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CSU, Chico: Martin Macias
Major: Physics

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CSU, Chico: Martin Macias

CSU, Bakersfield: Martin Macias
Major: Physics

Martín Macías continues to improve his GPA. He is taking upper division courses in physics. Last summer he attended the Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center (CBCC) (www.cbccusa.com) in Bakersfield, working on the project "Review of Pre-Implant versus Post-Implant Prostate Seed Implant Dosimetric Quality Indicators". At CBCC he worked under the supervision of Jean-Charles Laxague. He didn't receive any monetary support from CBCC. Under the guidance of his advisor, Dr. Jorge Talamantes, Martín is also working on his own with some very difficult courses of his major. For his work at CBCC he will receive credit for Physics 490. Last summer he also prepared himself to challenge Phys 323, just as a year ago he prepared himself and challenged Calculus III. This Fall Martín is taking Physics 322A, Physics 323A and Science 377 to prepare for graduate school and the GRE. Two students who knew about Martín's participation in the Scholars Program applied to it and got accepted for the 2005-2006 academic year.

CSU, Chico: Miguel Arrellano

Miguel Arellano is a senior majoring in computer science. His current GPA is 2.976. He is a Chicano from Yuba City. He has earned merit awards for doing well in several of the courses targeted by our academic excellence collaborative workshops. He was in our Summer 2001 cohort and has been recruiting students for us ever since. He has been a workshop facilitator and is now our webmaster. As our LSAMP Scholar, he went to the National Technical & Career Conference for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers in Dallas, Texas, 5 to 9 January 2005. He also took a GRE preparation course at Chico State and spent at least 50 hours studying for the GRE.

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CSU, Chico: Miguel Arrellano
Major: Computer Science

CSU, Chico: Carlos Bobadilla
Major: Computer Science

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CSU, Chico: Jose Corona

AJose Corona is a senior majoring in electrical engineering from our Summer 2001 cohort. His current GPA is 2.983. He is a Chicano from Orland. He started out as an Intermediate Algebra student here at Chico State and has advanced to earn LSAMP merit awards in Precalculus, Chemistry, Calculus, Differential Equations, and Electrical Computer Engineering. He has also earned scholarships from MESA. He participated in a Micromouse competition in April 2005, designing a self-contained robot. He also took a GRE preparation course at Chico State and spent at least 50 hours studying for the GRE

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CSU, Chico: Jose Corona
Major: Electrical Engineering

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CSU, Dominguez Hills: Keith Whitson

Keith Whitson, senior, computer science/math, was named a 2005 Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Student Scholar. He will receive a $2,500 scholarship from the National Science Foundation under Grant No. HRD-0331537 to assist him in graduate school. He is in the Alliance for Minority Participation program, which offers free workshops to supplement science and math classes. Students who regularly attend workshops score from one-half to one full grade point higher in class than their peers who do not attend workshops. Whitson is considering MIT, Harvard and Boston College for his graduate studies.

Keith Whitson, (Class of '05, Computer Science/Math), was selected as a Fellow in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridges to the Doctorate Program, which is sponsored by a major research training grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant is administered through CSU Los Angeles (CSULA) for students in math and science. His 24-month appointment begins in September on the CSULA campus. Whitson's research will be focused on applied mathematics. "It will influence my career choice by enabling me to do research and to be paid almost as much as an entry level full time position," he says. He is planning to apply to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to work on his doctorate upon completion of the fellowship.

Whitson's research will be focused on applied mathematics. "It will influence my career choice by enabling me to do research and to be paid almost as much as an entry level full time position," he says. He is planning to apply to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to work on his doctorate upon completion of the fellowship.

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CSU, Fresno: Yulma Martinez

Yulma Martinez was able to enroll for a Kaplan GRE Preparation course in addition to participating in a research project in Summer 2005 with Dr. Alice Wright. The research project focused on the evolution of ubiquitous microbes found in soil and the development of new biochemical pathways that allow them to survive and replicate. The purpose of this study was to find a compound that is an effective, environmental-friendly pesticide that will allow improvement in crop production in the long term. Ms. Martinez graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) in May 2005 and earned a BS in Biology wih an emphasis on Organismic and General Biology.

