Centenary College Student Travels To Taiwan To Present Research

SHREVEPORT, La.-A student from Centenary College will travel half way across the globe to compete in an international science fair later this week.

Freshman Kendall Hughes of Shreveport will travel to the Republic of China Thursday, Jan. 28 to compete in the 2010 Taiwan International Science Fair where she will not only present her research on skin cancer, but also speak on the science curriculum in high schools in the United States.

Kendall Hughes

"This is a huge opportunity for me to meet other students from other countries around the world who are doing the same type of research," said Hughes. "It is exciting but also intimidating at the same time."

Her journey to Taiwan began when she was attending Caddo Magnet High School, where she captured first place in the 2009 regional science fair. She was able to bypass the state science fair and went directly to the International Science and Engineering Fair hosted by Intel® in Reno, Nevada, May 10, 2009.

The Intel® International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), the world's largest international pre-college science competition, provides an annual forum for more than 1,500 high school students from over 50 countries, regions and territories to showcase their independent research. The Intel ISEF is the premiere global science competition for students in grades 9-12.

The then 18-year old high school senior again took the top prize in the Biochemistry Division for her research on Mechanisms of Tumor Cell Invasion: The Role of Stat3 in Squamous Cell Carcinoma, earning $1,000 and, according to Hughes, "a trip of a lifetime to the Science Fair in Taiwan."

"I am very excited to be traveling to Taiwan for this opportunity to present the research that I had been working on for two years," said Hughes. "Not only that, but I am one of only two students from the U.S. attending, so it is really a tremendous honor."

One of Hughes' professors at the College couldn't agree more with her. According to Dr. Beth Leuck, Whited-Douglas Chair of Neurobiology, her invitation to the International Science Fair in Taiwan is a tremendous honor and opportunity for her to show off the high quality research that a motivated and talented student can accomplish. "Kendall will do a great job representing herself, her high school (Caddo Magnet High), and Centenary College."

The Taiwan International Science Fair runs from January 31 through February 7 and brings together students and teachers in Taiwan and from around the world for seven days to compete and experience cultural exchanges. Teams include two students and two teachers, and travel from countries such a Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, South Africa, Japan and the United States to attend the annual fair. During their stay in Taiwan, students live with a Taiwanese family for the week and take part in cultural activities, presentations to judges and a public exhibition of their work.