Bridgewater College’s Department of Biology has recognized five seniors for their accomplishments in biology and environmental science.
Shannon Jenkins and Cailyn Leo received Excellence in Biology awards. The award is presented to graduating seniors who place in the top 10 percent of the class as determined by grade point average (GPA) within the biology major.
Jenkins, a biology major with a pre-health track and a minor in Spanish, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Jenkins of Stuarts Draft, Va. Johnson is a member of the Philomathes Society, Bridgewater’s scholastic honor society; Beta, Beta, Beta, a national biological honor society; and Alpha Mu Gamma, a national foreign language honor society.
Leo, a biology major with a pre-health track and a minor in equine studies, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Leo from Pasadena, Md. Leo is a member of the Philomathes Society, Alpha Chi, a national scholastic honor society, and Beta Beta Beta. She is also a member of the college’s Flory Honors Program.
Kaitlyn Hilliker and Katrina Martin were presented Excellence in Environmental Science awards, given to the top graduating seniors as determined by GPA within the environmental science major.
Hilliker, an environmental science and economics double major, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Hilliker of Middletown, Va. Hilliker is a member of the Philomathes Society and Sigma Beta Delta, an international business honor society.
Martin, an environmental science major, is the daughter of Grant and Jenny Martin of Dayton, Va. She is a member of the Philomathes Society and serves as president of the Environmental Science Club. She is a student assistant for biology and environmental science and serves as animal caretaker for the Department of Biology.
Following graduation on May 1, Martin will work as an environmental compliance auditor for a poultry company.
Joshua Sprouse and Leo received Outstanding Research Awards—Biology, presented for the best undergraduate research in biology.
Sprouse, a biology major, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Sprouse Jr. of Charlottesville, Va. Sprouse served as vice president of the campus chapter of Beta, Beta, Beta for the 2020-21 academic year.
During the summer of 2020, Sprouse did a Research Experience @ Bridgewater project with Dr. Ed Lickey, associate professor of biology and environmental science, titled “Determining Gene Flow between Baldcypress and Pondcypress.”
Sprouse received a 2020-21 Beta Beta Beta Research Grant and was awarded a 2021 Frank G. Brooks Award for Excellence in Student Research from Beta Beta Beta Southeast District 2.
During the summer of 2020, Leo did a Research Experience @ Bridgewater project with Dr. Moshe Khurgel, associate professor of biology and environmental science, titled “Sex Determination in Axolotls Using PCR.”
Following graduation on May 1, Leo will pursue a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Rochester.