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CSU, Fresno: Carlos Tristan
Major: Biology

CSU, Fresno: Carlos Tristan

Carlos Tristan was able to enroll into a general and subject GRE Preparation course with Kaplan in addition to participating in a research project in Spring 2005 with Dr. Alejandro Calderon-Urrea. His research consisted of looking at the effects that ced3, ced4, and ced9 have on nematode cell death. Mr. Tristan graduated in May 2005 and earned a BS in Biology with an emphasis on Physiology and Anatomy. He is currently enrolled in the Masters in Biology program at CSU Fresno.

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CSU, Fresno: Enrique Lopez

Enrique Lopez was able to participate in a research project in Summer 2005 with Dr. Richard Shavelson at Stanford University. His research focused on Science Education, more specifically "Students' Conceptual Change on Relative Density as Measured by Embedded Formative Assessments". While at Stanford University he was able to network with faculty and staff and attended seminars that prepared him for future research projects. Mr. Lopez is currently enrolled in the Masters in Chemistry program at CSU Fresno.

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CSU, Fresno: Enrique Lopez

Major: Chemistry

CSU, Fullerton: Melissa Romero
Major: Biology

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CSU, Fullerton: Melissa Romero

Melissa Romero is a graduating senior at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). During the summer of 2005 she worked on independent research in Dr. Danielle Zacherl's marine ecology laboratory at CSUF. Her work dealt with the larval life-stage of the marine gastropod Kelletia kelletii, a marine snail with a free-swimming planktonic larval life-stage and a benthic adult life-stage. Her work began with the culturing of K. kelletii larvae under different feeding (concentration of algal diet) conditions to identify algal diet concentration effects on growth and survival. This preliminary study was designed to provide the larvae with proper feeding conditions for the following investigations. She then proceeded to examine the effects of temperature on growth rate and diel vertical migration (DVM) behavior of K. kelletii larvae. She will be presenting a poster on her work at the 86th Western Society of Naturalist (WSN) Annual Meeting in Seaside, California on Novemer 18. Support from CSU-LSAMP allowed her carry out these investigations this summer that now has given her the opportunity to present her research at a scientific conference.

Humboldt State: Monique Crowley

Monique Crowley: Monique completed her GRE preparation this summer. She plans to take her GRE this Fall. She has undertaken an analysis of innate immunity in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans where she hopes to identify gene over-expression and/or regulation in response to bacterial infection. She is monitoring the expression of genes by real-time PCR analysis of RNA isolated from C. elegans challenged by pathogens. She hopes to present her work at regional or nationalmeetings.

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Humboldt State: Monique Crowley
Major: Cell/Molecular Biology

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Humboldt State: Rosalie Garcia
Major: Cell/Molecular Biology

Humboldt State: Rosalie Garcia

Rosalie completed her GRE preparation this summer (2005). In addition she volunteered her time at UC-Davis on a summer research project. She is working with Monique on innate immunity in C.elegans using a different bacterial strain.

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Eduardo completed his GRE preparation and also did a summer internship in Seattle. He is taking some time off to and plans to apply to graduate schools this coming spring semester.

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Humboldt State: Eduardo Donoso
Major: Cell/Molecular Biology

CSU, Long Beach: Uduak-Joe Ntuk
Major: Chemical Engineering

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CSU, Long Beach: Uduak-Joe Ntuk

As a CSU-LSAMP Student Scholar, I researched source references, read background books, performed experimental calculations, and wrote a final paper. Here is the research paper abstract: Rinsing is a routine part of the post-electroplating processes for cleaning the plated material. Different types of cleaning processes are analysed for a typical plated material: single tank, cross-current (2 or 3 tanks), and counter-current (2 or 3 tanks). In addition to the direct water useage, the indirect water useage i.e. the water used for the manufacture of both , steel tanks and alternately, plastic tanks is computed by performing a detailed water-analsis of all manufacturing processes(from either ore or polymer, to, the finished steel tank or plastic tank). The indirect water useage is "depreciated" over the expected life of the tank, which can vary based on the repair schedule. Based on the aforementioned methodology, the cumulative water useage (i.e. sum of the direct and indirect water useage) is analysed for: the five different types of rinsing processes; the two types of fabrication materials; different thicknesses of tanks; and, different time periods for "depreciation" (dependent on life of tank). Using this methodology (which is analogous to the classical life-cycle analysis) the results obtained give the surprising conclusion that the differences in the cumulative water useage are within a narrow range for all cases analysed by us small."

