Lauretta Ihenatu, a junior majoring in biology, was recently awarded a Recognition Travel Award from the Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) for winning the ASPB Award at the recent Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students Conference. Ihenatu, who is from Charlotte, N.C., won first place for her oral and poster presentation in the molecular cell biology category.

“Congratulations are in order for Ms. Lauretta Ihenatu,” said Dr. Mark Melton, chair of the School of Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering. “We are very proud of the professional manner in which she represented the school at the recent Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students.”

This award will cover the costs for Ihenatu to attend the Plant Biology 2014, the annual conference of ASPB scheduled for July 12 through July 16, 2014. ASPB will pay for Ihenatu’s round trip travel to Portland, Ore. up to six nights shared hotel accommodation, registration for the meeting, local transportation to and from airports in her hometown and Portland, a modest per diem for food during the meeting and membership in ASPB through 2015.