IMSD Scholars Win Top Honors at National Conference

November 30, 2015 Darren White 1-min. read

group photo — NC State's delegation to ABRCMS of Seattle includes presentation winners Ravyn Njagu (back row, second from left); Kyle Virgil (far right); Ebony Leon (front, third from left) and Rahma Hida, (front, fourth from left). (Photo courtesy IMSD)

Four NC State students participating in the Initiative Maximizing Student Diversity were among the winners selected for poster and oral presentations at the 2015 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. IMSD Scholars from NC State have won research awards in their respective areas for the past three years.

ABRCMS, held in Seattle Nov. 11-14, is one of the largest professional conferences for students from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, military veterans and persons with disabilities. The conference, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, attracts roughly 3,600 individuals — 1,900 undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students, 400 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and 1,300 faculty, program directors and administrators.

The IMSD winners from NC State, who received the research award are as follows:

Rahma Hida, senior in psychology, for her oral presentation in the category Social and Behavioral Sciences and Public Health
Ebony Leon, senior in psychology, for her poster presentation in the category Social and Behavioral Sciences and Public Health
Ravyn Njagu, senior in biological sciences, for her poster presentation in the category of Immunology
Kyle Virgil, senior in chemistry, for his poster presentation in the category of Chemistry.

IMSD, administered at NC State by The Graduate School, helps recruit and support students from underrepresented groups in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. The program is directed by Dr. Erin Banks, with support from Dr. Felysha Jenkins, program associate and lecturer.