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Omeris awards bioscience student scholarships

In conjunction with the Ohio Academy of Science’s 58th Annual State Science Day, Omeris recently awarded bioscience scholarships to two northeast Ohio high school students. Omeris is Ohio’s bioscience membership and development organization.

Hope Jeffries, a junior at Glen Oak High School in Canton, won a $1,000 Bio in Ohio scholarship to be used at any Ohio college or university for her outstanding project on the geographic and genetic variation of the Lasis mackloti, or Macklot’s Python.

Alicia Petrarca, a senior at Beaumont School in Cleveland Heights, won a $300 Bio in Ohio scholarship for her exemplary research and presentation of the antibacterial properties of essential oils.

Held on May 6 at the Ohio State University’s French Field House, State Science Day featured more than 1,000 Ohio students in grades 7-12 who qualified through local school science days or science fairs. With more than 100 different scholarships and awards collectively valued at $1.7 million up for grabs, the student competitors were evaluated on their scientific research and communication skills. Projects from 22 high school juniors and seniors were judged for Omeris’ Bio in Ohio scholarship awards.

In addition to the Omeris scholarships, three bioscience-related scholarships were sponsored by the Ohio Department of Development. Andrew Lee, a senior at Upper Arlington High School, Emily Buerschen, a sophomore at Chaminade Julienne High School (Dayton), and Megan Cochran, a senior at Mentor High School, each received a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Biotechnology scholarship.

Omeris scholarship funds were generated through a silent auction of donated items during Omeris’ annual BioOhio conference last year.

Omeris is a non-profit organization supported by the Thomas Edison Program of the Ohio Department of Development. Its mission is to accelerate bioscience discovery, innovation and commercialization of global value, driving economic growth, and improving quality of life in Ohio. Omeris is headquartered in Columbus, with regional business development affiliates in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Athens.