The 2025 Miss 91Âţ»­app was recently named, and the crown belongs to Gracie Allen, a senior on a pre-medical track. With her title, she will go on to represent the University in the Miss Georgia Competition in June. Allen succeeds Megan Wright, the 2024 Miss 91Âţ»­app winner.

Upon graduation, Allen plans to further her education at medical school and pursue a career in pediatric oncology.

“Since deciding to attend Georgia Southern, it has been a dream of mine to represent this University as Miss Georgia Southern,” she said. “I feel so honored and thankful to have been selected for this role. My mission is to raise awareness for the importance of involvement within the foster care system, with an emphasis on adoption awareness!”

Allen spends much of her time studying and practicing her baton twirling skills. Her hobbies also include cooking, making memories with her friends and family and doing volunteer work. Allen was last year’s Miss Georgia Southern first runner-up.

Kaitlyn Tanner was named this year’s first runner-up and Miriam Marlin was named the second runner-up. Other winners and individual categories include:

• Best Talent: Kaitlyn Tanner
• Best Evening Wear: Mel Smith
• Best Health & Fitness: Gracie Allen
• Miss Congeniality: Precious Oghenekaro
• Miss Photogenic: Miriam Marlin

“With this title, there are countless opportunities to invoke change and make a difference,” Allen said. “I will use this platform to encourage and uplift everyone I encounter while promoting my personal platform, #GetInvolved. With this in mind, I want to demonstrate kindness and authenticity during my year of service.”

The is one of the University’s  long-lasting traditions. It is also the longest-standing preliminary pageant that leads to the statewide Miss Georgia contest.  The crowned winner of Miss Georgia could go on to compete for the Miss America title. Miss 91Âţ»­app represents the student body and attends traditional and community events both on and off campus.

This event was supported by KC Lash Studio, Annie’s Nails, Frazier’s Flowers & Gifts, Frills by Scott, Jaxe & Grace Boutique, Daylight Donuts, and Awards South.

According to the , it’s estimated that more than 63,000 Georgians were diagnosed with cancer for the first time last year. Nationwide, it’s estimated to have been more than 2 million.

Despite those numbers, a significant breakthrough in oncology is emerging at 91Âţ»­app. Mark dela Cerna, Ph.D., , and a team of students have discovered a method to inhibit certain cancer-causing proteins and metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.

“We’re trying to find medications that work on metastasis,” said dela Cerna. “We’re looking for molecules that eventually could be developed as drugs that particularly target cancer metastasis.”

Metastasis can oftentimes be caused by a cell protein called phosphatase of regenerating liver three, or PRL-3. For years, dela Cerna and others have been looking for molecules that can block PRL-3 from binding and spreading. 

“If you turn off this protein, you can minimize cancer aggressiveness and metastasis,” said dela Cerna. “When you want to develop a drug, you want to make sure that you have evidence that your molecule actually interacts specifically with your target protein. To our knowledge, that molecule that we found is kind of the first molecule that has a molecular mechanism where we know it binds.”

Thanks to collaborations with Jessica Blackburn, Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky, Donghan Lee, Ph.D. at the Korea Basic Science Institute, Deji Agbowuro at South University – Savannah, and Brandon Quillian, Ph.D. assistant professor of organic chemistry at Georgia Southern, the first molecule they found that “turns off” the PRL-3 protein was discovered in 2022. Since then, dela Cerna traveled to South Korea to use one of the world’s strongest NMR spectrometers — a powerful magnet that can be used to study interactions of proteins like PRL-3— which has been instrumental in understanding how these molecules bind with PRL-3.

Finding that one successful molecule in 2022 has since led to the discovery of additional molecules that bind this metastasizing-causing protein. 

“We found one, and we can find others,” he said. “We’re finding molecules that are similar looking, which tells us that maybe there’s some hint that certain parts of this molecule are necessary for binding this protein. We consider it a scaffold for the building around it. But at the same time, it’s motivating that we have that initial validation.”

The program has been supported by a National Institute of Health grant, which has also allowed dela Cerna to bring in three undergraduate students and one graduate student to assist him in additional tests to see which molecules can bind to PRL-3.

Grace Bennett, who is working toward a at Georgia Southern, is that graduate student. She says she doesn’t feel the pressure of trying to stop cancer, but rather finds the vigor in solving the puzzle that has impacted her family.

“I have had a lot of people in my family have different health-related issues,” she said. “I originally wanted to be a doctor and see what I could do. Since working in the research lab, I feel like this is the best of both worlds. I love what I’m doing, but I’m also still contributing to the biomedical field on the other side of it.”

