McNair Scholar Honored as EKU's Outstanding Senior in the Department of Biological Sciences

EKU McNair scholar Elijah "Cruz" Cardona (shown with his EKU Biology mentor Dr. Stephen Richter) has been honored as EKU's 2023 Outstanding Senior in Biological Sciences.  According to the EKU Department of Biological Sciences, the recognized outanding senior demonstrates consistently excellent scholarship, involvement in scientific organizations or clubs which reinforce career interests, special recognition awards, leadership and service activities involving other biology students, and a mature attitude toward pursuing a career in the biological science.  Cruz is from Lexington, Kentucky and will graduate with a 4.0 GPA.  In addition to being an EKU McNair Scholar, Cruz is also a Dr. Rodney Gross Scholar, a member of EKU's Honors Program, has been on the Dean's List and President's List each semester since starting at EKU, and is the previous winner of the Department of Biological Sciences' Bingham Prize and Outstanding Junior Award.  In 2022 Cruz was an "I am EKU" award recipient and a recipient of the Dr. Rodney Gross Excellence Award.  Working under the faculty guidance of EKU's Dr. Stephen Richter, Cruz particpated in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program to study the behavior of copperheads in the Daniel Boone National Forest.  He also worked as a Biology intern in EKU's Division of Natural Areas.  Under the research mentorship of EKU's Dr. Valaarie Peters Cruz conducted his 2022 McNair-sponsored summer research by studying wild bees in agroforests of Costa Rica.  Cruz rounds out his EKU experience as a Residence Hall Advisor and being an active member of the Latino Student Association. Finally, Cruz is also the founder and president of EKU's Table Tennis Club. Following graduation Cruz plans to take field jobs for a year, then puusue Master's and Ph.D. degrees before joining a university faculty to study native bee conservation.

Published on May 11, 2023