July 3, 2012

2012-2013 AMSTEMM Mentors

We are pleased to include six new mentors to the AMSTEMM Program for the 2012-2013 academic year: Jonathan Brigham, Emily Bryant, Casey Clark, Reyno Tapia, Colton Parson and Josh Yeary. We have 13 students returning as mentors, totaling 19 mentors for the 2012-2013 academic year. The following students will join us in mentoring first-year AMSTEMM students admitted to UK in the Fall from the Appalachian Region or diverse students with science or engineering majors. These students will join mentors from the Robinsons Scholar Program and Student Support Services in a training program later this summer.

My name is Jonathan Brigham and I am currently a junior at the University of Kentucky. I am a Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology triple major. I hope to one day become a cardiothoracic surgeon and later travel all around the world offering surgeries to those in need. I really enjoy traveling, playing tennis, boating, and hanging out with friends. I am also a member of Southland Christian Church. I strongly believe that the University of Kentucky is one of the greatest colleges in the country and my goal is to continuously contribute to the academic success and eleemosynary efforts that continue to hold this university in high esteem.
Emily Bryant is a junior studying chemistry and biology. She is originally from Floyd County, where she attended the Piarist School. She is currently involved in the Students of the American Chemical Society, the FUSION Planning Team, the Honors Program, and Dr. Glazer's laboratory group. In her spare time, Emily likes to view art, whether by attending poetry readings, watching plays, or looking at interesting architecture.

Rachael Cash attended Rockcastle County High School. She is currently a junior majoring in mining engineering with a minor in mathematics.

Casey is a junior biology major from Lewis County, Kentucky.  Casey is also a member of the University of Kentucky Honors Program.  He is interested in biological issues, especially those dealing with agriculture.  He plans to attend medical school, hopefully at the University of Kentucky.  Casey also enjoys cooking, baking, raising poultry, chemistry, and is active at the University of Kentucky Baptist Campus Ministry.

Drake DeHoff is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. He is from Greenup County where he attended Russell High School. He hopes to one day attend medical school after obtaining his bachelor’s degree.



Rachel Evans attended Hazard High School. This fall she will be a junior Biology major at UK and hopes to attend medical school after graduation. She has participated in UK’s PEPP and Bio 395 undergraduate research programs. She will be a UK 101 Peer Instructor and a Fusion Site Leader this fall. She is also currently a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.


Eric Gindlesperger is from Boyd County Kentucky. He graduated from Boyd County High School where he played basketball and was president of the BETA club. He is a sophomore in Chemical Engineering.


Mason Holbrook is from Prestonsburg, Kentucky and is currently a junior at the University of Kentucky studying Biology. He is a pre-med student and also a undergraduate researcher. He likes to rock climb and just hang out.



Faith Johnson is from Pikeville, Kentucky. She is a biology major and will be a Junior here at UK. She plans to be a dentist. She is a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority and also have a twin sister! She love horses and rides in her free time!



Hope Johnson is from Pikeville, KY. She is a biology major and plans on going to optometry school. She has a twin named is Faith. She is a member of Kappa Delta. She loves animals and riding horses, having fun and meeting new people.



Kara Lowery is from Louisville, KY. She plans to attend pharmacy school in one year. After graduation, she would like to work as a retail pharmacist. She currently works as a pharmacy technician at Kroger and as a sales associate at Abercrombie and Fitch. At UK, she is a member of the pre-pharmacy club volunteers for several organizations.


Cierra Newton is currently a freshman at the University of Kentucky, eagerly on the path to UK's College of Pharmacy to become a pediatric pharmacist. Additionally, she is eager to become fluent in spanish and studying abroad in Latin America is of great interest to her.

My name is Colton Parsons. I am a junior at the University of Kentucky from Salt Rock, WV. I have attended UK for two years, majoring in Mining Engineering. I attended high school at Lincoln County High School in Hamlin, WV where I played basketball and baseball while maintaining my academics. I have worked for Patriot Coal for almost two years, via two internships.

Audra Stacy is an Eastern Kentucky native and graduate of East Ridge High School. She is beginning her second year at UK as a Biology major with high hopes of pursuing a medical career. She is also a part of UK's Honors Program. She enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and supporting the Wildcats in any and all sports and activities.

I am Reyno Tapia, a Junior Biology/Spanish double major from Mayfield, KY with hopes on eventually going on to Medical school.I enjoy getting to know new people, and hope to get to travel to get to know the rest of the world as well. On any given school night you can find me in the library or a coffee shop, both catching up on schoolwork and some online news--so don't be afraid to come up to me for anything.

Roberto Tapia is a sophomore Chemistry/Psychology major/minor at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. He is originally from Mayfield, KY and is excited to be an AMSTEMM Peer Mentor.



Danee Trowell was born in New Jersey but grew up in Louisville KY. She lived in many states as a military child but is very excited to study abroad in Madrid, Spain the summer of 2011. She is currently a Pre-med student studying Biology (major)/ Spanish (minor) at the University of Kentucky. She has a twin brother and am the 4th of 6 children.


Rebecca Wente graduated from East Carter County High School in Grayson, Kentucky. She is currently an agricultural biotechnology major and plans on going to medical school. Volunteering is her passion. She is currently working towards the President’s Lifetime Service Award.


Callie Williams is originally from Hazard, Kentucky. She is a junior in Chemical Engineering and an active member of Phi Sigma Rho, the women's engineering sorority.
I am Joshua Yeary, a senior chemical engineering major at UK originally from London, Kentucky. I've spent my last three summers at Oak Ridge National lab where I've been published as a co-author in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research and Journal of Membrane Science. I'm very active around campus, as a leader at UKCSF, an avid Cats fan, and a peer mentor at AMSTEMM.