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McPherson College Student Takes First at State Science Conference

MC senior Parkes Wolters

MC senior Parkes Wolters presenting at Kansas Academy of Science and Kansas Entomological Society.

Parkes Wolters, a senior at McPherson College, placed first in the undergraduate oral presentation competition at the annual meeting of the Kansas Academy of Science and Kansas Entomological Society on March 30. Wolters, a biochemistry major, is from Osborne, Kansas.

His presentation was titled “Measuring the Relationship Between Body Condition and Body Composition in Two Kansas Spider Species.” Wolters will attend medical school at the University of Kansas next year. During his sophomore year, he was one of 16 students accepted into the Scholars in Rural Health program at the University, which assures his acceptance into the medical school.

Two other McPherson College students Micaila Curtis and Samantha Nelson also presented at the annual meeting. All natural science students at McPherson College work on a capstone research project for nearly two years. Students from McPherson College consistently place among the top undergraduate research presentations each year at the meeting, according to Dustin Wilgers associate professor in natural sciences.

“The Kansas Academy of Science and Kansas Entomological Society meeting is an excellent opportunity for our students to share their research with scientists of all levels across the state and our student all did an excellent job sharing their research again this year,” Wilgers said. “The opportunity to hear about other research going on by other students and other institutions and networking with other scientists makes this experience worth all the extra effort they put into it.”

The Kansas Academy of Science is the second oldest state academy of science in the United States and is committed to encouraging education in the sciences and sharing scientific information through academics. Its annual convention draws student presenters from all universities and colleges in Kansas. The annual meeting is held jointly with the Kansas Entomological Society and this year was hosted by Johnson County Community College.