The Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society South Central Regional Convention held March 31 – April 3 at the Mt. Lebanon Camp in Cedar Hill, Texas provided participants with opportunities to enhance their research and presentation skills.

Seven chapters from Texas and seven chapters from Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas attended the convention with nearly 120 undergraduates and faculty in attendance.

The annual convention presents awards for student research projects in four presentation categories, 1) Oral Presentations, 2) Poster Sessions, 3) Scrapbook Competition and 4) E-Book Competition.  Seven chapters from Texas and seven chapters from Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas attended the convention with nearly 120 undergraduates and faculty in attendance.

HCU Associate Professor Dr. Lisa Ellis, who serves as South Central District II Director for all Texas Beta Beta Beta chapters, and Dr. Curtis Henderson, HCU Professor of Biology and Biology Department Chair, traveled with 11 members of the HCU TriBeta Chapter, including eight students who were first-time attendees.

During the convention, Chapter Officers Maira Mulla and Alvina Zia won a 2nd place award for their Chapter History E-book for visually documenting all of the chapter’s activities since the last convention. HCU TriBeta members, Raymond Venice Cagumbay, Natalie Le and Mariana Orozco Segovia were among fifty students providing oral or poster presentations of their research during the conference. Cagumbay and Le, led by Dr. Henderson, presented research in the poster category as a part of a new Biology 3101 lab course, and Segovia, led by Dr. Illya Medina of the HCU Chemistry Department, presented research, in the same category, supported by a Welch Foundation Research Grant..

Other HCU Biology or Biochemistry students who attended the convention were Michael Attathikhun, Eduvie Chinosa, Mark Coggins, Carlos de Carlos, Emilio Garza, David Kim, Davin Sanchez and Caroline Vo.

Dr. Ellis expressed the value of the annual convention in enhancing students’ knowledge and presentation skills.

“Hands-on research and lab experiences enhance a student’s understanding of biology and the students who attended this year’s convention saw examples of various research projects and three students gained experience presenting their research,” said Dr. Ellis.

Drs. Ellis and Henderson and TriBeta underclassmen are excited to serve as hosts for next year’s convention.