Science Graduate Honored as Valedictorian

Jared Baisden (Biology and Biochemistry, '13) was
honored as co-valedictorian at Spring Commencement

Jared Baisden was one of three graduates honored at the Spring Commencement as Valedictorian.  Baisden achieved a perfect 4.00 grade point average while earning a double major in Biology and Biochemistry.  Jared was a Choose Ohio First Scholar and vice president of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society.  He was one of two AU students to receive a national scholarship from the American Chemical Society.  He completed an Honors capstone project under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer on the isolation and characterization of a chemical compound produced by wilting red maple (Acer rubrum L.) that is toxic to horses.  Jared has been accepted into the Ph.D.program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at the University of NorthCarolina.  He plans to continue to pursue a research career in biochemistry.