Awards
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology recognizes outstanding accomplishments of a predoctoral student with four awards:
The Joe R. Kimmel Award was established in 1985 as a memorial to Joe R. Kimmel, M.D., Ph.D. by colleagues and students. Dr. Kimmel, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, was on the faculty from 1963 until his death in 1985.
It is awarded for an outstanding research presentation in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Student Research Forum.
Recipients of the Kimmel Award:
| Recipient | Year |
|---|---|
| Kaitlin DeHart | 2024 |
| Benjamin Ryan | 2023 |
| Griffin Welfer | 2022 |
| Nicole Hoitsma | 2021 |
| No award due to pandemic | 2020 |
| Alex Machen | 2019 |
| Pierce O'Neil | 2018 |
| Jackie Thompson | 2017 |
| Zhen Zhang | 2016 |
| Mary Ashley Rimmer | 2015 |
| Rushi Trivedi | 2014 |
| Dan Parente | 2013 |
| Mauricio Vargas Uribe | 2012 |
| Subhaschandra Naik | 2011 |
| Troy Johnson | 2009 |
| Hiroo Katayama | 2008 |
| Matthew Goering | 2007 |
| Benjamin Weaver | 2006 |
| Ryan Schulze | 2005 |
| Alexsander Dajkovic | 2004 |
| Huimin Jiang | 2002 |
| Scott Falke | 2001 |
| Susanna Harju | 2000 |
| Shihyun You | 1999 |
| Stephen Parnell | 1998 |
| Bei Xie | 1991 |
| Carla Green | 1990 |
| Michael Harding | 1990 |
| Larry Dobbs | 1988 |
| Robin Maser | 1987 |
Santiago Grisolia Research Fellowship is awarded for Excellence in Biomedical Research by a Medical Student at the Student Research Forum.
This award was established in 1997 in commemoration of the esteemed career of Santiago Grisolia, M.D., Ph.D., by colleagues, associates, and students. Dr. Grisolia, Professor Emeritus at the University of Kansas
Medical Center, was Director of the McIlvain Laboratories, 1954-62 and Professor and inaugural Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, 1962-73. After a long and successful career, Dr. Grisolia passed away in 2022.
Recipients of the Grisolia Award:
| Recipient | Year |
|---|---|
| Spencer Thompson | 2024 |
| Lauryn Werner | 2022 |
| Miranda Machacek | 2018 |
| Dan Parente | 2011 |
| Bliss Hartnett | 2008 |
| Jacob Hodges | 2007 |
| James Howard | 2002 |
| Stephen Clum | 1998 |
| Nils R. Hoernle | 1998 |
This award is named after Tom Steadman, a farmer/rancher in Woodward County, OK. It was from observing Mr. Steadman's actions that Dr. Fenton first realized the value of service as an important way of giving back to the community. Graduating high school students can benefit from help in exploring available career options; therefore, there is a need for individuals in professional fields to create opportunities to supply that help. The ability to identify needs in the community, coupled with the willingness to fill that need exemplifies how Mr. Steadman has led his life.
Recipients of the Tom Steadman Award
| Recipient | Year |
|---|---|
| Samantha Donald | 2023 |
| Chris Elniff | 2022 |
| Kenneth Lee | 2021 |
| Eric Kessler | 2020 |
| L. B. Fogt | 2019 |
| Giselle McDonald | 2018 |
| Zulma Perez-Estrella | 2017 |
Mr. Dix is a retired biology educator. During his 38 years of teaching, he was instrumental in developing an advanced biotechnology curriculum in the Olathe School District, including the Olathe 21st Century Program for Life Sciences. He served as a resource for other KC area-wide schools as they developed their own biotechnology programs. Mr. Dix's lifelong teaching goal was to connect students to the world of scientific research by developing classroom methods and skills for scientific inquiry learning, with the aid of mentorship from many professional scientists.
Recipients of the Randy Dix Award:
| Recipient | Year |
|---|---|
| Betsy Lawrence | 2022 |
| Dr. Jill Bergerhofer | 2021 |
| Amy Radaker Hillman | 2021 |