On Oct. 22, the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation donated a total of $97,500 in awards to San Diego State graduate students studying natural sciences, bio-medicine and engineering.

The 13 SDSU students that received one of the $7,500 awards were Martis Cowles, Lee Frederickson, Michael Gurney, Marcel Hetu, Vicky Hurless, Manna Iwabuchi, Brandon Kim, Sarah McCullough, Timothy Montgomery, Pearl Quijada, Stephen Quistad, Stephen Rice and Julia Rossi, according to SDSU NewsCenter.

President of the ARCS Foundation San Diego chapter Diane Chalmers said the money is beneficial to scholars in a variety of ways.

“Our feeling is that it is so important to support the scholars in any way we can, they can buy a computer to track their research or use it to pay their rent,” Chalmers said. “This is about freeing up their time and worries so they can focus on their research.”

Students are nominated for the ARCS awards by faculty members, or they can self-nominate if faculty concurs their nomination, Chalmers said. Each student is required to write about his or her research and visions for how it will be applied. The next step in the process is a panel interview, followed by an additional interview with psychology professor and associate dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the College of Sciences Cathie Atkins. Students are selected by SDSU and presented the award at the ARCS ceremony.

The criteria considered for the award is a 3.5 GPA or higher, engagement in the fields of science, engineering or medical research and U.S. citizenship, Chambers said. Students can also be funded for approximately three to four years afterward.

“ARCS creates a sense of community in which the scholar feels like they are a valued member and a true contributor to the scientific enterprise,” Atkins said. “SDSU is proud that the ARCS community recognizes and provides funding for so many of our students who are doing cutting-edge research.”

Brandon Kim, who is in the PhD doctorate program, is one of the ARCS award winners whose areas of concentration are cell and molecular biology with a specialization in bacterial infections and meningitis.

“The ARCS is an amazing program founded on the mission to ensure our country’s excellence in science, it also assists us students in maintaining our ability to live here in San Diego, while also conducting our research, and for that I am extremely appreciative,” Kim said.

Kim said the high level of competition gives students more motivation to work for the award.

Photo courtesy of SDSU NewsCenter.