CSU, Los Angeles: Ikenna Madu

The plan of study for Mr. Ikenna Madu was to complete his research project for his undergraduate honors thesis in chemistry and graduate with honors. He also planned to prepare and submit his research project for publication. Ikenna G. Madu completed all requirements for his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with honors at end of summer 2005 and is now in a PhD program at Cornell University.

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CSU, Los Angeles: Monica Maynard
Major: Geology

CSU, Los Angeles: Monica Maynard

Monica I. Maynard is currently completed requirements for her Bachelor of Science degree in Geology (hopefully by the end of winter quarter 2006). She plans to apply for graduate school beginning in fall 2006 as a Masters degree student here at CSU, Los Angeles. She held a science day camp for middle school students in the predominantly Latino communities of Bell Gardens and Norwalk in coordination with middle school teachers, CSU, Los Angeles professors, and the Southern California Earthquake Center. She attended a research conference on earthquakes earlier this year in Los Angeles, and became an active student member of a Southern California geological society.

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CSU, Monterey Bay Gregory Ruiz

Greg used his LSAMP Scholars fund for his senior thesis work to study the condensation rate of fog in the Monterey Bay region. He purchased three standard fog collectors from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica in Santiago, Chile. These collectors are the standard fog measuring devices used by other researchers throughout the world. Greg ordered all the equipment and installed and calibrated them to meet research standards. The collectors were in place during the heavy fog periods of early summer through fall. He gathered data on the rate at which water collected during fog events and the volume produced during a week. Greg has submitted an abstract to the American Geophysical Union with the intent of presenting at their Fall 2005 conference.

Doing this research made Greg realize that it is possible to successfully develop and oversee a significant research project. Greg observes "I am amazed to think that I have obtained my data set for my capstone by myself, as I have found that many of my classmates obtain their data from previous research and analyze that for their project. I am happy to have had this experience now, as I see the problems that can arise when you try to do research in the world."

For his future career, Greg envisions developing the use of alternate water resources and their storage and supply systems using technologies to meet the needs of the populace without degrading the environment. Greg will be applying to graduate schools in environmental engineering to learn in depth the problems of water pollution, mitigation techniques, water supply versus demand and other crucial knowledge in the field of environmental engineering. His two top graduate schools are UC Davis and UC Berkeley.

Greg will donate the fog collectors and data logger to CSUMB and he will make his data set available to future students. Other students have already expressed an interest in continuing the project. With continued data collection CSUMB will have definitive research showcasing how this region compares to Chile, South Africa and other regions where this technology is in use.

Gregory Ruiz Profile

Greg plans on graduating from California State University, Monterey Bay, in the Fall of 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Systems Science and Policy. His concentration is in Watershed Systems. During his undergraduate career Greg has been able to combine his love of Math, Science, and Education with real world positions that have allowed him to assist others and learn more about the practical applications of his future degree.

After starting out as a front desk attendant for the Academic Skills Achievement Program, Greg quickly made the switch to his current position of Math tutor. "When things were slow at the front desk I would ask passing students if they needed help with Math. I just liked talking with students about Math and finding out what concepts were challenging. It just seemed natural to switch jobs and I have been happier ever since."

Greg was fortunate to receive the much sought after Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) scholarship. These funds were used to purchase fog collectors from Chile to further his study of the condensation rate of fog in the Monterey Bay region. He plans on submitting these results as his senior thesis, to FogQuest, a non-profit, environmental, and humanitarian organization that is the driving force behind the implementation of fog collection technology worldwide, and present at the Fall 2005 American GeoPhysical Conference. Greg also hopes to publish these results, with the help of an advisor, in a scientific journal.

Greg is still planning for his career but he does have an idea where the future will take him. "Principally my career goal is to become and Environmental Engineer but within that field I would like to work in watershed restoration. The natural world is always changing and damaged ecosystems do not always stay that way. If professionals dedicated to retarding and reversing environmental degradation apply the best scientific knowledge available, they can reclaim even severely affected habitats." Greg plans to attend the graduate program in Environmental Engineering at either UC Davis or UC Berkeley.

