Honors and Awards

T.I.D.E.S. researchers have been very successful in their professional endeavors; our researchers have scientific publications, given presentations, been awarded prestigious Terry Foundation Transfer Scholarships, and gained entry to competitive graduate programs. Our researchers have presented their research at The National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR), The Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI) – Colloquia and National Poster Sessions, Texas Academy of Sciences – Annual Meetings, Texas Tech Annual Biological Symposiums, as well as other regional, national, and professional conferences.

Our researchers have been awarded many honors at Texas Academy of Sciences Annual Meetings, The Texas Tech Annual Biological Sciences Symposium in Lubbock, national CCURI Colloquia, and the Great Plains Honor College Conference Boe Award.

Alyssa Clay

Microplastic Loading in the Sediment of the Mesoamerican Reef in Roatan, Honduras.

First Place, Best Oral Presentation, All Divisions

Best Oral Presentation, Marine Sciences Division

Sammy Ray Award – First Place:  Texas Academy of Sciences – Annual Meeting, Feb. 2020 Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas

Madilyn Hill               

Potential Vectors for Millepora in Encrusted Octocorals on the Mesoamerican Barrier reef in Roatan, Honduras

Best Poster Presentation – Marine Sciences Division:  Texas Academy of Sciences – Annual Meeting, Feb. 2020 Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas

Matthew Hicks

Associations between algal species and sponge disease in Xestospongia muta and Aplysina species observed in Roatan, Honduras

Best Oral Presentation, Marine Sciences Division

Sammy Ray Award – Second Place:  Texas Academy of Sciences – Annual Meeting, Feb. 2020 Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas

Terri Cox

Frequency and Disease Prevalence in Boulder Corals in Association with Burrowing Annelids in Roatan, Honduras.

Best Poster Presentation – Marine Sciences Division:  Texas Academy of Sciences – Annual Meeting, March 2019 Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas

Scheila Corujo         

1. A longitudinal study of fish assemblages on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, in Roatán, Honduras

Second Place – Sammy Ray Award – Best Marine Sciences Oral Presentation:  Texas Academy of Sciences – Annual Meeting, March 2019 Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas

2. Fish Assemblages on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatan, Honduras

First Place - Best Poster Presentation - All Divisions

First Place - Best Poster Presentations - Marine Sciences Division:  Texas Academy of Sciences – Annual Meeting, March 2018. Midland College, Midland, TX.

Austin Biddy

Prevalence and Intensity of Aspergillosis on Gorgonia ventalina and G. flabellum on the Mesoamerican Reef, Roatan Honduras

First Place, Best Oral Presentation, Marine Sciences Division:  Texas Academy of Sciences – Annual Meeting, March 2018. Midland College, Midland, TX.

First Place, Best Oral Presentation, Undergraduate Division:  Texas Tech Annual Biological Sciences Symposium (TTABSS), April 2018, Lubbock, TX.

John Phelps

Prevalence of White Band Disease, Type I and II, on Acropora cervicornis of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, in Utila, Honduras

Best Oral Presentation, Second Place, All Divisions

Best Oral Presentation, Marine Sciences Division

Sammy Ray Award – First Place:  Texas Academy of Science – Annual Meeting. March 2017.  Mary Hardin Baylor University, Belton, TX.

Gabby Garcia

Terry Foundation Transfer Scholarship:  Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Awarded: Spring 2017

Stephani Clevenger

Frequency of the three-spot damselfish, Stegastes planifrons, and Staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, in relation to percent coverage of coral White Band Disease in Roatan, Honduras

Dennis Boe Award

Great Plains Honors Council - Annual Conference. 2015.

Terry Foundation Transfer Scholarship- Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.  Awarded: Spring 2017.

Kara Schmidt

1. Fish Bite Prevalence and Yellow-band Disease on Montastraea and Orbicella Complexes in Roatan, Honduras

Best Oral Presentation – Undergraduate Division: Texas Tech Annual Biological Sciences Symposium (TTABSS), April 2016. Lubbock, TX.

Honorable Mention - Best Abstract: Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI) Spring Colloquium. April 2016. Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin, TN.

Best Oral Presentation, Marine Sciences Division

Sammy Ray Award – First Place: Texas Academy of Science – Annual Meeting. March 2016.  Llano River Field Station- Texas Tech University, Junction, TX.

2. Fish bite prevalence on Yellow-band diseased corals off the coast of Roatan, Honduras

Best Poster Presentation, Marine Sciences Division: Texas Academy of Science - Annual Meeting. March 2015. University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX.