---
title: SACNAS Awards 117 Graduate and Undergraduate Students for their Research and Presentation Skills at 2017 SACNAS - SACNAS
description: SACNAS awarded 117 graduate and undergraduate underrepresented minority (URM) students for their research and presentation skills at 2017 SACNAS.
---

[Get The Latest Diversity News And Updates From SACNAS ](https://www.sacnas.org/diversity-news)

# [SACNAS Awards 117 Graduate and Undergraduate Students for their Research and Presentation Skills at 2017 SACNAS - SACNAS](https://www.sacnas.org/diversity-news/sacnas-awards-117-graduate-and-undergraduate-students-for-their-research-presentations-at-2017-sacnas)

 Written by [sacnas](https://www.sacnas.org/diversity-news/author/sacnas) | Oct 26, 2017 7:00:00 AM

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
 October 24, 2017**

MEDIA CONTACT:  
 Yamila Pino, [yamila@prosperolatino.com](mailto:yamila@prosperolatino.com) or (202) 440-1432

**SACNAS AWARDS 117 GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FOR THEIR RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION SKILLS AT 2017 SACNAS NATIONAL DIVERSITY IN STEM CONFERENCE** **SANTA CRUZ, CA** — [The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science](https://sacnas.org/) (SACNAS) awarded 117 graduate and undergraduate underrepresented minority (URM) students for their research and presentation skills at the [2017 National Diversity in STEM Conference](http://www.2017sacnas.org/). The Presentation Awards recognize the next generation of scientists and STEM leaders for exemplary science while giving visibility to their investigations and home institutions, as well as encouraging students to continue fostering a career in science.

“One of the goals of the SACNAS conference is to provide a training ground for students and professionals that provides support and guidance throughout STEM educational and career paths. Through the Presentation Awards we proudly recognize and lift up the hard work and effort of students in their respective fields. This year, we have the fortune of honoring a brilliant cohort of nearly 120 students who are paving the way for promising careers in STEM,” said **SACNAS President Dr. Lino Gonzalez**.

This year’s Presentation Awards were made possible thanks to the generosity and sponsorship of the American Astronomical Society; American Chemical Society; American Physiological Society; American Society for Biochemistry; Molecular Biology Biophysical Society; Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP); Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University; Maryland Sea Grant; Sandia National Laboratories; Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics; and the USDA – Agricultural Research Service.

**The 2017 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference Presentation Awardees are: **

**Graduate Student Oral Presentation Awards**

***Life Science/ Cell/Molecular Biology***  
 Binta Jalloh – Emory University  
 Anabel Flores – University of Michigan  
 Abraham Gutierrez – University of Washington

***Biochemistry***  
 Samuel Lopez Nieves – University of Wisconsin, Madison

***Physics and Astronomy: Physics***  
 Shaun Hampton – The Ohio State University

***Ecology/Evolutionary Biology***  
 Bryan Juarez- Iowa State University  
 Rosario Marroquin-Flores – Illinois State University

***Microbiology***  
 Nico Fernandez – Michigan State University

***Cancer Biology***  
 Leslie Pedraza – University of California, San Francisco

***Physiology/Pathology***  
 Nathalie Fuentes – Penn State University

***Marine Science***  
 Danielle Perry – University of Rhode Island

***Biology (general)***  
 Kristina Gonzalez – New Mexico State University

***Developmental Biology***  
 Armbien Sabillo – University of California, Berkeley

***Engineering: Chemical Engineering***  
 Jonathan Colon – Rutgers University

***Chemistry / Inorganic Chemistry***  
 Yanyu Wu – The University of Texas at El Paso

***Other Chemistry***  
 Alanna Condren – University of Illinois at Chicago

***Traditional Knowledge***  
 Ranalda Tsosie – University of Montana

***Psychology and Social Sciences***  
 Margie Vela – New Mexico State University

***Mathematics: Mathematical Biology***  
 Danielle Brager – Arizona State University

**Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation Awards**

***Traditional Knowledge***  
 Olivia Juarez – University of Utah

***STEM Education and Learning***  
 Adriana Solis – California State University, Fullerton

***Other Professional Fields***  
 Cay Thompson – Haskell Indian Nations University

***Social Science***  
 Erick Aguinaldo – California State University, Fullerton  
 Felix Sosa – University of Central Florida

***Geoscience***  
 Yulissa Perez Rojas – University of California, Merced  
 Caitriona Costello – Cornell University

***Materials Research***  
 Julio Perez – University of California, Merced  
 Kenny Huynh – University of California, Irvine

***Computer and Information Sciences***  
 Rodolfo Corona Rodriguez – University of Texas at Austin  
 Elena Delgado – University of New Mexico

***Physics and Astronomy:***  
***Physics***  
 Gino Carrillo – University of Oregon

***Astronomy***  
 Jose Flores – Cal Poly Pomona  
 Arcelia Hermosillo Ruiz – University of California, Berkeley  
 Adrianna Perez – California State University, Dominguez Hills

***Psychology***

***Psychology (general)***  
 Ivette Gonzalez – San Diego State University  
 Juan Rojas – University of Illinois at Chicago

***Clinical Psychology***  
 Elissa Monteiro – University of Iowa

***Cognitive Neuroscience***  
 Jonte Roberts – University of Colorado, Denver

***Chemistry***

***Analytical Chemistry***  
 Ryan Lopez – University of Southern California  
 Cindy Rivera – Bowdoin College

***Chemistry (general)***  
 Chinyere Kemet – Purdue University  
 Esteban Delgado III – San Diego State University

***Inorganic Chemistry***  
 Annmarie Dominguez – University of California, Santa Cruz

***Organic Chemistry***  
 Kristen Gardener – The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard  
 Chad Thomas – California State University, Dominguez Hills

