Mariana El Khoury
Morgantown – Inspired by her father’s dedication and compassion for cancer patients, Mariana El Khoury She will pursue a career in medicine of her own, and plans to return to Wheeling to practice after medical school. The dedication and determination of a Wheeling Park High School student has earned her the nickname Neil S.
Al-Khoury’s father is Dr. Nabil Al-Khoury of the WVU Cancer Institute at Reynolds Memorial Hospital. She plans to study immunology and medical microbiology as her path to medical school, and believes the unique skill set will set her apart from other applicants.
Al-Khoury, who is a published poet, said she believes her degree will set her apart from other medical school applicants. She did not choose a medical specialty but said she was sure she would return to her hometown to practice medicine.
She is the daughter of Nabil and Nasreen El Khoury from Wheeling, and is the captain of both the Wheeling Park speech and debate teams and the science team. She is a two-time Stifel Award first place recipient and is president of the Park’s National Honor Society. She is also an AP Scholar with Distinction.
Al-Khoury is among 20 West Virginia high achievers announced as 2023 Bucklew Scholars. The scholarship is valued at $40,000 and allows recipients to compete for WVU’s largest academic award as a Foundation Scholar.
The other 19 Bucklew Scholars will also use compassion, hope, and strive to find solutions that will change their communities and the world for the better while creating a more sustainable and inclusive future.
The talented high school seniors selected for this scholarship are equipped with the intellectual curiosity, ambition, and critical thinking skills needed to effect positive change.
Nine scientists are pursuing careers in medicine.
Jayla Boyd from George Washington High School, Lillian Floyd from Parkersburg High School and Samantha Ginter From undergraduate high school they will begin their time at WVU as Neuroscience majors.
An avid runner who wants to help save lives by providing specialized care for stroke and opioid-dependent patients in rural West Virginia, Boyd also has a keen interest in reducing mental health stigma and hasn’t ruled out a career in psychiatry. .
Floyd, who was fascinated by the brain while reading “100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and Age-Related Memory Loss,” isn’t sure whether to attend medical school or pursue a doctorate in research. However, she feels confident that she will find her rightful place at WVU.
Both scientists said their career aspirations were further enhanced while attending WVU’s Department of Neuroscience and the Rockefeller Institute’s Neurosciences.
An aspiring neurologist caring for loved ones with an unexplained neurological disorder, Guenther also got a first-hand view of RNI’s groundbreaking research as a member of the WVU Medicine Junior Volunteer Academy.
Like Khoury Nathaniel Lang from Frankfurt High School he will use his degrees in immunology and medical microbiology as a path to medical school.
A trombonist and trumpeter fascinated by the systems and functions of the human body, Lange is eager to immerse himself in research at the R1 research institution and pursue a career as a physician or research scientist focusing on toxicology or immunology.
After a diagnosis of iron deficiency that affected her athletic performance as a soccer player and a satisfactory experience working as a volunteer U6 soccer coach, Kirsten Buseymajored in exercise physiology from Lincoln High School, and aspired to become a pediatric hematologist.
Inspired by her father’s profession as a pathologist and intrigued by the coronary stent placement she observed while shadowing at Moon Health Medical Center, Amy Loua biology major from Morgantown High School, is considering a career as a cardiologist.
After watching a family member suffer from the effects of muscular dystrophy, Brent Marcus from Spring Mills High School and plans to use his biochemistry degree to help develop treatment strategies for genetic and other illnesses while working to destigmatize individuals with disabilities.
Bringing together existing scientists in the health professions Alexander Tadrosmajored in biomedical engineering from Morgantown High School.
A second-generation Egyptian-American high school football player and track team member whose doctor parents inspired him to pursue a career in the medical field, Tadros contemplates a career dedicated to researching innovative treatments for incurable diseases.
Six other scientists come to WVU as engineering majors.
William Byrnes from Notre Dame High School, Benjamin Blackwell from St Albans High School, Anna Brussoa homeschooled student from Morgantown, as well Garrett Hutson From Grafton High School, majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Byrnes, governor-elect of the 83rd U.S. state of the Mountaineer Boys Army, plans to bridge his “soul for engineering” and interest in patent law by attending law school in the future. Eventually, he will explore his options as a patent attorney in the aerospace industry.
Blackwell, a 16-year-old football quarterback and high school football team player who’s still exploring his career options, cites a summer job at a friend’s auto shop as sparking his interest in mechanics while attending the Envision National Youth Leadership Forum in Georgia Tech. Her interest in space exploration.
Pianist and author of the children’s book Reaching for the Stars: Five Influential Women Scientists Who Changed the World Through Courage and Curiosity, Brusso aspires to work at NASA or SpaceX. She also volunteered her time to promote interest in STEM among young women in rural West Virginia and elsewhere.
President of his high school’s Spanish National Honor Society and active member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Hutson, who credits the beginner’s physics course with “securing the deal” on studying to become an engineer, also aspires to work at NASA or SpaceX. He could use his love of math and science “to create something tangible.” “.
Inspired by the movie “Hidden Figures” Julianna VizzyAn aeronautical engineering student from Catholic High School Charleston, she said her love of space was reaffirmed while she was doing research at the Green Bank Observatory as part of West Virginia’s Governor Stemm Institute. She also dreams of designing games for The Walt Disney Company.
Driven by her passion for sustainability and fascination with cars ignited by the Netflix series ‘Driving to Survive’ Rose Bosinia mechanical engineering major from Washington High School, is pursuing a job committed to making the auto industry “as green as possible” — from the shipping methods to the engine and other parts.
The five remaining scholars will begin their journeys at WVU in various disciplines.
Benjamin Golden from Berkeley Springs High School said he believes a degree in music industry and music business will connect his passions for storytelling and film music. Inspired by the soundtrack to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 2,” Golden plans to pursue his dream of becoming a film composer.
Michael Groh From Washington High School he plans to use his economics degree as a path to a career on Wall Street or to a career as an economist for the federal government harnessing economic opportunities for sustainable growth in ghost towns. Ideally, he would like to reinvent and bring prosperity back to rural West Virginia.
Joss Poteet From Jefferson High School, the vocalist who plays saxophone and piano said he hopes his degrees in geography and jazz studies will teach him how to bring different cultures together through music. His grandfather’s stories about traveling by word inspired Botet to one day serve as an ambassador for geography and culture.
Colin Street From Morgantown High School he plans to combine his degrees in political science and environmental, soil and water sciences with his passion for sustainability to cultivate grassroots solutions to environmental issues in West Virginia. A co-founder of the SAGA Initiative, he lobbied for LGBTQ+ youth across the state on Fair Lobbying for All Day and is considering a future run for public office.
Inspired by her mother who is a special education teacher. Isabella Botini, a secondary education major from Ripley High School, plans to become a high school math teacher in West Virginia. Bottini said her job as a cheerleader and gymnast at a family-owned business sparked her desire to work with the younger generation.