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Chemistry and Biochemistry Student Awardees

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry acknowledge our outstanding graduates with a number of awards each year. A complete list is below and where available each is linked to their LinkedIn page or other professional page along with their current position, affiliation and industrial/academic area. As you can see our chemistry/biochemistry majors go on to do a variety of great things.

Go To Section: Outstanding Researcher • AIC Award • ACS/UNF Awards in Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, Physical, Biochemistry

Outstanding Chemistry Graduates

2025: Chloe Perednia
2024: Chris Yazji (MS in Anesthesia @ Nova Southeast)
2023: Sydney Hauth (Ph.D. in Pharmacy @ University of Florida)
2022: Victoriya Maslikova
2021: Lauren Mann (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ University of Florida)
2020: Ryan Lopez (Orthopaedic Surgery Resident @ University of Utah)
2019: Dawn Raja Somu (Postdoc Inorganic Chemistry @ PNNL)
2018: Jessica Mammalapalli (Clinical Lecturer, College of Pharmacy @ University of Florida)
2017: Pete Ranspach
2016: Drew Salsburg (Associate Process Scientist, Biochemist @ bioMérieux)
2015: Yang Ban (Advanced Technology Lead @ SandBox Semiconductor)
2014: Natalie Cleaveland
2013: Mikhail Marchenko and Mary Hertz (Assistant Professor of Chemistry @ US Air Force Academy)
2012: Katelyn Fredrickson (Assistant Professor of Pharmacology @ Boston University School of Medicine)
2011: Zachary Kann (Data Scientist)
2010: Daniel Dudenkov (Docter of Internal Medicine @ Mayo Clinic)
2009: James Vickers (Technology Manager @ US Department of Energy)
2008: Katherine Compaan
2007: Natalia Klosak
2006: Luz Mery Mendez
2005: Jason E. Johnson
2004: Jennifer Williams (Technical Manager @ NASA)
2003: Katerina Kucera (Clinical Program Manager @ IQVIA)
2002: Thomas F. Hughes (Research Lead @ Schrödinger)
2001: John-Michael Holas (Vice President Global Planning and Logistics @ Ingredion)
2000: Shana Wolf and Vicki Broadstreet (Senior Forensic Chemist @ US DEA)
1999: Raymond Thibault (Polymer Scientist @ Hexcel)
1998: Felix Thanh-Hung Tran
1997: Tuan Tran
1996: Patricia Sakon Williams
1995: Rick Troendle (Lecturer (Retired) @ UNF)
1994: Michael DeArment (Pulmonologist @ Atrium Health)
1993: Melissa Bush
1992: Pamela Dominick (High School Science Teacher)
1991: Judith Simms
1990: K. Bruce Byrd
1989: Jean H. Hawkins

Outstanding Undergraduate Researchers

2025: Robbie Huff
2024: Amanda Jessel (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ Texas A&M)
2023: Cassidy Nguyen (Virtual Community Leader @ Alzheimer's Association)
2022: Garrett Deletti
2021: Megan DeMart (Senior Research Associate @ Circle Pharma)
2020: Caleb Weber (Neuroscience Resarcher @ Mayo Clinic)
2019: Sarah Mann (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ Boston College)
2018: Kai Lister
2017: Joon Seok Oh
2016: Tri Le (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ Univ. Colorado - Boulder)
2015: Daniel Chica (Research Scientist - Materials @ Periodic Labs)
2014: John Cain
2013: Kevin Moore III (Quantum Chemistry Applications Scientist @ Schrodinger)
2012: Tyler Huber (Technical Project Lead @ Resilience)
2011: Jeremy Nix
2010: Jarrod Mousa (Associate Professor @ FSU College of Medicine)
2009: Jeff Auletta (Postdoctoral Fellow @ U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory)
2008: Katherine Compaan
2007: David Cacace (Quality/Reliability Engineer @ Intel)
2006: Tanya M. Alvers (Sr. Development Analytical Chemist @ Vertellus Specialties)
2003: Ibrahim Yazji
2002: Christopher Hilton (Founder/CEO @ Hilton-Nixon LLC)
2000: Ryan Sessions (Biology Faculty @ FSCJ Jacksonville)
1999: Suzanne Purinton (Laboratory Lecturer @ UNF)
1998: Maurice Cafiero (Lecturer in Physical Chemistry @ Univ. Reading, UK)
1997: Azizeh Elias (Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt @ Underwriters Laboratories)
1995: Han Tran

