News

Congratulations...Congratulations...Congratulations!!!

Students in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program at Virginia Commonwealth University recently were awarded scholarships both at the state and national levels.

Jessica Kilgore and Alex De Jesus each received an American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Associate Council Student Scholarship. Awards are based on academic achievement, professional goals and leadership abilities. Students from baccalaureate and associate level medical technology, histotechnology and cytotechnology training programs from across the country competed for a total of 50 scholarships. Awarding two of these national scholarships to students in the same program is a testament to the high quality of students at VCU. Academically both Ms. Kilgore and Mr. De Jesus have excelled, consistently maintaining inclusion on the Dean's Honor List as well as receiving other academic recognitions.

Ms. Kilgore is in the VCU Honors Program, a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and recipient of the VCU Provost Scholarship and the A.D. Williams Award. She entered the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program after completing her prerequisite courses at VCU and through a dual enrollment program at Danville Community College while in high school. Ms. Kilgore plays a leadership role within her class by serving as the Honor Council representative, class treasurer and member of the graduation committee. Her leadership extends to her educational goals; she is currently a member of the inaugural class of the Accelerated Master of Science program in which she is expected to receive both the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Clinical Laboratory Science in May of 2006.

Mr. De Jesus was born in the Philippines where he received his Doctor of Medicine diploma. After immigrating to the United States he followed his sister’s footsteps (CLS class of 1997) and entered the Clinical Laboratory Science program at VCU. In spite of a busy schedule as a full-time student, Mr. De Jesus is active in the community. He volunteers at the National Parks Foundation and on the Vascular Surgery Nursing Unit at the VCU Medical Center, is a member of the Prison Ministry Services and has participated with his church group in a "Feed the Homeless" drive. He is also a member of the ASCP Outstanding Student Honor Society.

The state scholarship sponsored by the Virginia Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences was awarded to Morgan Marshall, a senior in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program at VCU. Ms. Marshall is a very mature, self-motivated individual. Throughout her college years she has balanced a full-time class schedule with part-time jobs to support her educational goals. Currently she is working at the VCU Health System in the Transfusion Medicine Department. In her free time, when she can find any, she enjoys reading mystery novels, working out at the gym and spending time with nieces and nephews and she continues to be one of our outstanding students.

Please join the department faculty in congratulating Ms. Kilgore, Ms. Marshall and Mr. De Jesus for these well deserved scholarships and in extending our best wishes as they pursue their careers.

Scholarship Recipients: (l to r) Alex De Jesus, Jessica Kilgore, Morgan Marshall