2023 Choppin Honors Convocation Award Winners

BATON ROUGE- At the end of every spring semester, the College of Science and its departments recognize students, faculty, and staff who

have made significant professional accomplishments and notable contributions to the department throughout the academic year at the Arthur R. Choppin Honors Convocation. 

“We have outstanding students, staff, and faculty all across the college. Every year, I look forward to learning at the Honors Convocation about the brand-new ways they excel in the classroom, the office, and the laboratory,” said Associate Dean of Academic Services, Dr. Andrew Maverick. 

Dr. Choppin graduated from LSU in 1918 with majors in chemistry and botany. After serving in World War I, he became an instructor at LSU and obtained a master’s degree in chemistry in 1925. He took a leave of absence to earn his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1929. Choppin became an assistant professor of chemistry at LSU and established a research program in

 kinetics. After promotion to full professor in 1936, he was made dean of the college in 1944, where he remained until his retirement in 1968. During his tenure as dean of the then College of

 Chemistry and Physics, Dr. Choppin oversaw the conversion of the basic sciences at LSU from a unit largely engaged in teaching to one that promoted research by its faculty and students. 

In memory of Dr. Choppin and his dedication to our college, this ceremony, now in its 46th year, is made possible by gifts made in Choppin’s honor through the LSU Foundation and the scholarship fund of the Louisiana Department of the American Legion. 

Congratulations to this year’s Biological Sciences honorees! 

College of Science Recognitions 

Dr. Marion D. “Soc” Socolofsky Award for Teaching Excellence (Tie): Rebecca Nguyen and Johnna Roose 
Distinguished Dissertation Award: Glaucia Del-Rio 
Non-Tenured Faculty Research Award: Daijiang Li 
Staff Excellence Award: Elizabeth Hlucky 

LSU College of Science Office of Diversity & Inclusion Recognition 

SCI Lead: Grace Brandhurst, Jason Huang, Darryl Higgins, Dykia Williams, Nina Colegrove,  Tammy San, Zahra Naeini, Skylar Mancuso, Nita McCulla, Maci Mannina, and Connor Couvillon 

SOARS: Jason Huang, Aaliyah Hameed

Department of Biological Sciences Recognitions 
Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Award: Zahra Naeini  
Outstanding Senior in Biochemistry: Alexa Gonzalez 
Charles S. McCleskey Memorial Endowment Scholarship: Kenedi Lynch Amborski Award: Lucy Detweiler 
Socolofsky Scholarship: Emily Evans 
Geaux Teach Award:

Robert Godke 
The Harvey Landry Jr. Greater BR State Fair Scholarship Fund: Tanisha Patel 
Marie Standifer Undergraduate Award in Biological Sciences: Lexie Cheremie 
Virginia Rice Williams Memorial Scholarship: Sophia Matylis