Last month, dela Cerna was invited to give a talk to the department of structural biology at the Korea Basic Science Institute, which is the home of the world-famous spectrometer his team used for cancer-fighting research.

While challenges remain, dela Cerna’s research offers hope for targeted therapies that could significantly reduce cancer-related deaths caused by metastasis.

“Could one of these inhibitors that we’re finding eventually be a commercially available drug that’s given to patients to cure their cancer?” asked Bennett. “It’s a possibility.”

A pair of 91Âţ»­app professors and their research team are working to develop new options to help the estimated two million new cases of cancer that are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. Karelle Aiken, Ph.D., professor of organic chemistry, and Jannet Kocerha, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, are using a $424,000 grant to pursue new cancer drug treatments. This is the first time Georgia Southern has received a grant from the National Cancer Institute.

“The exciting research being done by Drs. Aiken and Kocerha is cutting-edge and aligns perfectly with Georgia Southern’s public impact mission to produce innovative ways to solve modern problems,” said Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “This grant validates their extraordinary efforts, and I applaud them for their hard work and dedication.”

Current anti-cancer therapeutics are plagued by issues such as selectivity in which the drugs also attack healthy cells, poor intake into cancer cells and drug resistance that develops over time.

The goal is to overcome various barriers that impact the effectiveness of cancer therapeutics by exploiting a cancer cell’s dependency on unusually high levels of amino acids nutrients. 

“Cancer cells compared to healthy cells grow really rapidly and they have a higher need for nutrients,” Aiken explained. “What we’re thinking of doing is taking compounds that we know have some toxicity to cancer cells and then masking them as a nutrient that they would need. That will make the drug even more attractive for the cancer cells to ingest them.”

Aiken and Kocerha said they hope the research will bring hope to those fighting incurable forms of the disease and other aggressive types of cancer.

The research will also offer full-time positions to Georgia Southern students. For three years, the grant will fund stipends to two undergraduate students and one graduate student to assist in the work. 

“A big part of the grant is about training the next generation of scientists,” Kocerha said. “Georgia Southern has a strong culture of involving students in the whole research. Not just the design, but also in coming together and working directly with the faculty on developing publications, doing presentations at national meetings and learning how to communicate science to the broader audience.”

“These awards embody USG’s dedication to academic excellence and our gratitude for these outstanding faculty and programs,” said USG Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence Denise Domizi, Ph.D., in the announcement.

Narendrapurapu began teaching chemistry at Georgia Southern in 2013. Along with those classes, she has concentrated on STEM education research. In particular, she focuses on two things: designing animations for chemistry concepts and designing and studying intervention programs for increasing success in chemistry courses.

“This recognition belongs to all those who encouraged me in my growth as an educator,” said Narendrapurapu. “My special thanks to the Faculty Center, Library liaisons, colleagues and all my educator friends who supported me and shared their valuable wisdom that led to this award.”

Narendrapurapu will be honored at the annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala on September 8.

“It’s faculty like Dr. Narendrapurapu who make institutions of higher education promising,” said Georgia Southern Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “She has continued to demonstrate the character and work ethic that make Georgia Southern succeed, and we are very proud of her.”

91Âţ»­app, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving nearly 26,500 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah and Hinesville and online instruction. The leading higher education institution in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Georgia Southern’s Model United Nations team is continuing a legacy of success on one of the largest stages. The 20-student delegation recently attended the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City and returned with another round of accolades, including another “Outstanding Delegation” designation.

Think of the Model U.N. Conference like a giant international diplomacy role-playing event. Universities from all over the world had students compete in the national conference by meeting together and acting as countries to solve the world’s biggest dilemmas. Georgia Southern acted as delegates for Ireland.

According to the student delegates, being a member of the team is challenging and incredibly rewarding.

Before the schools step foot into the conference, students must write a position paper. This document outlines a country’s stance on a global issue and their plan for solving it. Georgia Southern received recognition for Outstanding Position Paper Writing.

Andrew Eunice is a political science senior with an applied music minor. In this conference, he served as a delegate for the Security Council. At this table, students negotiate with other students in order to solve an ongoing global issue such as international terrorism, while also being bombarded with other immediate crises. These extra events were not given to the teams in advance, so much of the preparatory work was thrown to the side, and students were left to negotiate among themselves.

Emma Williams is a philosophy of law and political science major and the assistant advisor for the delegation. She’s one of the few members who have participated in a Model U.N. before this year. She helped recruit new members and get them conference-ready.