American Institute of Chemistry Award

2025: Thomas Johnston
2024: Jordan Tucker (Researcher @ UF)
2023: Joseph Drinkwater
2022: Daniel Badger (Compliance/Technical Officer @ Tower Products LLC)
2021: Ryan Espie (Analyst II @ AEL)
2020: Khang Le
2019: Thorson Bastien (Lead Chemical Engineer @ Aether)
2018: Dallas Burke (Student Naval Aviatorin the US Navy)
2017: David Sisco
2016: Gregory Miller (Researcher @ UCF)
2015: Chad Drexler (Analyzer Engineer @ ExxonMobil)
2012: Daniel Morley (EMS @ Henry Ford Health)
2011: Ashley Compaan (Materials Engineer @ NovaBone)
2010: Jarrod Mousa (Associate Professor @ FSU College of Medicine)
2009: Ashley Williams (Chemistry and Forensic Science Teacher @ The Bolles School)
2008: Christopher McAdams (Physician @ Will-o-the-Wisp Consulting Radiologists)
2007: Robert Gillespie
2006: Sarah Dekat (Control Room Supervisor @ Evergy)
2003: Mark Kinnan (Strategic Program Leader @ Sandia National Laboratories
2002: Christine Redfield
2001: Angeli Rodriguez (CEO @ The Witty Whisker Cat Cafe)
2000: Dominic Gourd (Director Product Quality @ J&J Vision Care)
1999: Raymond Thibault (Polymer Scientist @ Hexcel Corporation)
1998: Maurice Cafiero (Lecturer in Physical Chemistry @ Univ. Reading, UK)
1997: Heather Doskocil
1995: Rick Troendle (Lecturer (Retired) @ UNF)

ACS Analytical Chemistry Award

2025: Kayleigh Coleman (Study abroad student)
2024: Will Tuten (Intern @ Mayo Clinic)
2023: Xhorxhi Pengo
2022: Victoriya Maslikova
2021: Daniel Badger (Compliance/Technical Officer @ Tower Products LLC)
2020: Lauren Mann (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ University of Florida)
2019: Dawn Raja Somu (Postdoc Inorganic Chemistry @ PNNL)
2018: Clay Curry
2017: Kai Lister
2016: Alexandra Patron (Clinical Pharmacist @AdventHealth)
2015: Tri Le (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ Univ. Colorado - Boulder)
2014: Paige Mandelare (Purification and Analytical Biochemist @ Modular Genetics)
2012: Megan Cheney (Chemist @ Johnson & Johnson Vision)

ACS Inorganic Chemistry Award

2025: Alayna Puls
2024: Amanda Jessel (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ Texas A&M)
2023: Amanda Jessel (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ Texas A&M)
2022: Joseph Drinkwater
2021: Daniel Badger (Compliance/Technical Officer @ Tower Products LLC)
2020: Victoriya Maslikova
2019: Matthew Khoury
2018: Thorson Bastien (Lead Chemical Engineer @ Aether)
2017: Riju Thomas
2016: Natalia Gutierrez (Postdoctoral Researcher @ Columbia University )
2015: Daniel Chica (Research Scientist - Materials @ Periodic Labs)
2010: Zachary Kann (Data Scientist)

ACS Organic Chemistry Award

2025: Micah DeCourcey
2024: David Weldon
2023: Zachary Burkhead
2022: Sajan Green (Ph.D. in Chemical Biology/NSF Graduate Research Fellow @ UF)
2021: Ryan Smith (Laboratory Scientist @ BrightView Health)
2020: Garrett Deletti
2019: Dawn Raja Somu (Postdoc Inorganic Chemistry @ PNNL)
2018: Angela Zwarycz (Pharamcist @ Walgreens)
2017: Jisun Ban (Associate Director/Clinical Scientist @ Insmed)
2016: Tanner Azar (Chemistry Faculty @ Bishop John J. Snyder High School)
2015: Yang Ban (Advanced Technology Lead @ SandBox Semiconductor)
2014: Benjamin Rathman (Postdoctoral Research Associate @ UCF)

ACS Physical Chemistry Award

2025: Taylor Dessoffy (Paralegal)
2024: Chloe Perednia
2023: Kara Tetens (Analytical Chemist @ KellyOCG)
2022: Sydney Hauth (Pharm D. Student @ UF College of Pharmacy)
2021: Emily Hickey
2020: Daniel Badger (Compliance/Technical Officer @ Tower Products LLC)
2019: Caleb Weber
2018: Avery Dalton (Scientific Programmer/Analyst @ ARA)
2017: Victor Barbosa (Process Engineer @ Tokyo Electron America)

UNF Biochemistry Award

2025: Abby Crossman
2024: Cameron Young
2023: Sydney Hauth (Pharm D. Student @ UF College of Pharmacy)
2022: Garrett Deletti
2021: Megan DeMart (Senior Research Associate @ Circle Pharma)
2020: Victoriya Maslikova
2019: Ryan Lopez (Orthopaedic Surgery Resident @ University of Utah)
2018: Sarah Mann (Ph.D. in Chemistry @ Boston College)