Michelle Chin
Junior
West Shore Jr./Sr. High School
Melbourne, Florida
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and the American Farm Bureau Federation are honored to have awarded the achievements of the 2012 $1,000 Agriscience Student’s Award Columbus Scholar.
Michelle’s science research concentrates on genetic engineering and biotechnology using organic and transgenic crops. Under the supervision of Dr. Sixue Chen at the University of Florida, she worked on her project that uses plants to phytoremediate selenium contaminants, an effective, inexpensive and non-intrusive means of in situ reduction and removal of environmental contaminants. Michelle was a finalist at the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, as well as one of five Florida delegates to attend the 50th National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium. She hopes her research will aid worldwide efforts to alleviate chemical run-off and environmental pollution.
In 2011, Michelle won the Green Connection scholarship, sponsored by the French government, and studied environmental protection in Paris and La Rochelle for two weeks. Her trip to France fostered her passion for protecting the environment which led her to create a website to promote sustainability. She was recently selected as one of the 2012 Ying’s Scholars in the Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition, which encourages students to help humanity through science research.
Michelle’s interests outside of science include music, foreign languages and traveling. She serves as President of the National French Honor Society, principal cellist in her school’s advanced chamber orchestra and a member of the National Honor Society and All-Academic team. Upon graduation, Michelle plans to double major in biology and business.
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have had the assistance of the following distinguished individuals serving on the 2012 Agriscience Awards Evaluation Committee:
- Robert W. Clark, Ph.D.
Professional Personnel Development Center
Workforce Education & Development Program
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania - Hilary Maricle
Maricle Family Farms and
Agribusiness Educator
Northeast Community College
Albion, Nebraska - Gary Matteson
VP Young, Beginning, Small Farmer
Programs and Outreach
The Farm Credit Council
Washington, D.C. - Terry Lawton
Lawton’s Family Farm
Franklin, Massachusetts - Meghan Mueseler
Cargill, Inc.
Wichita, Kansas
