Sherman, Texas -- Austin College students attended the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Texas Genetics Society (TGS) held in San Antonio, Texas, on February 23-24, where they received awards for their presentations.
Mahima Jetty ’28 and Carrie Curtis ’28 won Best Undergraduate Poster Presentation and Lily Ordoñez ’27 won Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation.
One student, Maryam Zeeshan ’27, was elected by her undergraduate peers at the meeting to a one-year term as the undergraduate student representative to the Board of Directors of TGS—a position established by Niki Hamraei ’25 in 2024.
In addition to the student presentation success, three AC students were provided travel awards totaling $300 which will help defray costs to the Center for Research, Experiential, Artistic & Transformative Education (CREATE) budget.
Other Austin College students in attendance were Karsyn Clouse ’27, Marcia Pinto ’27, Kailey Vick ’27, Amanda Vanderford ’29, Aaron Lam ’26, Eva Myers ’27, and Tanner Steubing ’28.
Students were accompanied by Associate Professor of Biology and Biology Department Chair Dr. David Aiello and Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Shayne Easterwood.
“This marks the fourth year in a row that Austin College students have won the award for best poster presentation, and the second year in a row they have won the award for best oral presentation,” said Aiello. “I am proud of my students and all their hard work.”
Additionally, the 2026 meeting marked the beginning of Aiello’s second year-long tenure as 2026-2027 President of the Texas Genetics Society. He previously served as President in 2020-2021.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