CSU, Monterey Bay Gregory Ruiz
Major: Earth Systems Science and Policy

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CSU, Monterey Bay Margarita Watts
Major: Earth Systems Science and Policy

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CSU, Monterey Bay Margarita Watts

Margarita (Maggie) used her LSAMP Scholars funds to assess the use of an underwater camera surveillance system to monitor steelhead fish activity. Current management practices under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 advocates non-intrusive techniques to monitor and assess special status species and their habitats.

Maggie developed a project designed to determine if underwater camera surveillance is an effective method for observing and assessing steelhead trout populations, a threatened species under the ESA, and defining their habitat preferences in the Carmel Lagoon. By understanding steelhead habitat preferences, restoration efforts in the lagoon can focus on re-planting and managing vegetation and habitat conditions that optimize steelhead spawning and resident.

Maggie created a motion detection computer program that was used in conjunction with the underwater surveillance to record movement of fish activity in various locations within the lagoon. This required many hours of set up, observation in the lagoon, and retooling of the equipment. The LSAMP scholarship paid for a stipend and a laptop computer to support her field data collection.

Maggie found that the video surveillance system was non-invasive, but that it had limited viewing capacities due to the low visibility (~0.8m) in the lagoon. Another technique Maggie is testing is snorkeling and she is still in the process of completing the fieldwork for this phase of her research. She plans to compare, contrast, and develop recommendations on which method is best for observing fish in their natural habitat as her senior thesis. She would like to present her work at a conference and is targeting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Annual Conference, which is held in February 2006.

Margarita (Maggie) Watts Profile

Maggie will graduate in the Fall of 2005 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Earth Systems Science & Policy with a concentration in Marine and Coastal Ecology. One of the highlights of her undergraduate studies has been receiving the prestigious Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) scholarship. The award is well deserved and is the result of Maggie's constant desire to learn and experience what education has afforded her. During her time at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB)

Maggie has dedicated herself to helping others by volunteering with several organizations and serving as a Senator-At-Large for the Associated Students. She has also served as Vice-Chair with the Otter Student Union, helped with the programming and operations of the Black Box Cabaret (BBC), served as a Student Orientation Leader and assisted with the future plans to build a Student Union on campus.

Along with her prolific involvement in campus affairs and student government, Maggie has been able to participate in a number of volunteer and internship programs while attending CSUMB. During the Summer of 2004, Maggie participated in the Semester at Sea program, where she was able to visit

CSU, Monterey Bay Daniel DelaCruz

Daniel used his LSAMP Scholars funds for his senior thesis "Identity Theft: Crime and Prevention." It is a fitting subject for Daniel as it incorporates his two primary academic interests, research and computer science. He created a website that raised awareness of identity theft to CSUMB students in order to reduce the chances of becoming a victim. Daniel designed a user-friendly navigational interface and organization layout. Information that is valuable to the students for identity theft awareness was incorporated into "Prevention Tips" and "Examples" webpages. Actual examples were also included that helped students become aware of the elaborate methods and tools that identity thieves utilize. Daniel's website can be viewed at http://myspace.csumb.edu/project/ddela/

Daniel DelaCruz Profile

Daniel's rise to academic success has been difficult and full of challenges that many lesser students would have allowed to define them. Orphaned at age 12, Daniel was without parents to guide him academically. Consequently, he lost focus, dropped out of high school, and resigned himself to doing hard labor for minimum pay. At age 22, Daniel was diagnosed with Genzyme Fabry, the same genetic disorder that claimed his mother's life ten years earlier.

Daniel had several options. He could follow the road marked by drug addiction, alcoholism, and fear, a way out that Daniel had seen before. The broken dreams of friends and family littered that path. Daniel chose the rode less traveled. He earned his high school diploma, enrolled in computer courses at CSUMB, and now will graduate with highest honors from CSUMB this Fall with a degree in Telecommunications Multimedia and Applied Computing.

Oddly enough, Daniel credits his interest in computers and research on his Lysosomal disorder. It was in learning about and researching his illness on the internet that opened up new vistas and opportunities to Daniel. "It is the tremendous impact that computers and the internet have had on my life that has fortified my educational interests in computer science."

