SLU Medical Laboratory Science Program Awards 2020 Alice Zipf-O’Rourke Scholarship
Saint Louis University (SLU) Medical Laboratory Science student Joy Kyeyune was recently announced as the recipient of the 2020 Alice Zipf-O’Rourke Scholarship. The scholarship awards $3,000 to the recipient to support research with an assigned faculty member.
The Alice Zipf-O’Rourke Scholarship is for SLU MLS and SLU MLS Certificate students and was established by Zipf-O’Rourke’s daughter, Mary Hardesty, in 2007. Zipf-O’Rourke graduated from SLU’s Medical Technology program (known as Medical Laboratory Sciences today) in 1948. Along with being the class president, Zipf-O’Rourke was active in many causes, such as: women’s education, leadership and self-sufficiency. After graduation, Zipf-O’Rourke went on to work at St. Mary’s Health Center as a medical technologist.
Kyeyune was thrilled to learn that she was named the recipient of the Zipf-O’Rourke Scholarship and that it would help support future research.
“I was grateful and extremely honored to find out that I was chosen to receive this award,” Kyeyune said. “I was also excited that this award would allow me to continue working on a previously established research project with [MLS faculty member] Dr. Rita Heuertz throughout the next school year.”
The research in which Kyeyune is interested has the potential to make direct, meaningful impacts across the medical field.
“I'm interested in microbiology research and, specifically, tackling the problem of antibiotic resistance by researching novel antimicrobial therapies that can effectively eradicate complicated infections while minimizing toxicity to humans,” Kyeyune said. “Identifying such treatments would directly impact the medical field by decreasing health care costs and improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.”
Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of nearly 13,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.