Dean's Scholar Recognition 2021

Dean’s Scholar Student 5 Ava Bottiglia Senior Biology: Allied Health Ava is an excellent student whose name has regularly appeared on the Dean’s List, who is a member of the Honors Program, and who is also completing a minor in Psychology. Ava has been involved in research with Dr. Aruscavage. They tested raw foods such as lettuce, spinach and kale for antibiotic resistant properties. As an active member of the KU community, Ava is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, a peer mentor for first-year honor students, and a member of the Women’s Softball Team. Previously Ava was a peer mentor and tutor for the biology department. Ava is passionate about helping people and teaching science. Ava will be attending KU’s Master of Secondary Education Program in order to reach her goal of becoming a science teacher. “As a science major, you have days where you feel like you are going to fail, and it is okay. You just have to keep up with your work and have a good balance of schoolwork and your mental health. Scheduling for time management is huge. You have to find a passion for science, and then it becomes a lot easier.” Caelan Brooks Senior Physics 2021 PASSHE Ali-Zaidi Award Winner Chambliss Award Gold Medal Winner Caelan is an outstanding student whose name has appeared on the Dean’s List every semester. She is also completing minors in Mathematics and Spanish. Caelan has been a research assistant for Dr. Das for the past three years, working with him in AMO Physics (Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics). During Summer 2020, Caelan was accepted into a Research Experience for Undergraduates Program at Boston University where she virtually conducted research on bacterial biofilms. After finishing the REU Program, she was invited to continue the research and collaborate with a PI (Principal Investigator) from Boston University. In January 2021, she had a paper published in Empirical Review on ultra-cold atoms in ring lattices. Caelan is also highly involved on campus as a student athlete on the KU Women’s Soccer Team, a member of the Society for Physics Students, member of the Women’s STEM Club, and a member of the Women in Mathematics Club. After graduation, Caelan will attend graduate school for a Ph.D. in Physics at Harvard University. Her goal is to continue working on her research, and she is also considering pursuing a post- doctorate or becoming a professor. “My research experience at Kutztown really changed my life. Having people value my contributions changed the way I looked at science, and the way I looked at learning in general. I learned to have confidence in myself, to apply myself, and to take those opportunities.”