2005 DEAN'S GRADUATE MEDALIST
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
Tonya M. Atkins
M.S., Chemistry

Tonya Atkins will complete her M.S. degree with a 3.75 GPA. Though she had wanted to be a scientist since childhood, she did not pursue a college education because of family expectations that she enter the work force. Through many years of unfulfilling jobs, she took up the hobby of building and maintaining model rockets. A chance meeting with a chemical engineer started her on a path to higher education to learn more about science. While continuing to work full time, she earned an A.A. degree and eventually entered Fresno State and earned a B.S. degree in chemistry in 2003. She has received scholarships and research awards, including the Robert and Norma Craig Graduate Fellowship and the McNair Presentation Award. She has worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant at Fresno State and made a poster presentation at the American Chemical Society national meeting in San Diego.

Next fall Tonya will begin studies and research leading to a doctorate in chemistry at the University of California, Davis.

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Above: Tonya is hooded by Dean Vivian Vidoli
Below: Tonya with Dean K.P. Wong and Provost Jeri Echeverria