The Margaret Bilson 2018 Awardees
What is the Margaret Bilson Scholarship?
The Margaret Bilson Scholarship was established in 2014 following the passing of Ms. Bilson. Margaret was an Arizona native and UA alumna who had a passion for microbiology. This award supports clinical microbiology students matriculating through the College of Medicine-Tucson.
Ingrid Peterson is currently doing her internship with Drs. Anne Wertheimer and Zelieann Craig, who are faculty members of the College of Medicine. Stephanie Arellano is on her first semester in the Medical Microbiology and Immunology track of the Professional Science Masters in Applied Biosciences.
In their own words , both students relate (below) their financial struggle and determination to achieve their career goals in the biosciences; and how the Bilson Scholarship award is helping them alleviate some of their financial burdens.
INGRID PETERSON
I am a first-generation college student from an immigrant mother and veteran father. My parents worked hard during my adolescence to save up money to help send me to university when the time came, but with the economic crash of 2007 my father lost his job and neither he, nor my mother (who was a stay at home mom), were able to find a new job. I was 13 years old at the time and, after we drained my father’s meager 401K to pay bills, I offered that they use my college fund so we wouldn’t lose the house. As such, throughout my university career I have relied on government financial aid to continue my studies and have accumulated a lot of student loan debt.
This scholarship allows me to focus on my studies without the stress of student loans looming over my head. With this help, I will be able to pursue/conduct a microbiology research project looking at using naturally derived human peptides to combat bacteria-caused diabetic foot ulcers. This study combines my love for microbiology with my love for toxicology, as the beginning stages of this study is characterizing the toxic effects of the peptide on human epithelial cells. The Margaret Bilson Scholarship will also aid in paying for my 8 internship units—which is the credit for the aforementioned research—as well as, my last core credit course in toxicology. This will put me one-step closer to graduating and going on to the next step of my scientific career.
After completing my academic career, I hope to work for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a research scientist. My goal is to continue researching and developing treatments for antibiotic resistant bacteria and bacteria completely impervious to the latest antimicrobial treatment—i.e. The New England Journal of Medicine recently reported a newly discovered strain of gonorrhea in the U.K. that is impervious to the most recent dual antimicrobial therapy. I feel as though this career path is a great way for me to serve the community as a whole as antibiotic resistant bacteria are causing so much damage to individuals of all ages, ethnicities and socio-economic levels.
STEPHANIE ARELLANO
I would like to formally acknowledge the University of Arizona Graduate College PSM- Applied Biosciences program, the College of Medicine –Tucson, and the UA Health Science Center for the prestigious Margaret Bilson award. I am truly honored to have been selected as an award recipient, and I am grateful to have been recognized in following Margaret Bilson’s passion for microbiology.
This award means a lot to me since it was very challenging to have even been admitted to graduate school. Many factors took role in deciding why I would not be able to get admitted into graduate school. I did not give up on applying to graduate school, regardless if I was able to afford it or not. I believed in myself, when many others doubted me. I have been given the opportunity to study something I am undoubtedly passionate about, and microbiology has always been there for me. Although I am very excited to start a new chapter in my life, neither I nor my parents can afford my graduate education. My parents are the most supportive, kind- hearted individuals and it saddens me to see their worried, concerned face when the topic of graduate school costs surface in the room. The last thing I would ever want for my parents is an added financial burden on their plate. I need financial assistance because I strongly believe that money should not be a determining factor in pushing forward towards professional school and earning a Master’s degree.
Again, I would like to thank the scholarship donor for such an amazing award that I am forever grateful for. I will use this scholarship and put it to work infinity-fold. I have been given the chance to put my mind at ease and focus on what matters the most to me which are my graduate studies. With hard work, focus, and drive I can set my mind to do anything. I want to strengthen microbiological concepts to the real world and apply it to where I see it best fit. Whether it takes in the shape of one day managing a diagnostic laboratory, or working in the state/ government lab I am most happy when I am helping out communities indirectly. More specifically, I hope to educate people of pathogenic microbes that cause harm, and ways to treat infectious diseases. I am greatly fond of novel therapeutics, drug discovery and implementation to fight against these pathogens. I also want to influence young girls to pursue STEM, pursue their dreams and NEVER give up on them. Nothing in life worth havin,g ever comes easy, so lots and lots of hard work and endless hours of dedication to accomplish goals are a must. Earning this esteemed award has ensured me that little progress is better than no progress at all. Everyone has their own race, and one must learn to run theirs and only theirs no matter how much faster other people run their race. After all, the finish line is the same. As Oprah Winfrey quotes:
“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you- always.”