The first recipients of the largest academic scholarships ever offered by SUNY Fredonia are three Western New Yorkers. SUNY Fredonia inaugurated the Science Achievement Scholarships this year with renewable awards of $8,000 a year.
The Yunghans/Mirabelli Biology Achievement Scholarship has been awarded to Kaitlyn Crossan, a graduate of Dunkirk High School. The scholarship is named for long-time Biology faculty member Wayne Yunghans, and was established by alumnus Christopher Mirabelli of the Class of 1977. Dr. Yunghans introduced Dr. Mirabelli, when he was an undergraduate at Fredonia, to the challenges and joys of scientific research.
The Kaminski Scholarship in Chemistry has been awarded to Cassidy Benson of Chautauqua Lake Central School, while the Kaminski Scholarship in Biochemistry was earned by Melissa Shively, a graduate of the Marcus Whitman Jr.-Sr. High School in Canandaigua, N.Y. These Chemistry Achievement Awards are named for James and Yvonne Kaminski. James, a member of the Class of 1969, developed a notable career in pharmacological research; his wife, Yvonne, established the Kaminski Scholarship Endowment through a sizable bequest.
Minimum qualifications for consideration are a 90% unweighted high school average and a 1,250 SAT or 28 ACT score, along with strong Regents test scores in both science and mathematics. The scholarships will be renewed each year, provided that the student maintains at least a 3.25 grade point average.
“SUNY Fredonia has a long history of providing outstanding undergraduate science majors, and these scholarships are meant for students who have already decided to pursue careers in chemistry and biology,” said Dean John Kijinski of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Summer research opportunities are also possible next year for the scholarship recipients.
