Pi Chi Omega awards 2016 scholarships

From left, Stephanie Hill, Brittany Campbell and Johnalyn Gordon at the Southeastern Pest Control Conference in early May.

Pi Chi Omega, the national entomology fraternity, announces four 2016 recipients of the Pi Chi Omega scholarships.

Recognizing the need for college-educated professionals in pest management, Pi Chi Omega, the national entomology fraternity, makes available scholarships each year to students majoring in urban and industrial pest management or some closely related plan of study. This year, four scholarships were awarded:

• The $3,000 scholarship was awarded to Brittany DeLong Campbell, who is currently a doctoral student in entomology at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Her dissertation title is “Biology and Control of Two Species of Human Parasitic Bed Bugs: Cimex lectularius Linnaeus and Cimex hemipterus Fabricius.” Campbell received her master’s of life science degree from Virginia Tech.
• Also at the University of Florida, Johnalyn Gordon, the only undergraduate scholarship recipient this year, received a $2,000 scholarship award. Gordon is a wildlife and ecology major with a minor in entomology and nematology. She has completed an independent research project on a survey of 25b, or “least risk,” pesticides in comparison with common dish soap (a combination of soap salts), and individual salts, including potassium laurate and sodium laurate.

The other two recipients of the $2,000 scholarships are both Ph.D. students at North Carolina State University:

• Michael Fisher is pursuing his doctorate in entomology with a minor in biotechnology. His dissertation subject is “Microbial diversity of the common bed bug: How the microbiome influences longevity, fitness and vector competence.” Fisher holds a bachelor’s of science degree from Iowa State University, where he double-majored in animal ecology and entomology. As a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, he is currently on Duty Under Instruction to pursue his studies full-time.
• Angela Sierras is currently a doctoral student in entomology. Her dissertation topic is “Evaluation of Ingestible Insecticides on Bed Bugs.” Her primary focus is to evaluate active ingredients that can be incorporated in a novel liquid baiting system. She received her bachelor’s of science degree in zoology in 2011 from North Carolina State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Michael Fisher and Angela Sierras, scholarship winners from North Carolina State University.

“Our committee had a difficult job choosing the four award recipients from a very qualified pool of 10 applicants,” says Stephanie Hill, Chairman of the Pi Chi Omega Scholarship Committee. “It is a great problem to have — seeing this many students pursuing important research in the field of urban and industrial pest control.”

To be eligible, students must be currently enrolled full-time in undergraduate or graduate studies in urban or industrial pest management or a related field. The award is based on the student being in good academic standing (3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale), as well as on character, personality, school activities and professional activities.

Applicants must submit a completed application form; resume or curriculum vitae; an official transcript from the school currently attending; a one-page essay describing how their studies, research, and/or work experience will contribute to the urban and industrial pest management industry; two letters of recommendation; and a letter of support from a Pi Chi Omega member.