Latest news with #GovernorsState
Chicago Tribune
28-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Governors State student earns STEM award for work with Argonne on vaccines
Lauryn Perry envisions a future where vaccines take only a few days to produce, not the typical three or four years scientists now spend developing them for the public. Perry should know, even though she's still a college student majoring in biology on a pre-med track. Set to graduate in May from Governor State University in University Park, Perry recently took home a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math award from the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Symposium in Chicago. Governors State students Karla Luviano and Delilah Sutherland also won awards. The symposium is coordinated by the U.S. National Science Foundation and recognized minority undergraduates for their research in science technology, engineering and math. Perry won for work she did during an Argonne National Laboratory internship, performing computer-based science research about integrating learning language models with immunogen design. Immunogens are substances (usually proteins) that, when introduced into a living organism, create an immune response. Artificial intelligence played a big part in the design, too. 'We used an AI-based program system and from there we trained this system to be able to code and create models for possible development of vaccines and other types of immunotherapies,' said Perry. She and a few other student interns who worked on the research did data collection from an immune epitope (part of an antigen that stimulates an immune response) database to get the models. They then designed a coded script through Python and Jupyter notebooks. 'The purpose of the entire experiment was to see if there was a better, more efficient way to create vaccines and immunotherapy, because traditionally it's a manual process that takes about three or four years to create just one,' said Perry, who lives in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. 'So if we created a vaccine through learning language models, we could get results within a day or two.' Karla Luviano, a chemistry major at GSU, won for her work on the creation of crystals using molten salts in a 'flux' (crystals are dissolved and then crystalize) technique. Delilah Sutherland, also a chemistry major, won for synthesizing and studying the structural properties of manganese arsenate to learn about the compound's behavior and transport properties. Perry was mentored by GSU professors and tutored other students. She became a student ambassador, helping friends and other students majoring in STEM. She said the experience allowed her first-choice opportunities at internships and other programs. At Argonne, she and other students worked with a research scientist on their projects. 'Lauryn consistently demonstrates a deep passion for learning and an unwavering commitment to excellence throughout her educational journey in my classes,' said Joseph Day, associate professor of addiction studies and behavioral health at at GSU. 'Her engagement with coursework was characterized by her proactive approach to seeking knowledge beyond the curriculum, insightful contributions to class discussions and ability to connect theoretical concepts with practical applications.' Nicholas Marra, GSU assistant professor of biology, agreed. 'Lauryn is a great student with a ton of potential,' said Marra. In high school, Perry took classes in graphic design, computer science and a robotics class. She also learned coding skills and for her final project made a video game. Perry said she credited her creativity in science to her parents, 'My parents just allowed me to be creative and explore, they didn't really shelter my imagination,' she said. 'I would go outside and used to bring home animals a lot,' she said, referring to frogs she collected. 'My mom was a little bit squeamish but she allowed me to explore as a child,' she said. While Perry earlier wanted to be a vet, she's now hoping to become either a surgeon or anesthesiologist. But first, she'll take a gap year and prepare to re-take her medical college admission test. She's still interested in vaccines, too, and has high hopes for their production. 'Based on the experiment and hypothesis, we found that this system could help with that,' she said. 'Not until we have more trials for this, but it is something I believe will happen in the near future.'