Daniel used his LSAMP scholarship to fund his Capstone Project, entitled, "Identity Theft: Crime and Prevention." It is a fitting subject for Daniel as it incorporates his two primary academic interests, research and computer science. In fact, a look at Daniel's resume leaves little doubt as to where his interests lie. He has been a Computer Tutor, Chief Computer Technician, and Assistant Web developer. But, Daniel is not one to be pigeonholed. Along with his work in technology, Daniel has donated valuable time as a Volunteer Motivational Speaker. He has spoken to various conferences, societies, and individuals about his own ordeals with a Lysosomal Disease, and more importantly, about the need for more research in this field.

Daniel attended a LSAMP funded GRE preparation course during the summer and he would like to attend Stanford University for graduate work in information technology.

CSU, Monterey Bay Daniel DelaCruz
Major: Earth Systems Science and Policy

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CSU, Sacramento Elaine Manzanilla
Major: Biological Sciences

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CSU, Sacramento Elaine Manzanilla

A. Biography

"I am a nontraditional student who has returned to shool after raising my children and taking care of my grandmother. My dream is to earn a Ph.D. and acquire a position in an academic environment. Ideally, this will enable me to combine my desire to teach along with my desire to conduct research in the area of chemical properties of medicinal plants. I want to be a part of the scientific community seeking to protect this world and to find a cure for cancer and other devastating diseases. I will earn my Bachelor of Science in Biology at California State University, Sacramento in the Spring of 2007 and will continue on to graduate school. After earning my graduate degree, I intend to return to the university setting as a professor. I hope to give back to my community by inspiring underrepresented students to study and succeed in the sciences."

B. Status Report

LSAMP Scholar Elaine Manzanilla provided the following status update relating to her participation in the program.

Receiving the Louis Stokes AMP Scholar's Award was a benefit to my overall research experience in that it allowed me the freedom to purchase supplies to further my research, purchase texts in order to deepen my understanding of the basic research principles and provided funds for me to attend the annual conference of the American Society of Plant Biologists. While at the conference I was exposed to many different areas of research in relation to Botany which is my area of interest and future study and research. I was able to not only attend many research presentations but also meet scientists at all levels, from undergraduate to Ph.D. and add to my information base regarding many important areas on the path to my future.

During the period that I was the recipient of the AMP Scholar's Award I was also selected to be a McNair Scholar at CSUS. The research I conducted during McNair was enhanced by my AMP Scholar's Award both financially and educationally. Consequently, I have made oral presentations of my research at two McNair Scholar conferences, specifically, at Penn State and UC Berkeley. I have also been able to speak with many graduate school representatives and have identified several schools that I will apply to when I continue working toward my Ph.D. During the Spring of 2005 I completed a GRE Verbal Reasoning workshop and am confident that I will achieve the highest marks in the verbal portion of the GRE. I have obtained a practice GRE CD set and am endeavoring to ensure high overall marks by completing practice exams. I am looking forward to presenting my research at the 2005 LSAMP Conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The AMP Scholar's Award encouraged me to finish the first phase of my research and to continue to another phase of my research. I will accomplish this by completing the Honors Program in Biological Sciences at CSUS. Receiving this award has helped me to cement my goals with regard to a career in research as well as becoming a professor at the University level.

CSU, Sacramento Marisa Bautista
Major: Biological Sciences

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CSU, Sacramento Marisa Bautista

A. Biography

My name is Marisa Bautista. I am a senior at California State University, Sacramento where I am majoring in Biological Sciences. During my time at CSU, Sacramento, I have been an active member of the Science Educational Equity Program, as well as a member and an officer in the Multicultural Organization of Science Students. As a 2005-2006 McNair Scholar and Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar, I have been doing research under the guidance of Dr. Mary McCarthy-Hintz. My research focuses on growth inhibition of breast cancer cells using a Native American medicine called chuchupate.

After graduation in 2006, I hope to be accepted into an Ethnobotany or Ethnobiology graduate program where I can continue to do research using medicinal plants of indigenous peoples. Although I love research and the sciences, my main goal is to be an educator. My parents, both educators, are my main motivation for wanting to teach. They showed me by example that a good caring teacher can make a real difference in the lives of their students. They taught me that only a small percentage of minority and low-income students attend university and a lower percent actually