Congratulations to the 2023 Ronald Gonzalez Wildcat Spirit Awardees!

Congratulations to the 2023 Ronald Gonzalez Wildcat Spirit Awardees Vanessa Addison, Sean Chen, Alejandra Carreon, Nick Mortimore, and Kristen Roehling!

We recognize students that go above and beyond in supporting CBC and become an important part of the CBC community. These students are the type of people that make a genuine impact by the support they provide. This award was initiated by the CBC Advising office in Spring 2015 in recognition of Ronald Gonzalez, who made this award possible. 

Vanessa Addison

Vanessa Addison is graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry as well as minors in Chemistry and Spanish. She is passionate about biomedical science and health education, with personal and professional goals to increase health literacy and provide aid to traditionally underserved communities.

Vanessa’s pursuits are motivated by her love for science and dedication to service. Throughout her time in college, Vanessa volunteered at the Sister Jose Women’s Homeless Shelter, helping to provide care and comfort to those in crisis. Inspired by her time at the shelter, she initiated a social media campaign to raise awareness about homelessness in Tucson. This experience served as a touchstone for her advocacy work within the Fight4HER organization, which campaigns for affordable and inclusive health justice reform.

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, attendance at a national research meeting, and contributions to a scientific publication. She is very committed to enhancing STEM inclusivity and has served as a preceptor, organic chemistry tutor, and SALT Center tutor to achieve this goal in the academic environment. In particular, Vanessa’s involvement in CBC as an Ambassador and Peer Mentor has enabled her to advise a cohort of first-year students and engage in scientific communication.

Vanessa is a Merrill Freeman Medal recipient and was honored with the Michael A Wells Scholarship for excellence in research. She was recently named the CBC Outstanding Senior and is the overall College of Science Outstanding Senior. One of her greatest memories is having been crowned the University of Arizona Homecoming Queen. This fall, Vanessa will attend the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to pursue her M.D. as part of the 2027 class. Having been inspired by her CBC advisors and professors at the UA, her greatest aspiration is to integrate clinical practice and academic medicine, with the goal of pursuing a career in teaching medicine.

Sean Chen

I am a second-year undergraduate student, studying biochemistry. My research involvement has been focused on studying the protein rhodopsin and its role in vision. Through my work in Dr. Michael Brown's research group, I have gained valuable experience in experimental techniques and data analysis.

When I'm not in the lab, you can find me at the gym lifting weights or indulging in my love for food.

Alejandra Carreon

Alejandra Carreon Torres is a Peruvian undergraduate studying biochemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Arizona. With a passion for research and sustainability, Alejandra is currently conducting research in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering department in the laboratory of Dr. Diaz.

She serves as an ambassador and peer mentor for the Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry. Additionally, she is an Associate Committee member focused on sustainability in the CEI. Alejandra is set to graduate in 2024 and is eager to contribute her skills and knowledge to the scientific community.

Nick Mortimore

I began my journey at the W.A. Franke Honors College of the University of Arizona in the fall of 2019. Eager to get involved in life sciences research, I immediately joined the lab of Dr. Daniela Zarnescu where I studied the neurodegenerative illness ALS using a fruit fly model disease. As it was election season at this time, I also helped found the UArizona Students for Bernie club which was instrumental in building campus awareness of the presidential election.

I joined the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) in my first summer over the pandemic, where I contributed to work that was published in the peer reviewed scientific literature. In the time since that first summer, I was elected as the Pen Pal Coordinator and then later the President of the UBRP Ambassadors, and I can confidently say that my time in UBRP has been the most rewarding experience of my undergraduate career.

In my sophomore year, I became a CBC Ambassador and Peer Mentor, where I have enjoyed giving back to the department and helping new students make the most of their time on campus. Finally, I was recently awarded the Beckman Scholarship, which has given me the incredible opportunity to do research in the lab of Dr. Ross Buchan studying the role of mRNA in facilitating protein-protein interactions.

I am so thankful for my wonderful professors, peers, and especially my advisors who have made my undergraduate experience more exciting and productive than I could have possibly imagined. Bear Down!

Kristen Roehling

Kristen is an undergraduate junior majoring in chemistry and applied math and minoring in astronomy. She conducts microwave spectroscopy research in the Kukolich group, focusing on hydrogen-bonded dimers. She will also intern with the Air Force Research Laboratory this summer working in an explosives processing lab.

She has enjoyed her time in CBC as a peer mentor and ambassador. Her favorite part about her responsibilities is welcoming new students and helping them connect with all of the great resources the department and the UA have to offer. Her favorite hobbies are hiking, reading, and swing dancing.