FINALIST - 2007

Frank Cortazar Comparing myself to the Lafayette ideal is, to say the least, humbling. When I consider the talent, commitment, and passion that reside in our community, I feel honored just to be nominated for this award. Walking past the Pepper Prize plaques in Farinon, usually on my way to retrieve mail, has often left me wondering why George Wharton Pepper did not leave with his award a formal definition of the Lafayette ideal. Perhaps, it is because he realized that the individual interests, perspectives, and accomplishments of the Lafayette community are too vast to be embodied in a single definition. That so many of my peers possess the resolve to relentlessly pursue their own ideals is, what I believe, has made my time here so rewarding. My primary goal has long been to fight human disease and suffering with science. This conviction is rooted in my childhood, having experienced cancer take the lives of two family members far too early. In my years at Lafayette, I have been fortunate enough to pursue this endeavor with the assistance of wonderful professors and students. Aside from academics, I have also had the opportunity to represent Lafayette as an athlete. A significant part of my learning at Lafayette has occurred on the baseball field, with coaches and teammates being some of my best teachers. Perhaps my most rewarding experiences at Lafayette involve serving the Easton community. Through programs like Ingles Numero Uno and Adopt-A-Class, I was afforded the opportunity to share what I have learned at Lafayette with local children. I want to end by congratulating my classmates on four wonderful years. My experiences at Lafayette have been the best of my life, and for this I am much obliged. As we prepare to embark on a new journey, I wish you all much success in your future endeavors.

 

Major: Biochemistry
Thesis: Redox Chemistry of DNA Photolyase and Cryptochrome


Academic Activities

• Marquis Scholar (1,2,3,4)
• Dean’s List (1,2,3,4)
• Goldwater Scholarship - The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate award of its type in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering (3,4)
• American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry Award - Awarded annually to the top organic chemistry student at Lafayette College (2)
• EXCEL Scholar research - Investigated the thermodynamic properties of the DNA repair enzyme, photolyase (2,3)
• Internship at the University of Miami School of Medicine (2)
• Eugene Deloatch Achievement Award - Awarded to the minority freshman with the highest G.P.A. in science and mathematics at Lafayette College (1)
• American Chemical Society Award - Awarded to Lafayette’s top chemistry student over four years (4)
• Publication in the journal Biochemistry - "Resonance Raman Spectroscopic Investigation of the Light-Harvesting Chromophore in Escherichia coli” (4)
• Internship in organic chemistry with Stanislaw Wnuk, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry at Florida International University - Researched the synthesis of suicide inhibitors for Ribonucleotide Reductase (3)

Campus Activities

• Peer Tutor - Physics, Chemistry (2,3)
• General Chemistry Teaching Assistant (4)
• Residence Hall Council (4)

Community Service

• Adopt-A-Class Program - Tutored local high school students with ADHD in the sciences (2)
• Ingles Numer Uno - Tutored Spanish-speaking elementary school students (3,4)
• Literacy Day Volunteer (3)
• Lafapalooza Volunteer (3)

Athletics

• Varsity Baseball (1,2,3)
• Lafayette College Scholar-Athlete of the Year (3)
• Otis Ellis Scholar-Athlete Award - Awarded annually to the minority scholar-athlete at Lafayette College who has attained the greatest distinction both as an athlete and a scholar (3)
• ESPN Academic All-District baseball team (2)
• All-Patriot League Team - The best player at each position in the Patriot League is selected (1,2)
• Patriot League Academic Honor Roll (1,2,3)
• Lafayette Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll (1,2,3)

Special Interest

• American Chemical Society (2,3,4)
• Sigma Xi National Honor Society recognizing achievement in scientific research (4)
• Phi Lambda Upsilon - National Honor Society recognizing achievement in chemistry (4)