April Oleson and Muhammad Khalifa have been named as 2014 recipients of the UO Chemistry and Biochemistry department’s annual undergraduate scholarships. The Faith Van Nice Scholarship has been awarded to April Oleson, and the Kuntz-Swinehart Memorial Scholarship to Muhammad Khalifa.

The Faith Van Nice Scholarship is dedicated to the legacy of alumna Faith Van Nice, and recognizes exceptional UO undergraduate students majoring in Chemistry or Biochemistry. This year’s recipient, April Oleson, greatly admires women such as Faith, whose personal achievements and passion for science serve as an inspiration for others.  April came to the UO’s Clark Honors College from Jacksonville, Oregon, four years ago, unsure of where her academic interests would lead her. She decided first on a major in Spanish, and added the Chemistry major in her junior year, influenced by her experience in the majors track organic chemistry labs. Now, two years into her chemistry coursework, she is looking forward to the opportunity to do chemistry research in either an organic or inorganic lab. She is especially interested in research that involves the creation of new compounds.  April’s long- range plans include pursuing a PhD in Chemistry. Eventually she would like to teach in a community where her Spanish language skills could help break down barriers and encourage students to pursue their academic aspirations.

The Kuntz-Swinehart Memorial Scholarship, meant to recognize and encourage academic excellence in our majors, was established by former UO Chemistry students in honor of two professors whose instruction, influence and inspiration had a significant impact on their career paths. Our 2014 recipient, Muhammad Khalifa, found his future plans impacted by his experience here, as well. A Biochemistry major from Portland, Oregon, Muhammad’s intention was to begin pre-med studies at the UO and then transfer to another institution to finish his undergraduate degree.  But after becoming involved in the campus community as a Resident Assistant in University Housing and a research assistant in the Haley Lab, he found it hard to imagine going anywhere else. The Haley Lab, in collaboration with the Berglund Lab, was exploring small molecule therapeutics against DM1, a type of muscular dystrophy. Specifically, the Haley Lab designed molecules, and the Berglund lab tested the molecules’ ability to combat DM1. As a result of his involvement in this work, Muhammad’s academic interests shifted from medical school to medical research, especially the puzzle-solving aspects of pharmaceutical research and the use of chemistry to tackle medical problems. After completing his bachelor’s degree this coming fall, he is hoping to first earn an MS degree abroad, and then return to the U.S. to complete his PhD and pursue a career in drug development research, either in industry or academia.