Seton Hill University hosted its 27th annual Women in Science Day on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Women in Science Day recognizes young women who are juniors from regional high schools who have been nominated by their teachers as students who excel in mathematics, biology or chemistry.

The event featured a keynote address by Barbara Flowers, an Instructor of Forensic Science at Seton Hill. Flowers joined the faculty at Seton Hill in 2004 after a career as a forensic scientist. An expert in forensic trace evidence analysis, serology, bloodstain pattern interpretation and DNA analysis, Flowers has served as an expert witness in courtrooms in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Her work garnered commendations from the Pennsylvania State Police and the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Police. Flowers is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Scientists and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
Students were also able to participate in laboratory exercises throughout the Seton Hill campus prior to the awards luncheon.

The first Women in Science Day was initiated in 1989 by Sister Margaret Burns, S.C., former physics and mathematics faculty member at Seton Hill. This event was developed in response to a goal set forth at a Neylan Conference, a gathering of educators from Catholic universities, founded by female religious congregations. The goal of the Conference was to encourage teachers to design a program, at their own university, which would affirm and encourage young women in their study of mathematics and science.


Winners of the 2014 Women in Science Awards include:

Acme 15610
Alyssa Hutchinson-Mathematics-Geibel Catholic Jr./Sr. High School

Addison 15411
Melissa Whetsell-Mathematics-Turkeyfoot Valley High School

Apollo 15613
Veronica Krynock-Biology-Kiski Area High School
Becky Lin-Chemistry-Apollo Ridge High School

Belle Vernon 15012
Kaitlyn Watson-Biology-Belle Vernon High School

Bethel Park 15102
Gina Pomposelli-Mathematics-Bethel Park High School

Blairsville 15717
Haley Smith-Biology-Derry Area High School

Butler 16002
Amy Haines-Mathematics-Knoch High School

Butler 16001
Haley Michel-Biology-Butler Area Senior High School

Cabot 16023
Lauren McCrea-Chemistry-Knoch High School

Central City 15926
Amy Hammer –Biology-Shade-Central City High School

Charleroi 15022
Samantha Smitley-Chemistry-Charleroi Area High School

Clarksburg 15725
Nicole Bendis-Mathematics-Saltsburg High School

Confluence 15424
Rebekah Phillippi-Biology-Turkeyfoot Valley High School
Kirsten Plume-Chemistry-Turkeyfoot Valley High School

Connellsville 15425
Morgan DeWitt-Chemistry-Geibel Catholic Jr./Sr. High School

Cresson 16630
Taylor Angela Clark-Biology-Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
Jordan Novak-Mathematics- Bishop Carroll Catholic High School

Elizabeth 15037
Stephanie Thornton-Biology-Elizabeth Forward High School

Fayette City 15438
Paige Krempasky-Chemistry-Belle Vernon High School

Greensburg 15601
Alexandra Backos-Biology-Greensburg Salem High School
Emily Cullen-Biology-Greensburg Central Catholic High School
Mary Markle-Chemistry-Greensburg Salem High School
Rebecca Scassellati-Mathematics-Greensburg Salem High School

Harrison City 15636
Allison McCullough-Mathematics-Penn Trafford High School

Indiana 15701
Rachel Baumler-Biology-Indiana Area Senior High School
Alicia Kunkle-Mathematics- Indiana Area Senior High School

Irwin 15642
Jamie Nassur-Chemistry-Greensburg Central Catholic High School

Jeannette 15644
Alana Jordan-Biology-Jeannette High School
Maggie Manolis-Chemistry-Jeannette High School
Mary Katherine Paulone-Mathematics-Jeannette High School

Johnstown 15905
Tahlyn Miller-Biology-Bishop McCort High School
Sarah Nagy-Chemistry-Bishop McCort High School

Josephine 15750
Cassandra Smith-Mathematics-Blairsville High School

Latrobe 15650
Riley Bocan-Biology- Geibel Catholic Jr./Sr. High School
Gabrielle Lauren Evancho-Mathematics-Greater Latrobe High School
Grace Noel-Biology-Greater Latrobe High School

Liberty Boro 15133
Aubri Swank-Mathematics-South Allegheny High School

Ligonier 15658
Olivia Larson-Biology-Ligonier Valley High School
Emily Long-Chemistry-Ligonier Valley High School
Samantha Saloom-Mathematics-Ligonier Valley High School

Loretto 15940
Ellie Yahner-Chemistry-Bishop Carroll Catholic High School

Mars 16046
MariaLena Shaw-Biology-Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School
Brianna White-Biology-Vincentian Academy

McKeesport 15135
Emily Brown-Mathematics-Elizabeth Forward High School

McKeesport 15133
Kayla Rack-Chemistry-South Allegheny High School
Abigail Scheirer-Biology-South Allegheny High School

Monessen 15062
Kendra Alexis Henry -Biology-Monessen High School
Bailey Matush-Mathematics-Monessen High School
Shelby Minardi-Chemistry-Monessen High School

Monongahela 15063
Baylee Musser-Mathematics-Charleroi Area High School
Randi Lynn Zebrowski-Biology-Ringgold High School

Mt. Pleasant 15666
Alexandrea Pritts-Biology-Mt. Pleasant Area High School
Veronica Rodriguez-Chemistry-Mt. Pleasant Area High School
Hannah Smitley-Mathematics- Mt. Pleasant Area High School

Munhall 15132
Kassandra Hill-Chemistry-Serra Catholic High School

Murrysville 15668
Kasey Noll-Biology-Franklin Regional High School

New Kensington 15068
Rachel West-Chemistry-Plum Senior High School

North Huntingdon 15642
April Castro-Chemistry-Norwin High School
Lauren Kratzenberg-Biology-Norwin High School

Pitcairn 15140
McKenna Then-Biology-Gateway High School

Pittsburgh 15239
Alyssa Doyle-Biology-Plum Senior High School

Pittsburgh 15237
Monica Kilburg-Mathematics-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Pittsburgh 15202
Vivian Liang-Chemistry-Vincentian Academy
Wenjing Wei-Chemistry-Quigley Catholic High School

Pittsburgh 15235
Briyana Starver-Chemistry-Penn Hills High School

Ruffsdale 15679
Sydney Clark-Alverton-Southmoreland High School
Michelle Karabin-Mathematics-Greensburg Central Catholic High School

Saltsburg 15681
Olivia Satler-Chemistry-Saltsburg High School

Scottdale 15683
Sara Tomasello-Chemistry-Southmoreland High School

Seward 15954
Carly Hajjar-Mathematics-Bishop McCort High School

Vandergrift 15690
Alexandra Loperfito-Biology-Saint Joseph High School
Bridget Lloyd-Mathematics-Kiski Area High School

West Newton 15089
Corynn Appolonia-Chemistry-Yough High School
Abby Squires-Biology-Yough High School

West View 15229
Anna Meyer-Chemistry-North Hills High School

Wexford 15090
Colleen Ballantyne-Mathematics-Vincentian Academy

Wyano 15695
Samantha Peebles-Mathematics-Yough High School