“This really opened my eyes to how to lead people from something that they don’t have any training in, to become subject matter experts,” said Williams. “A 20-person team is pretty big. So I try to help everybody with simple things like trying to get them through TSA security, or other bigger things like being in committee.”

The hard work paid off. Despite the team being full of greenhorns, Georgia Southern collected recognition in three different categories while in New York. This has kept pace with the tradition of success with previous Georgia Southern Model U.N. teams.

The team isn’t just young; it’s also diverse in background. Joseph recently became a geology major, but entered this inherently politically immersed conference as a delegate on the committee handling international refugees. She said she joined because scientists are becoming more diplomatic in their work and need those skills that lend themselves to politics.

Joseph isn’t alone in mixing science and diplomacy. Gabi Wiggill is a junior public health major with a minor in chemistry. She said many of the committees in Model U.N. and the real U.N. benefit from having people with different backgrounds sitting at the table. Sometimes those different viewpoints can lead to a need for skills in debate and problem solving.

“Not everyone agrees with everyone’s perspectives about things,” said Wiggill. “If you want to be a really good delegate, you have to be able to voice your views as a country in such a way that other people start seeing your point in agreeing with you, because that’s also the goal of the real United Nations.”

The talents acquired for Model U.N. have been applied beyond committees. Many students see their writing, public speaking and organization skills improving in the coursework and everyday life.

Chemistry and Spanish double major Steven Boyles said he’s seeing his communication and confidence improve in the classroom.

“In the past, I really haven’t been a good public speaker, just to be honest,” said Boyles. “In front of a class of 20 of my peers and having to give a speech about microplastics made me have to polish that skill as well as wording. I can get the words down on a piece of paper, but whether those words make sense to everyone is a big thing.”

Ultimately, the delegates say going to New York for the national convention was a fulfilling experience. For some students looking for a career in policy, the experience was unmatched. 

“That was definitely without a doubt the peak of my time at Georgia Southern, not a single doubt,” said Cesar Gallardo, political science major with an economics minor. “I was looking for something like this since the beginning. I was incredibly happy that I was given this opportunity.”

Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, Arpita Saha, Ph.D., was chosen unanimously as the winner of the 2021 Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award for the University System of Georgia. 

“As a professor, mentor and chemist, I feel overwhelmingly proud to achieve this honor,” Saha said. “I would like to sincerely thank 91Âţ»­app for providing me the resources and support. To me, the true meaning of teaching is the ability to touch lives, nurturing possibilities, guiding creative minds and make every student feel that they belong in my classroom and research lab. I must acknowledge my wonderful and talented colleagues from whom I have learned a great deal of leadership in mentoring.”

Saha will be recognized at the annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala next September by the Chancellor, the regents, the presidents and her peers.

“When the pandemic brought much to a standstill, Dr. Saha demonstrated resolve in supporting her students through innovations with instructional technology,” Executive Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Tristan Denley, said in a letter to Saha. “At the college level, she mentored new programs through the curricular process, developing new environmental chemistry courses with a new curriculum.”

Along with the award, Saha will receive a $5000 prize at the gala.

“This recognition not only reassures my passion for mentoring but also reminds me that teaching is a privilege and responsibility,” Saha said. “My teaching strategy involves engaging students in enjoyable, informative, hands-on and interactive activities for making the subject more tangible and connecting chemistry to everyday life. I find teaching is liberating and exhilarating as it enables me to create pathways of success for my students through scientific literacy, research and scholarly activities.”

Georgia Southern Associate Professor Sarah Zingales, Ph.D., has been named a National Science Foundation (NSF) ASCEND Faculty Fellow as part of a $1 million grant to support mid-career women faculty members in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“It is a great honor to be chosen as a participant for this project,” Zingales said. “One of the major focuses of this grant is to help close the achievement gap for women in STEM by helping mid-career women in STEM faculty persist and become promoted to full professor or obtain leadership positions in academic administration.”

The NSF project  — Advancing STEM Careers by Empowering Network Development (ASCEND)  — is a collaborative initiative that involves nine project leaders, 60 faculty participants and 15 administrator participants from colleges and universities across the Southeast, Northwest and Midwest. The leadership team comes from various universities including Willamette University, Gonzaga University, Claflin University, Furman University and The Citadel.

“The women in this alliance will receive mentorship and support to achieve our goals for furthering our careers,” said Zingales. “We will also give feedback about barriers to our success and help administrators in the leadership team come up with institutional solutions for how to close this achievement gap.”

