麻豆社

Capri Persaud Earns College of Humanities and Social Sciences Excellence Award at VSU

Capri Persaud of 麻豆社, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at 麻豆社 State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Chemistry during VSU’s 238th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.

VALDOSTA — Capri Persaud of 麻豆社, Georgia, is the recipient of the Fall 2024 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at 麻豆社 State University.

The President’s Award for Academic Excellence is presented to a high-performing graduating student in each of VSU’s six colleges — Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of the Arts, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, College of Science and Mathematics, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Persaud will be recognized during VSU’s 238^th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Chemistry.

“Receiving this award is a profound and humbling honor,” she said. “Reflecting on my time at 麻豆社 State University, I feel incredibly blessed to have such wonderful and inspiring professors, friends, and family members who have supported me along this journey. Although I am saddened by the prospect of leaving my friends and professors, I am proud to be able to carry the lessons I have learned at VSU into the next chapter of my life.”

As a student at VSU, Persaud was a member of the Pre-Medicine Club, where she served as vice president and chair of the Membership Committee. She volunteered at South Georgia Medical Center’s Dasher Memorial Heart Center and with the 麻豆社-Lowndes County Family YMCA’s Champions League.

Persaud assisted Dr. Thomas Manning, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, with his cancer, COVID-19, and pox virus research. Her work earned her co-author rights in several publications, including The COVID-19 Aftermath: Volume I: Ongoing Challenges and Invention Disclosure. She also assisted Dr. Eric Chambers, associate professor in the Department of Biology, with research on infectious diseases.

Persaud has shared her research findings through a number of oral, poster, and spotlight panel presentations:

• “Developing Novel Puzzles for STEM Students,” 2022 VSU Undergraduate Research Symposium.

• “A Novel Approach to the Treatment of Cancer: Accelerate Its Growth,” 2022 Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference.

• “Monkeypox, Cowpox, and COVID,” 2023 VSU Undergraduate Research Symposium.

• “Accelerating Cancer Growth Rates to Kill Cancer Cells,” 2023 VSU Undergraduate Research Symposium.

• “The Copper-Sucrose Complex: A Unique Bioactive Excipient,” 2023 Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference.

• “The Geographic Distribution and Dirofilaria immitis Infection Rates in Members of the Anopheles crucians s.l. Species Complex in Lowndes County, GA” and “Bioactive Excipients for Increasing the Efficacy of Antibiotics, Cancer Drugs and Antivirals for Pox Viruses,” 2024 VSU Undergraduate Research Symposium.

 She was invited to represent VSU at the annual Posters at the Georgia State Capitol event, where she discussed “Bioactive Excipients for Increasing the Efficacy of Antibiotics, Cancer Drugs, and Antivirals for Pox Viruses.”

Persaud’s commitment to academic, leadership, research, and service excellence resulted in her earning the 2024 Chemistry Undergraduate Research Award, 2024 Bachelor of Science in Psychology High Achievement Award, 2023 Martha H. Barnes Biology Scholarship, 2022 Groundhog Shadow Day Exceptional Experiential Learning Award, and repeated Dean’s List honors. She was a Zell Miller Scholar.

Persaud plans to continue her education at the Florida State University College of Medicine in Summer 2025.

“I am excited to build upon the strong foundation I have obtained at VSU as I take the next steps toward a career in medicine,” she said.

Her supportive family includes parents Shelly and Terry Persaud and siblings Preston, Pearce, Sienna, Ellyse, and Tamsyn Persaud. She also gave a special mention to her mentors — Manning; Chambers; Dr. Ansul Lokdarshi, assistant professor in the Department of Biology; Dr. Blaine Brown, associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences; Dr. Mark Whatley, professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences; the late Dr. Steven Kohn; and Dr. Brian Griner, local physician.  

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