Delta State students shine at Mississippi ACS Annual Banquet

Cleveland, MS (11/20/2025) — Contact: Nathan Duff FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: (662) 846-4678

Email: nduff@deltastate.edu

Delta State students shine at Mississippi ACS Annual Banquet

CLEVELAND, Miss. - Undergraduates at Delta State University are gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge fields like biochemistry, cell biology, and computational chemistry through faculty-mentored research projects and prestigious national programs.

Four members of Delta State's American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Chapter showcased their work at the ACS Mississippi Local Section's Annual Awards Banquet on November 13 at Mississippi College in Clinton. Peyton Bevan, John Clay Hong, Layan Asmar and Erick Manriquez presented professional posters during the event's poster session, which also featured dinner and a keynote address by Dr. David H. Magers, Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Physics at Mississippi College and the 2024 ACS Chemist of the Year. The DSU ACS chapter is advised by Dr. Christopher T. Jurgenson, Sullivan-Outlaw Professor of Biochemistry.

Hong earned the Best Undergraduate Poster Award for his project, "Validating CMA Colonization Plus Sensitization Induces Tuft Cell Hyperplasia in a SPF Mouse Model," which he conducted as part of a competitive summer 2024 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Chicago.

"I enjoyed seeing what students from other schools are working on," Hong said. "Dr. Jurgenson encouraged me to present this poster even though it leans more toward biology than chemistry. I was surprised and happy to win the award."

Jurgenson praised the group's performance, saying, "I'm very proud of how our students represented Delta State. Their presentations were professional and enthusiastic, and John's award highlights the strength of our undergraduate research program. Our students consistently perform at a high level in statewide competitions."

The success at the banquet underscores the growing research opportunities available to Delta State undergraduates in chemistry and biochemistry. For more information on undergraduate programs in the Division of Mathematics and Sciences at DSU, visit deltastate.edu/nursing-health-sciences/mathematics-sciences/.

Cutline: (L to R) Layan Asmar, Dr. Joe Bentley, Peyton Bevan, John Clay Hong, Dr. Chris Jurgenson, Sara Davis, Kent Humphries and Erick Manriquez represented Delta State at the Mississippi Local Section of the American Chemical Society's Annual Awards Banquet.

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About Delta State University: Delta State University is a four-year public institution whose nearly 2,800 students come from most U.S. states and more than 45 countries. Acknowledging its beginning as a teacher's college, the University sustains excellence in teacher education while continuing to expand offerings in traditional as well as unique fields of study. Programs such as those available through the Delta Music Institute, the Commercial Aviation Department, and the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information highlight the University's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the students it serves with world-leading, industry-acclaimed programs. Situated in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Delta State offers top-notch academic programs in business, arts, sciences, nursing, education, and more. DSU Athletics has won 14 national championships, 70 conference championships, and 37 regional titles.

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