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chargers head to the NAIA National Semifinals with a 65-43 defeat of Governors State
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) – The #3 Briar Cliff Chargers are moving on to the NAIA National Semifinals with a 65-43 win over Governors State. Adrianna Webster led the Chargers with 16 points along with eight rebounds, while Mallie McNair added 15 points and 7 rebounds. The win gives Briar Cliff its 30th victory of the season, the Chargers' third-most in a single season in program history. BCU will take on #1 Indiana Wesleyan in the national semifinal round on Monday at 7:00 p.m. at the Tyson Events Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
DSU women fall in second round of NAIA national tournament
MADISON, S.D. (KELO) — The Dakota State women's basketball team saw its season end with a 75-69 loss to Governors State (Ill.) in the second round of the NAIA national tournament. The Trojans trailed by one at halftime and were tied at 53 entering the fourth quarter. They shot 53.9% in the second and third quarters. Tabor Teel led DSU with 19 points. Angela Slattery added 15, and Bria Wasmund chipped in 12. Dakota State ends season with a 25-5 record. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Governors State to hold inaugural Black History Education Symposium
Amid federal government efforts scaling back Black History Month activities and Trump administration attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, Governors State University will hold an inaugural Black History Education Symposium and unveil a special exhibition this week. The Black History Month programs, which will showcase the successes and experiences of Governors State Black alumni, staff and community leaders, will be open to the public, become annual events and reflect the university's ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The events will 'amplify Black voices and highlight crucial perspectives on Black experiences through authentic reflections and successes, promoting an accurate portrayal of history and society,' said Governors State Chief Diversity Officer Joi Patterson. 'It's about journey and access and thriving, and it's not just for African Americans,' Patterson said. It's an opportunity for others to learn as well, she said. The education symposium will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m on Thursday, Feb. 20, at University Park-based Governors State, and include workshops, discussions and presentations at Engbretson Hall led by Black professionals. One session will examine the historical and current challenges faced by Black employees in the workplace and how human resource practices can be adapted to promote equity and inclusion, Black talent development and career progression. Other topics will include how to capitalize on one's talent and catapult one's career. There will be a session for minority vendors looking to do business with the university and government agencies that will cover how to become certified as a minority vendor. Attendees will be able to connect with department buyers, the university's procurement team and senior leaders. The exhibition, which opens Thursday and will be accessible throughout the month, showcases 28 individuals for each day during the month. It includes Tonishea Mack, Governors State's head women's basketball coach and the winningest coach in the program's history; Montgomery Proffit, the university's inaugural Greek life administrator; Governors State alumni Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry, Lynwood's first African American woman mayor; and Cheryl Green, the university's first African American president. The exhibition is an expansion of the first-ever Voices of Black Greatness digital calendar unveiled at the university this month. The calendar is accessible from the university's website, and spotlights 20 of the 28 exhibition individuals. They share who among Black leaders inspired them, discuss the pressures of being a culture carrier when working as one of few Black people in their field and share other experiences. Ahead of the events, Patterson expressed concern about the elimination of some federal government Black History Month activities and other cultural awareness events and about the negative rhetoric attached to and misrepresentation of DEI. 'I am very concerned about the rhetoric, the distraction and the division that it's causing,' she said. 'What I'm not concerned about is continuing to do the work that we do' at Governors State. In January, the U.S. Department of Defense put out a news release titled 'Identity Months Dead at DoD,' that stated, 'Going forward, DoD Components and Military Departments will not use official resources, to include man-hours, to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months, including National African American/Black History Month, Women's History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month and National American Indian Heritage Month.' The release noted 'Efforts to divide the force — to put one group ahead of another — erode camaraderie and threaten mission execution.' That followed executive orders issued by President Trump that called for ending DEI programs, policies, mandates and preferences in the federal government and for encouraging the private sector to also end DEI programs. Meanwhile in recent years, the teaching of Black history has come under attack. During the past year, lawmakers in 30 states have proposed new restrictions on what schools can teach about the nation's racial history, according to an Axios analysis of National Conference of State Legislatures data. From 2021 to 2024, 18 states passed laws or took state action to limit how teachers can discuss racism, sexism and issues of systemic inequality in the United States, reports Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform. Besides Black History Month events, cultural awareness events at Governors State have included a Women's History Month tea, a symposium focused on Palestinians and activities focused on the Holocaust. The university sends out more than two dozen cultural eblasts each year celebrating a variety of cultures, said Patterson. 'It's about education, about growing in our knowledge,' she said. 'It's about acceptance, belonging, inclusion exposure. I'm not shying away from that. The university is not shying away from that.' It's embedded in the university's mission, she stressed. 'I think anyone who is anti-DEI they are uninformed,' she said. 'Having multiculturalism, having cultural values and pluralism benefits everyone. We want everyone to be able to thrive and to have a sense of belonging.' For more information on the symposium, to register for workshops and access the calendar, visit No registration is required to view the exhibition.
