TRIO Recognizes First-Generation College Graduates
It is with great enthusiasm that TRIO Student Support Services, New Dimensions in Learning (NDIL), recognizes two outstanding graduates, Luka Zirbel and David Hernandez. For the past four years, these students have been affiliated with The Center for Diversity & Enrichment as TRIO members/Opportunity at Iowa Scholars. Over the past two years, Carolyn Barrientes, TRIO multicultural coordinator, has had the pleasure of advising both students and learning about their many accomplishments in education, research, and teaching.
Luka Zirbel, a native of Mason City, IA, enrolled at Iowa majoring in biochemistry/premed with a minor in psychology. Luka had "spoken to her rheumatologist at home and not only had he recommended Iowa as a good college but also a minor in psychology to help understand children's expressions of pain." Midway through her freshman year, Luka learned that many medical schools want students to show research experience upon applying. Through meeting with her OI scholarship adviser, Nancy Humbles, at that time, Luka learned of a position that was open at the Wallrath Biochemistry Lab. Long story short, Luka says, "I got the position and it turned into a three-year supplemental grant to fund me. So basically I was going to have my own funding to work in the Wallrath lab for three years - sophomore year through July after I graduate. Shortly after landing the lab job, I fell in love with research." By the end of her sophomore year of college, Luka knew she no longer wanted to become a doctor but rather to become a researcher.
To better understand her research, Luka says, "my lab works with Drosophila ("fruit flies") and studies human disease (cancer and muscular dystrophy). My grant allows me to study heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) a chromosomal protein."
Luka's senior year, she has taken Research Independent Study and chose to complete this research in the Wallrath lab. For her lab, she has also attended two different conferences to present her findings. The Midwest Drosophila Conference in Allerton, IL, and the National Drosophila Conference in Chicago, IL.
Luka is the first in her family to graduate from college. After graduation this May, 2009, Luka plans on taking a year off from school to work as a research assistant before pursuing her Ph.D. in Biochemistry.
Congratulations, Luka!
David Hernandez, a native of San Antonio, TX, enrolled at Iowa as an undecided major. He always knew his passion was Art. Beginning his second year at Iowa, David began nurturing this passion for Art and has excelled in his talent. He is an Art major completing the requirements for the Secondary Education Teacher Certification Program along with a minor in Spanish.
David has been involved in many academic opportunities. During the Fall, 2006, he participated in the Disney College Program in Orlando, FL. While taking a course through the program, he worked within the park. The next fall, he was admitted into the College of Education. Since 2008, David has taken part in a variety of experiences including working at Elizabeth Tate High School. He also presented workshops to a group of elementary and middle school students where he implemented a variety of artistic methods using mixed media. During the summer of 2008, David was hired as a Program Assistant Mentor for the Pre-freshman Engineering Program geared toward minority middle and high school students at St. Phillips College in San Antonio. This summer, David has been invited back to mentor more interested students in the science and engineering fields.
David recently completed his practicum at Southeast Junior High School in Iowa City in the art classroom of Rachel Ayers.
David will be graduating in Fall, 2009, and is the first in his family to graduate from college. After graduation, David plans to start teaching. Congratulations, David!