***Physical Chemistry***  
 Isabella Young – University of Florida

***Health Medicine***  
 Brianna Sanchez – University of Texas at El Paso  
 Jonathan Abshier – University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley

***Public Health***  
 Yazmeane Pena – Texas Tech University  
 Casey Luc – Morehouse College

***Other Health***  
 Jasmine Vargas – University of California, Santa Cruz

***Engineering***

***Other Engineering***  
 Shanika Davis – Seattle Central College

***Engineering (general)***  
 Yamalis Lopez Massa – Universidad de Puerto Rico Mayaguez

***Chemical Engineering***  
 Dejuante Walker – California State University, Long Beach

***Mechanical Engineering***  
 Luis Ramirez – Cypress College  
 Mario Delgado – Tufts University

***Electrical Engineering***  
 Laura Becerra – University of San Diego

***Civil Engineering***  
 Parfait Masungi – University of Texas at San Antonio

***Bioengineering/Biomedical engineering***  
 Robert Trevino – University of California, San Francisco  
 Natali Chavez – California State University, Channel Islands  
 Daniela Barbosa – University of Texas Rio Grande Valley  
 Jesus Roberto Franco – University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

***Mathematics***

***Applied Mathematics***  
 Raul Platero – Emory University  
 Adriana Ortiz – Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras  
 Ariana Moncada – University of Texas at San Antonio

***Statistics***  
 Julia Thome – Cornell College

***Algebra/Number Theory/Combinatorics***  
 Rafael Ceja – California State University, Sacramento  
 Christian Do – California State University, Fullerton  
 Sabrina Enriquez – University of Southern California

***Mathematical Biology***  
 Henry Guajardo – Brigham Young University

***Mathematics (general)***  
 Kriselyn Cortado – University of Hawai’i – West O’ahu

***Life Science***

***Plant Sciences/Botany***  
 Francisco Fernandez – California State University, San Marcos

***Other Life Sciences***  
 Tianna Burke – Howard University  
 Tanya Tafolla – University of California, Merced

***Pharmacology***  
 Dominique Ellison – University of Pittsburgh

***Biochemistry***  
 Benjamin Juarez – Princeton University  
 Christian Corrales – University of California, Los Angeles  
 Petra Guzman – California State University, Los Angeles  
 Shai-Anne Nalder – Weber State University  
 Esteban Abeyta – University of New Mexico

***Developmental Biology***  
 Katiannah Moise – Pomona College  
 Camilo Echeverria – California State University, Northridge

***Cancer Biology***  
 Lisset Duran – John Jay College of Criminal Justice  
 Megan Montoya – University of Arizona  
 David Sanchez – University of Texas at San Antonio

***Neuroscience***  
 Charmaine Lindsay – Claflin University  
 Adem Idrizi – City College of New York  
 Ana Defendi – Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras  
 Eduardo Salgado – Duke University

***Animal Science/Zoology***  
 Eric Navarro – Washington State University

***Physiology/Pathology***  
 Rufus Sweeney – University of Utah  
 Kenny Veliz – University of California, Merced

***Genetics***  
 Joseph Lance Casila – University of Guam  
 Skylar Kensinger – California State University, Monterey Bay

***Biology (general)***  
 Uzma Ain – Northeastern Illinois University  
 Meg Tsai – Rutgers University  
 Patricia Rodrigez-Morales – Universidad de Puerto Rico Cayey

***Microbiology***  
 Joseph Sapienza-Martinez – San Francisco State University  
 Sandra Ramos – University of Texas at San Antonio  
 Janah May Oclaman – Skyline College  
 Sydney Stanley – Duke University School of Medicine  
 Justin Okonkwo – California State University, Fresno  
 Tyler Ptacek – Northwest University

***Cell/Molecular Biology***  
 Ariana Kupai – University of Washington  
 Sonia Bustos Barocio – Los Medanos College  
 Melissa Meredith – California State University, Monterey Bay  
 Nathan Bamidele – University of California, Santa Cruz  
 Samuel Cabral – California State University, Sacramento  
 Aylin Flores – University of Texas Rio Grande Valley  
 Nicholas Jahahn – University of Oregon  
 Angeline Chemel – San Francisco State University

***Ecology/Evolutionary Biology***  
 Rosa M McGuire – University of California, Riverside  
 Elizabeth Flores – Swarthmore College

***Marine Science***  
 Mariah Holiday – Northwest Indian College  
 Alexandra Trejo – Western Washington University  
 Angelina Zuelow – Humboldt State University

***Environmental Science***  
 Danial Nasr Azadani – Del Mar College

###

Click [here ](http://www.2017sacnas.org//events/2017-sacnas-the-national-diversity-in-stem-conference/event-summary-344a437cdada442d9179834c162b0a21.aspx)for more information on the 2017 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference, including the [agenda-at-a-glance](https://custom.cvent.com/758F1D170F704E2AAECC72D0A05AE7CE/files/f6fa52099b924d9fade37b0c08e48da8.pdf).

[View SACNAS’ fact sheet](https://sacnas.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017_SACNAS-fact-sheet.pdf) and follow the organization on social media and conference updates via #SACNAS2017: [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/SACNAS/)| [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/95033/)| [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/sacnas)| [Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/sacnas/)| [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/sacnas).

**About SACNAS**  
 SACNAS is an inclusive organization with a 44-year history of fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic & Native American scientists, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers and positions of leadership in science.

SACNAS serves approximately 6,000 members, a larger community of 20,000, and with 115 SACNAS student and professional chapters throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

[View full post](https://www.sacnas.org/diversity-news/sacnas-awards-117-graduate-and-undergraduate-students-for-their-research-presentations-at-2017-sacnas)

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