Class of 2023 Multiple Award Recipient - Vanessa Addison

March 31, 2023
Vanessa Addison

Congratulations to Vanessa Addison! Vanessa was selected to receive the following awards in the 2022-2023 school year:

Vanessa was raised in Scotland & Colorado and is an avid runner, foodie, and traveler. This spring she will graduate Summa Cum Laude from the Franke Honors College with a B.S. in Biochemistry.

She is passionate about biomedical science and health education, with personal and professional goals to increase health literacy and provide aid to medically underserved communities.

As a freshman, she interned with the Fight4HER campaign to advocate for affordable health services on Capitol Hill. She volunteers regularly at the Sister Jose Women’s Homeless Shelter and has initiated a social media campaign to raise awareness about the homeless crisis in Tucson.

Throughout the pandemic, Vanessa served as an EMT in a mobile POD to vaccinate students and Tucson residents. She also worked in an addiction rehabilitation clinic and quickly recognized the impact of social determinants on people's access to comprehensive care.

In 2021, Vanessa began researching in the lab of Dr. Ross Buchan. Her efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis have culminated in an Honors thesis, several award-winning posters, and contributions to a scientific publication.

She is committed to enhancing STEM inclusivity and has served as a preceptor, CBC Ambassador, peer mentor, organic chemistry tutor, and SALT Center tutor to achieve this goal.

This fall, Vanessa will attend medical school and pursue her lifelong aspiration of becoming a physician.

"Embrace hard work with open arms, as nothing worthwhile comes easily. Growth and comfort seldom coexist." - John Addison (Vanessa's father).