BU Wheelock Seniors Receive Undergraduate Awards
Siyi (Emily) Yan and Dean David Chard. Photo by Dave Green
BU Wheelock Seniors Receive Undergraduate Awards
Three BU Wheelock seniors received undergraduate academic achievement awards in honor of their exemplary performance. Lauren Choi, Karen (Nataly) Salazar, and Siyi (Emily) Yan received their awards at this year’s undergraduate brunch, held in May during the 2023 BU Commencement weekend.
Peter Foukal Achievement in Math and Science Award: Lauren Choi
Awarded to a BU Wheelock senior who has achieved academic excellence in math or science.
Lauren Choi studied math education at BU Wheelock, with a minor in mathematics from the College of Arts and Sciences. While at the University, Choi took 10 math courses, including advanced calculus, discrete math, number theory, differential equations, statistics, and multivariate calculus. Choi says she “looks forward to impacting the teaching and learning of mathematics,” and is “excited to work and learn with the new generation of students she will be teaching in the future.”
Currier Award in Achievement in Science Education: Karen (Nataly) Salazar
Given annually to a student in their third or fourth academic year, who demonstrates scholastic achievement in the field of science education.
Karen (Nataly) Salazar graduated with a bachelor of science in science education with a subconcentration in general science. Along with their science education, Salazar learned how to advocate and empower minority students and English language learners. A first-generation Mexican student, Salazar plans to use the skills and knowledge they gained at BU Wheelock to pursue a master’s degree in bilingual special education.
Dean’s Academic Excellence Award: Siyi (Emily) Yan
Given annually to a senior who has achieved academic excellence during their time at BU Wheelock.
Originally from China, Siyi (Emily) Yan came to Boston University to study bilingual education and economics. At BU Wheelock, she demonstrated her passion for bilingual education, constructing her own study about how international students perceived their English proficiencies in multiple settings, including a literature review, interviews, regression analyses, and surveys. She says that she is “excited to contribute her skills and knowledge to positively impact the lives of students and educators alike” following her graduation from Boston University.