Yesterday the CSCAA released the list of Division 3 Scholar All-Americans. Whitman was well represented with First year Karl Mering garnering Scholar All-American honors while Senior Mitchell Lee and Junior Katie Chapman were named Honorable Mention Scholar All Americans.
A Scholar All American carries a 3.5 GPA or higher while being selected to D3 NCAA Championships. Honorable mention is given to those with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who attain a provisional qualifying standard, regardless of selection to the NCAA Championships.
Tyler: I really liked the
overall atmosphere of the whole college when I visited. The swim team was also
very open and accepting of me, and just seemed like a lot of fun. The strong academics
were also a necessity.
Kevin: Where are you spending the summer?
Tyler: In the Science Building at Whitman.
Kevin: Hahaha, What are you doing?
Tyler: I am synthesizing cadmium free (cadmium is super toxic) nanocrystals
that can be used to make LED's more efficient. As of now, it is difficult for
LED's to emit a good white light (covering all of the visible light) because a
lot of the materials can't emit in the green region. Ideally, these
nanocrystals will absorb UV light and then emit it in more of the green region,
which would give an overall nice white light.
Kevin: Sounds like a fun project. What are you doing
in Walla Walla to keep busy?
Tyler: Mostly just swimming and working out in the gym trying to stay in shape
for next season.
Kevin: What a good way to spend the summer! One last
question. What are you looking forward to most for next season?
Tyler: I am excited for my last year of college and for what I hope to be our
team's best season yet.
Erin: I chose Whitman after visiting the college with my
cousin who graduated in 2009 and immediately loved it. The campus is beautiful
and the science department is full of wonderful professors who are willing to
work with each student to help them succeed.
Kevin: What does your summer look like?
Erin: I am spending my summer on the tiny island of Sanibel in southwest
Florida working at the Sanibel Sea School (a small non-profit organization dedicated
to educating young kids about the ocean and the biology associated with it) in
addition to doing research.
Kevin: Sounds like a lot of fun! What are you researching?
Erin: My research is in plankton and artificial reefs. I am monitoring plankton
communities between two locations to draw a correlation between plankton
diversity and abundance and reef health. A new ship is being sunk as an
artificial reef that may end up being a great research tool.
Kevin: Sounds
like a fun project. What else are you doing in Florida to keep busy?
Erin: I like to spend my free time exploring the beach and the Gulf of Mexico.
My other job keeps me extra busy with kids and camp programs. On weekends I
love to escape to nearby Bradenton and I hope to make it down to South Beach
this summer.
Kevin: Sounds like a good way to spend the summer. What are
your hopes moving forward with your research?
Erin: I am hoping that my research will get me somewhere and give me enough
data to formulate a thesis. Maybe it will even save the ocean!
