Stephen Bethel
Senior
Lake Brantley High School
Altamonte Springs, Florida
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and the American Farm Bureau Federation are honored to have awarded the achievements of the 2011 $5,000 Agriscience Student’s Award Columbus Scholar.
Stephen recently graduated from Lake Brantley High school in Altamonte Springs, Florida. His research, Evaluation of Ubiquitin Promoter Expression Abilities for Potential Use in Transgenic Grape Vine (Vitis vinifera), explored consumer-friendly genetic alternatives to replace viral DNA currently used in genetically modified produce. His love of math and science, and his research in plant genetics has opened up a world of opportunities for him.
Stephen has traveled throughout the country presenting his work and winning awards at State, national, and international levels. His journeys have taken him to several national research centers where he has been able to view and discuss current trends in exploration with some of the nation’s leaders in science research. One particular highlight included meeting Nobel Laureate, Dr. Martin Chalfie, a biological sciences researcher who first demonstrated the value of GFP, a luminous genetic tag that Stephen used in his work. Meeting national and world renowned scientists and discussing his research with them has fostered his passion.
In the Fall, Stephen will start at the University of Florida Honors Program in Aerospace Engineering. He intends to pursue undergraduate research opportunities at UF, with his ultimate goal of joining the government research and development community in sight.
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have had the assistance of the following distinguished individuals serving on the 2011 Agriscience Awards Evaluation Committee:
- Robert W. Clark, Ph.D.
Professional Personnel Development Center
Workforce Education & Development Program
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania - Gary Matteson
VP Young, Beginning, Small Farmer
Programs and Outreach
The Farm Credit Council
Washington, D.C. - Meghan Mueseler
Cargill, Inc.
Wichita, Kansas - Pat Earle
Instructor
McBee High School
McBee, South Carolina