Zingales has been a faculty member on the Armstrong Campus since 2013. She teaches organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry and she is active in organizations that mentor women in STEM. She is a founding member of the Alliance for Women in STEM on the Armstrong Campus, which has expanded to the Statesboro Campus.

“Having a diverse faculty is very important for recruiting and retaining STEM students,” she said. “Representation allows for students to see themselves in that discipline or career.”

The NSF grant supporting the fellowship project will run for the next four years. Zingales will participate in monthly virtual meetings of the Southeastern regional alliance and attend an annual in-person conference.

“I will also be taking surveys as part of the evaluation process to measure the efficacy of the program and giving feedback,” Zingales said. “I hope that the solutions that are devised through this diverse collaboration will be broadly applicable and things that I can bring back to the department and the University to help other women in STEM across our campuses.”

91Âţ»­app, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .

Georgia Southern Associate Professor Sarah Zingales, Ph.D., has been named a National Science Foundation (NSF) ASCEND Faculty Fellow as part of a $1 million grant to support mid-career women faculty members in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“It is a great honor to be chosen as a participant for this project,” Zingales said. “One of the major focuses of this grant is to help close the achievement gap for women in STEM by helping mid-career women in STEM faculty persist and become promoted to full professor or obtain leadership positions in academic administration.”

The NSF project  — Advancing STEM Careers by Empowering Network Development (ASCEND)  — is a collaborative initiative that involves nine project leaders, 60 faculty participants and 15 administrator participants from colleges and universities across the Southeast, Northwest and Midwest. The leadership team comes from various universities including Willamette University, Gonzaga University, Claflin University, Furman University and The Citadel.

“The women in this alliance will receive mentorship and support to achieve our goals for furthering our careers,” said Zingales. “We will also give feedback about barriers to our success and help administrators in the leadership team come up with institutional solutions for how to close this achievement gap.”

Zingales has been a faculty member on the Armstrong Campus since 2013. She teaches organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry and she is active in organizations that mentor women in STEM. She is a founding member of the Alliance for Women in STEM on the Armstrong Campus, which has expanded to the Statesboro Campus.

“Having a diverse faculty is very important for recruiting and retaining STEM students,” she said. “Representation allows for students to see themselves in that discipline or career.”

The NSF grant supporting the fellowship project will run for the next four years. Zingales will participate in monthly virtual meetings of the Southeastern regional alliance and attend an annual in-person conference.

“I will also be taking surveys as part of the evaluation process to measure the efficacy of the program and giving feedback,” Zingales said. “I hope that the solutions that are devised through this diverse collaboration will be broadly applicable and things that I can bring back to the department and the University to help other women in STEM across our campuses.”

91Âţ»­app, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .

The Association for the Advancement of Young Scientists, an organization founded by 91Âţ»­app senior chemistry major Chelsea Miller, will host the first annual Coastal Georgia Reverse Science Fair on April 11 at the Southwest Chatham Library in Savannah. The reverse science fair is a research symposium for local graduate and undergraduate researchers where visiting high school students will judge their presentations.

“My organization’s overall mission is working together with our community for the benefit of the future of science,” she said. “This event is the first of its kind in the area and will offer many opportunities to the attendees and participants.”

Miller got the idea for a reverse science fair from an academic article she found while researching ways to bring high school and university researchers together. The study in the article found that 70% to 80% of the high school students who participated in the reverse science fair increased their understanding of the scientific process, including effectively communicating their projects, developing an original research question, representing data in different ways and drawing conclusions from data.

“I am passionate about getting students inspired about science by exposing them to the diverse STEM pathways,” Miller said. “Reading this paper was confirmation for me that we could provide a whole new outlet for our community to learn science.”

Miller, who has worked as a lab assistant and teacher’s assistant within the Georgia Southern Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said the faculty on the Armstrong Campus have given her many opportunities to gain experience and the skills to plan this event and spearhead a startup.  

“Working as a lab assistant allowed me to work under pressure because the students’ results relied on my work,” she said. “I had to provide work that could be trusted so the students could get results in their labs. As a teacher’s assistant, I had to learn how to consistently adjust my approach to help others understand, and many of the skills I have acquired are also applicable to organizational planning.”

The science fair will award first, second and third place prizes of $1000, $500 and $250, respectively, and the winning research group will have a feature article written about them in inChemistry magazine. There will also be free educational and professional development workshops held by the Oglethorpe Astronomical Association, Society of Women Engineers and the Foram Sustainable Aquaponics Research Center, among others.
Abstracts for the fair are due March 20.

For more information, visit www.taays.org. To view the article that inspired the event, visit .