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Merrill
P. Freeman Medals
In his will Dr. Merrill Freeman, who died in 1919, provided for two medals
to be awarded annually to students selected by the administration of The University
of Arizona. Born in 1844 in Ohio, Dr. Freeman moved west, was a Wells Fargo
agent and worked in mining and banking. He served The University of Arizona
as a regent and as a chancellor and received an honorary doctorate in law from
the University.
See Past Freeman Medal
Recipients
2008
Outstanding Senior Award Recipients:
Laurel Cox
Laurel Cox received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in molecular and cellular biology from the College of Science with a minor in Arabic.
Laurel’s experiences growing up overseas and attending international schools in China and Kuwait laid a solid foundation that taught her the importance of education, perseverance and being culturally-sensitive.
Undergoing major back surgery at the age of fourteen, Laurel came to the University of Arizona with an interest in medicine where she began working at the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the University Medical Center in high school. Motivated by her own personal experiences she began conducting research, under the direction of Dr. John Szivek, on the regeneration of cartilage cells from adipose-derived stem cells to be used with an implant and serve as an alternative treatment for osteoarthritis patients.
As a fourth generation Wildcat, Laurel’s undergraduate career was based on an unyielding commitment to clubs and organizations. Laurel has been involved in Primus, Sophos, the Arabic Language Club, Wildcat Off-Road, Greek Women’s Bible Study and she is also actively involved in Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity. Laurel is also a trainer at the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council in Tucson where she trains adult leaders in camping, backpacking, CPR and general first aid.
Her worn Mortar Board polo and golden pin are symbols of her lifelong commitment to the UA. She serves as the current president of the Mortar Board Senior Honorary Society. She served as the co-director for Mortar Board’s Clean-up Crew where over 600 volunteers from the UA and Tucson community aided neighborhood residents in this tremendous clean-up effort.
Laurel is an avid runner and became a supporter of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Teams in Training and has since then run three marathons. She also promotes healthy lifestyles as the founder of an exercise group that encourages college women to routinely exercise.
Upon graduation, Laurel will follow her passion for discovery, service and education in pursing a medical degree. She hopes to develop relationships with her patients and be able to treat them in an effective and culturally-sensitive way.
Adeel Yang
Adeel Yang received a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Social and Behavioral Science. He is an honors student with a 4.0 GPA with a double major in molecular and cellular biology and economics, with a minor in Arabic.
Throughout his undergraduate career, Adeel has taken an active role in the university community. In addition to designation as a Flinn Scholar and Galileo Circle Scholar, he has been a member of numerous clubs and honoraries including: Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society as its vice president, Manos de Ayuda, University Activities Board and Primus.
As a legacy to the University of Arizona, he and several Mortar Board members founded an annual community clean-up project, Mortar Board’s Clean-up Crew. The program, in its first year, united more than six hundred students and volunteers from the UA, and the City of Tucson and led volunteers to help remove trash and debris from the streets and alleys in four neighborhoods surrounding the University.
Adeel was also very involved in basic science research and worked as a research assistant in Daniela Zarnescu’s Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab. He worked investigating the molecular mechanisms behind the Fragile X syndrome, the most common form of inherited mental retardation.
Inspired by his participation in the F.A.C.E.S Medical Internship hosted by the UA College of Medicine’s Office of Outreach and Multicultural Affairs, he is currently conducting independent research in health economics as part of his honors thesis utilizing econometrics to investigate inequalities and inefficiencies in the U.S. health care system. He continues to volunteer weekly at the Tucson Medical Center Emergency Room.
Medicine and health-care have been Adeel's primary passion. He speaks Mandarin and Arabic and aspires to be an international physician. Travels to Eastern Europe, Asia, and North Africa opened his eyes to the quality of life and cultural differences in other countries and how they contribute to the healthcare needs of individuals and communities.
As a true Wildcats sports fan, Adeel believes in staying physically active. He is a member of the Tucson Men’s Soccer League Premier Division, participated in intramural sports each semester and also trained and completed the P.F. Chang’s Rock-n-Roll Marathon in Phoenix earlier this year.
Adeel will continue to work on his independent research project in the fall. In addition to research, he will be applying for medical school and continue pursuing medical advances as a researcher. He intends to work both locally and globally to improve healthcare in underserved populations.
Senior
Awards Past Recipients
Freeman Medal Recipients
Robie Medals Recipients
Nugent Awards Recipients
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