U of A Students Bring Home Multiple Awards From Professional Association Meeting

Photo Submitted

Top, Jason Wagganer, president of the Central States chapter, presents an award check to Megan Rosa-Caldwell. Michelle Gray, right, was elected the regional chapter representative. Bottom, Sarah Ramey, from left, Samantha Mohler and Cory Butts all won their categories in the student research competition.

University of Arkansas students won the doctoral student research grant competition and swept the student research awards at the annual meeting last month of the Central States American College of Sports Medicine Regional Chapter.

Megan Rosa-Caldwell, a doctoral student in exercise science, won her category in the grant competition with her presentation titled "Autophagy Activation as a Novel Regulator for Improved Glucose Handling during Insulin Resistance: A Pilot Study." Nicholas Greene is her faculty adviser.

The three exercise science students who won the research awards:

• Cory Butts, a doctoral student, presented "Combined Effects of Hypohydration, Muscle Damage and Exertional Hyperthermia on Biomarkers of Acute Kidney Injury." Brendon McDermott is his faculty adviser. Ricky Perry, another U of A doctoral student, was a semifinalist for the award with his presentation titled "Autograph and Physical Activity Improves Force Recovery from Volumetric Muscle Loss." Tyrone Washington is his faculty adviser.
• Samantha Mohler, a master's student, presented "Determining the Appropriate Timing of Administration for Baseline Computerized Neurocognitive Testing (CNT) Following Maximal Exertion - Preliminary Analysis." R.J. Elbin is her faculty adviser.
• Sarah Ramey, an undergraduate student, presented "Cancer Cachexia: Metabolic Changes in Carbohydrate Metabolism of the Liver." Nicholas Greene is her faculty adviser.

The U of A also fielded a team — Kyle Turner, Malik Allen and Sarah Ramey — in the quiz bowl competition, and several students presented research posters.

Michelle Gray, associate professor of exercise science and director of the Exercise Science Research Center at the U of A, was elected the regional chapter representative.