You Just Need to Begin: USU College of Science Honors Scholarship Recipients, Donors

In early February 2020, Utah State University alum Willy Lensch (B.S.’91, Biology), as strategic advisor to the dean of Harvard Medical School, gathered with colleagues on an urgent WebX call with peers in China.

“They told us about a novel respiratory virus with very unusual features, including high transmission rates, and how their hospitals were drowning in cases,” says Lensch, who was among featured speakers at the USU College of Science’s 2021 Fall Convocation held online Sept. 30. “Our community began to organize very quickly and wasted no time reaching out to researchers and practitioners for help.”

Lensch and colleagues formed MassCPR, the Massachusetts Consortium for Pathogen Readiness, a collaboration of more than 17 institutions leading timely and critical response to what we now know as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lensch volunteered to serve as executive director of MassCPR, as the group quickly took shape.

“I took a deep breath and raised my hand,” he says. “I knew I was inadequate for the task, but I quickly realized there was probably nobody else who knew (how to do it.) I didn’t need to be perfect; I just needed to begin.”

If we knew at the start how challenging doing anything could be, he says, we might never do anything new or important.

“Whether it’s taking a class, starting a new job, creating a scholarship fund or falling in love, we grow by facing difficulties and rising to the occasion, especially in an emergency,” Lensch says. “You just need to begin.”

The Lehi, Utah native told convocation attendees if they waited to become involved in service or giving back before they felt they’d “made it,” they’d miss important opportunities to make a difference.

“Every dollar is made of pennies; it all matters,” says Lensch, who was recently named Vice Provost for Research in Harvard University’s research office. “If someone starts, other people join in. Brilliant minds working in isolation can do brilliant things, but brilliant minds working together can do anything.”

The gathering was the second consecutive year the College of Science has turned to Zoom to host its annual fall gathering, which honors student recipients of the college’s endowed scholarships, along with their donors.

“We look forward to the day when we can, once again, gather in person over a good meal, good music and good company,” said Michelle Baker, interim dean of the College of Science, who welcomed guests to the gathering. “Until then, we’re grateful for your patient and resilient camaraderie.”

Joining Lensch as featured speakers were undergraduate biology major McKenna Rich and ecology doctoral candidate Morgan Christman.

Rich, a human biology major and aspiring physician, says she “felt a bit lost” as an incoming freshman, but soon found helpful mentors find mentors in the pre-med club and the College of Science.

“I come from a family of modest means,” says the Salt Lake Valley native. “My mom is a middle school teacher and my dad works for the fire department as the captain of his station. No one in my family has ever gone to medical school.”

Rich, who has since excelled as an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow and in research, has become a mentor for pre-med students and in the university’s Connection program for freshmen and transfer students.

“Being a peer mentor is near and dear to my heart and I hope I can have as much of an impact for my mentees as my mentors have had for me,” she says. “I also thank our scholarship donors. The scholarships I’ve received have helped me get to where I want to be, and to make the most of my education.”

Christman, a doctoral candidate of ecology, expressed her “deep appreciation for our donors’ generosity.”

“The support I’ve received has lightened my financial burden and allowed me to focus on the most important aspect of school – learning,” says the National Science Foundation Climate Adaptation Science trainee.

As USU, Christman has been an active member of Utah State’s Chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicano/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science and the USU Entomology Club. She has also mentored 12 undergraduate research technicians.

“That’s been one of my favorite parts of my graduate school experiences at USU,” Christman says. “I’m grateful for that opportunity and to the scholarship donors, who have propelled me closer to fulfilling my goal of becoming a lead scientist for a non-profit conservation organization.

Students and donors recognized during the gathering included College of Science Scholarship recipients Greta Anderson, Kaden Bunch, Nathaniel Bee, Madilyn Braunersrither, Kamie Champlin, Tanner Chapman, Joshua Corry, Seyona Creger, Isaac Crosby, Rachel Daines, Gavin Eddington, Ellee Iverson, Dylan Julander and Carson Stoker.

Kaden Bunch is the recipient of the Campbell Scientific Scholarship; Paul and Paulette Campbell, donor representatives.

McKenna Rich and Maddison Zollinger are recipients of the Charles & Rae Perkins Scholarship; Doug DeFries, Bank of Utah and Jodie Kay Nutt, Bank of Utah, donor representatives.

Tyson Weight is the recipient of the Charles J. Sorenson Scholarship; Dr. Keith L. Sorenson, Jim Sorenson, Jr. and Nancy Sorenson, donor representatives.

Raidon Poe and Kade Seamons are recipients of the Dominion Energy Science Scholarship; Debra Hoyt, donor representative.

Justin Hunter is the recipient of the Dr. Dennis M. Miller Scholarship; Dr. Dennis M. Miller, donor representative.

Rachel Daines is the recipient of the Mary Ann McDonald Ebbeler Endowment Scholarship; Mary Ann Ebbeler, donor representative.

Benjamin Bradshaw is the recipient of the Dr. Robert Errol Jones Scholarship; Robert Errol Jones, donor representatives.

Blake Nielson is the recipient of the Joseph E. Greaves Memorial Endowment Fund Scholarship; Michael O. Greaves, donor representative.

Nicola Baird, Nicole Cook, Ashley Flake, Braden Geddes, Samuel Haycock, Alicia Holmstead, Jessica Jorgensen and Elijah Peterson are the recipients of the Lillywhite Scholarship.

Arianna Towne, Tyler Wallentine, Alicia Wallburger, Danielle Weinerman and Tyson Weight are recipients of the Oscar Wood Cooley Scholarship; Gwen H. Cooley and Susan C. Johnson, donor representatives.

Reagan Hoopes and Tracy Lucas are recipients of the Ruth L. Novak Aggie Family Scholarship Endowment; Dr. Ruth L. Novak, donor representative.

Donors Ned and Gail Weinshenker were recognized for the Ned and Gail Weinshenker Scholarship. The 2021-2022 recipient is Catherine Kartchner.

Nathaniel Bee, Olivia Brock, Adisyn Brown, Hanna Crozier and Dakota Finlinson are recipients of the Seely-Hinckley Undergraduate Scholarship; Jim S. Hinckley, donor representative.

Melissa Rasmussen is the recipient of the Theodore M. Burton Scholarship; Robert Burton of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Roland Radack, donor representatives.

Morgan Christman is the recipient of the Claude E. ZoBell Scholarship; Dean ZoBell, donor representatives.

Thomson Hallmark is the recipient of the Dr. Lawrence H. Piette Graduate Scholarship; Mary Piette, donor representative.

Mina Hossain and Owen Price are recipients of the Joseph Reuel Harris Graduate Scholarship.

College of Science Ambassadors were also recognized during the ceremony: Joseph Bingham, Kamie Champlin, Kayla DeSpain, Chloe Geddes, Heather Hall, Joe Halling, Hailey Hatch, Zach Liang and Camila Summers, along with Science Senator Jonathan Mousley and student Science Council members Kaden Bunch, president; Madison Ohlensehlen, Manuel Santana, Zach Liang, Jonathan Ashdown, Benjamin Bradshaw, Jens Fillmore, Spencer Havens, Alynne Havens, Nicolas Hill, Tyler Jolly, Daxton Kennington, Connor Meads, Kendall Morrison, Kai Nethercott, Shylee Oler, David Rolo and Seth Wilcox.

The College of Science includes the academic departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics.