University of Tennessee at Martin students were honored May 4 for completing the University Scholars program. A recognition event was held before the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony with faculty members, family and friends gathered in the Holland McCombs Center. Dr. John Glass, associate professor of English and Honors Programs director, led the program and introduced the scholars.
The University Scholars Program began in 1981 and emphasizes individual integrity, academic achievement and education that develops intellectual, moral and social responsibility. Among the program’s requirements for students accepted into the program is completion of a senior project in cooperation with a UT Martin faculty member. All students who were honored graduated May 4 except Robert Mathis who will graduate in December 2024 and Madison Burton who received her degree in December 2023.
Those recognized May 4 along with each graduate’s major, hometown and senior project title were:
• Iman Adil Ahmed, political science major from Cordova, “UN Peacekeeping: Effectively Protecting Civilians?”
• Madison Denise Burton, cell and molecular biology major from Southaven, Mississippi, “Biodiversity in Bats: The Green Heart Project – The Effect of Greening on Low and High Frequency Bats in Louisville, Kentucky.”
• Will Thomas Crawford, secondary education-mathematics major from Union City, “A Comparative Analysis: Preservice Teachers’ Motivations for Pursuing the Education Profession.”
• Victoria Brianna Holliday, agriculture major from Lexington, Kentucky, “A Comparison of Food Preservation Technology Used in the United States and Kenya.”
• Zachary Todd Koelling, biology major from Cottontown, “Site Directed Mutagenesis of pufC in Rubrivivax gelatinosus.”
• Hannah Marie Laster, veterinary science and technology major from Martin, “An Investigation of the Canine Oral Microbiome.”
• Robert Lee Mathis, psychology major from Bradford, “Sleep and Academic Success.”
• Ryesa Lucille McGehee, English major from Cordova, “Individual Liberty in Seventeenth Century Polemical Writings and Contemporary Russian Political Rhetoric.”
• Faith Brianna Pilkington, political science and philosophy double major from Ripley, “Potential Moral Inconsistencies Found Within Reasoning on Opinions on Abortion and Capital Punishment.”
• Autumn Elizabeth Reeves, biology major from Memphis, “Mortality of Eastern Bluebirds Following a Severe Winter Storm in Northwestern Tennessee and Southwestern Kentucky.”
• Kira Elizabeth Scott, social work major from Brentwood, “Effects of Afterschool Programs in Rural and Low-Income Communities.”
• Ainsley Cyrene Marie Watt, veterinary science and technology major from Loudon, “Man’s Best Friend or Best Study Buddy: Student Classroom Performance and Canine Interaction.”
• Kaitlyn Kristine Williams, veterinary science and technology major from Cordova, “Early Detection for Glaucoma: Tonopen Implementation in Canine Yearly Appointments.”
• Ellie Claire Young, chemistry major from Henning, “Progress Toward the Total Synthesis of Macarangioside A.”
Learn more about UT Martin Honors Programs and the University Scholars Program by emailing Glass at jglass3@utm.edu or calling 731-881-7436.
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PHOTO: UT Martin students were honored May 4 for completing the University Scholars program. A recognition event was held before the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony with faculty members, family and friends gathered in the Holland McCombs Center. Pictured following the recognition event are front row (l to r) are Autumn Reeves, Ellie Claire Young, Iman Adil Ahmed, Victoria Brianna Holliday, Ryesa Lucille McGehee, Kaitlyn Kristine Williams; back row (l to r) Robert Lee Mathis, Ainsley Cyrene Marie Watt, Zachry Todd Koelling, Will Thomas Crawford, Kira Elizabeth Scott, Faith Brianna Pilkington and Hannah Marie Laster. Not pictured is Madison Denise Burton.
