Awards.  The Office of Undergraduate Research selected 22 students to receive the $1,000 scholarship award, which is to help fund their research. (November 9, 2009)

Brian Lee, graduate student in VCAPP and the Neuroscience Program, successfully passed his preliminary defense titled "Neurocircuitry Plasticity after Cocaine Exposure".  His defense was Monday, November 3, and his committee co-chairs are Drs. Barb Sorg and Yan Dong, both of VCAPP.

Ranganath Mamidi, graduate student in VCAPP and the Veterinary Science Program, successfully passed his preliminary defense titled "Role of the N-terminal Domain of Troponin T in Cardiac Muscle Contractile Activation on October 16, 2009.  His committee chair is Dr. Murali Chandra of VCAPP.

Steven Ford, graduate student in VCAPP and the Neuroscience Program, successfully passed his preliminary defense titled "Role of Interacitons Between Helical Regions fo Troponin T and Troponin I in Regulating Cardiac Myofilament Activation on October 13, 2009.  His committee chair is Dr. Murali Chandra.

Service Awards:
Jeanne Jensen and Stewart Bohnet both achieved their silver anniversary at WSU this year (2009).  Each was made a Quarter Century club member and honored gifts to commemorate the event.

Bea O'Neill was awarded her 20-year service award, and Becky Morton and Thu Dinh each earned a 25-year award. (2008)

VCAPP Mentors Earn Appreciation
Several VCAPP department members were recently nominated to be recognized as "Mentor of the Year" at the annual Women and Leadership forum.  In all, 184 people nominated 144 mentors from around the WSU campus.  VCAPP's nominees include: Sandi Brabb, and Krzysztof Czaja.  Rebecca Craft (adjunct) was also nominated for the honor.

New ASWSU Leader is Neuroscience Student
Derick En'Wezoh, an undergraduate Neuroscience major, was recently elected as the new ASWSU president for the 2009-10 school year.  Derick and his running mate, Jay Hendrickson, won the election 2,129 votes against 1,450 and 862.

Fellows of the American Association for Advancement of Science
Dr. Bryan K Slinker (former VCAPP Chair and acting Dean of the CVM) is among 486 individuals nationwide to be named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) this year "because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications (December 2008).

Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award
Dr. Sue Ritter, professor in the Department of VCAPP, has been named the winner of the annual Sahlin Faculty Excellence Award for Research, Scholarship and Arts.  She will be honored at the Showcase banquet on March 27, 2009

GPSA Excellence in Advising
Dr. David Rector, Assistant Professor in the Department of VCAPP, has been awarded the fall 2008 GPSA Excellence Honor in Advising.  The Graduate and Professional Student Association accepted nominations for excellence in advising during the fall semester.  Students were asked to nominate advisors who have gone "above and beyond" in their work with graduate and professional students, and Dr. Rector was selected as one who "set himself apart amongst his students."

2008 Newberry Scholar
Dr. Patrick Wilson was named as one of the 2008 Jerry Newbrey Teaching Scholars for excellence in teaching during the first 3 years of the veterinary core curriculum.  This honor is awarded to faculty who, according to the CVM's standardized student evaluations, score in the top 20th percentile of the college on the query "Rate the Instructor."  For consideration as a Newbrey Teaching Scholar, a faculty member must teach at least 10% of a course in the core curriculum (or have at least 6 contact hours) and receive evaluations from at least 50% of the veterinary students enrolled in the course.  Scholars are recognized each spring for achievement in the previous calendar year.  This award honors Jerry Newbrey, who was a member of the VCAPP department from late 1970s to 1991.

Governor Selects Neuroscience Student as Regent:
Washington State's Governor Gregoire has appointed Derick En'Wezoh of Pullman to the 2008-2009 Student Regent post for Washington State University. His appointment as student regent was effective July 8, 2008 and will end June 30, 2009. En’Wezoh is a student in the College of Veterinary Medicine, majoring in neuroscience with a pre-med emphasis. He will be a junior during the 2008–09 academic year. He was a member of DECA and the National Honor Society while in high school. At WSU, he served as Associated Students of Washington State University senator in his sophomore year and volunteers with several organizations, including Relay for Life, the American Red Cross and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. He is also a volunteer with senior citizen organizations in Pullman. The board of regents serves as the governing body for Washington State University. Student regents serve a one-year term.

Mentor Award
Becky Morton was the winner of the AP Mentor of the Year award given in 2008 as part of the Women in Leadership Forum (see related information). Also nominated (from VCAPP) were Sandi Brabb (AP), Pam Colbert (AP), and Barbara Sorg (Faculty).  Congratulations to all of these selfless mentors.

APAC Award
Sandra (Sandi) Brabb has received one of two APAC Service awards (see related story).