Harding University student LaBianca Wright, a senior biochemistry major from Searcy, was named Outstanding Graduating Biochemistry Major at the university for 2011 by the American Institute of Chemists. The award was presented at the university’s science and nursing convocation April 22.
Wright also received an award as one of four Harding students named Outstanding Chemistry Graduate at the Central Arkansas Section of the American Chemical Society banquet April 19.
Wright plans to pursue a career in medicine and will begin her medical training at Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine this summer. Last year she was appointed to a medical internship at Harvard University.
“LaBianca is a wonderful young lady and outstanding student,” said Dr. Ed Wilson, professor chemistry at Harding. “She will be a kind, sensitive and intelligent physician and will help many people during her lifetime. I truly feel honored to be able to work with such a talented person. She is a credit to Searcy, Arkansas and Harding University.”
Wilson went on to say that Wright is an “excellent researcher” and was awarded an Arkansas Space Grant Undergraduate Researcher Award for the 2010-11 academic year. Her project was to make measurements of gases in the earth’s atmosphere by using the moon as the source of light. Wright and Wilson presented a poster on her project at the 19th Arkansas Space Grant Consortium at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute April 22.
Wright is a 2007 graduate of Harding Academy and will graduate from the university with a bachelor’s degree May 14.
Harding had a record enrollment this year of more than 6,800 students from 49 states and 53 foreign countries. It is the largest private university in Arkansas and attracts more National Merit Scholars than any other private university in the state. Harding also maintains campuses in Australia, Chilé, England, France, Greece, Italy and Zambia.
