The New Class of Scholars of the UNCF-Merck Science Initiative

The Merck Company Foundation has announced the awarding of scholarships and fellowships to 37 of the countryʼs most accomplished and promising African-American undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students of biological science and engineering. The United Negro College Fund/Merck Science Initiative is now in its 18th year and has awarded scholarships to 626 African American students. The 2013 UNCF•MERCK Fellows receive awards ranging from $25,000 for undergraduate scholarship recipients to $92,000 for recipients of postdoctoral fellowships.

“Merck is proud of our long-standing partnership with UNCF,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, CEO of Merck, one of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies. “As a leading healthcare company deeply committed to innovative R&D, we need to tap into the full range of talent and ideas available. This important initiative helps ensure that outstanding African-American students can play a key role in addressing the significant and growing medical need here in the U.S. and around the world.”

Here is a list of this year’s winners:

Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Awards (up to $25,000 each)

• Uzoamaka C. Agubokwu, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
• Maurice A. Asouzu, University of Alabama, Birmingham
• Olayode O. Babatunde, University of Alabama, Birmingham
• Akeadra E. Bell, Elizabeth City State University
• Gavin Coombs, High Point University
• Robyn T. Harper, University of Maryland at College Park
• Rena Ingram, Fort Valley State University
• Jarvis J. Johnson, University of Alabama, Birmingham
• Kenyaria Noble, University of South Florida
• Elizabeth Ogunrinde, Florida State University
• Uchenna C. Okoro, University of Maryland Baltimore County
• Chinonso Opara, University of Washington
• Achaia J. Taltoan, Kentucky State University
• Sarra Z. Tekola, University of Washington
• Ezigbobiara N. Umejiego, Kennesaw State University

Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships (up to $53,500 each)

• Olukemi O. Akintewe, University of South Florida
• Omotayo A. Arowojolu, New York University School of Medicine
• Amma Asare, Weill Cornell Medical College
• Tamar Carter, University of Florida
• Wilbert B. Copeland, University of Washington
• Chimdimnma Esimai, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Frankie D. Heyward, University of Alabama, Birmingham
• Brian S.R. Johnson, University of Pennsylvania
• Courtney M. Johnson, Brown University
• Samuel J. Laurencin, Drexel University College of Medicine
• Jason McSheene, Princeton University
• Anthony Williams, University of Miami

Postdoctoral Science research Fellows (up to $92, 000 each)

• Ericka L. Anderson, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
• Anoklase Ayitou, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
• Muyinatu Bell, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
• Zufan Debebe, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Mehabaw G. Derebe, Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Faith L. Hall-Glenn, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco
• Geoffrey K. Kilili, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health
• Jeremy M. Lott, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
• Jennifer L. McLarty, Ph.D., University of Alabama, Birmingham
• Martin N. Shelon, Ph.D., Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle