Archived News | Return to News Center

May 26, 2011

State association awards ULM biology grad student scholarship funding

The Louisiana Environmental Health Association has chosen a University of Louisiana at Monroe graduate student as the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship award.

Meghan O'Boyle of Start received the check from Jeff Jackson, past president of the LEHA, in front of the ULM Library on Thursday, May 12.

The award is for O'Boyle's research project titled, "The biological potential of the feral pig (Sus scrofa) in Louisiana," for which she also recently earned a First Place award for poster presentation at the 11th annual ULM Student Research Symposium.

O'Boyle is studying the biological effect of wild pigs both from the standpoint of rising populations and for the potential risk of disease on humans.

Jackson said that O'Boyle edged out 10 other contenders statewide for the award, which is given to a Louisiana student with a focus on life sciences or environmental research at either a public or private university.

Professor of Graduate Biology Dr. Kim Tolson, who serves O'Boyle's mentor, said the award is well-earned.

"It is just fantastic that Meg is being recognized by LEHA for her research," Tolson said. "She is an excellent student and ambassador for the university so it really did not surprise me that she was chosen."

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.