Melissa Wasilewski of Clarks Summit Graduates from Honors Program

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Melissa Wasilewski, University of Scranton Honors Program graduate

SCRANTON, PA (07/27/2011)(readMedia)-- Melissa Wasilewski, Clark Summit, was among the 22 members of The University of Scranton's Class of 2011 who graduated from the Jesuit university's Honors Program. The Honors Program supports The University of Scranton's tradition of excellence and its dedication to freedom of inquiry and personal development. It challenges outstanding students with a rigorous education that stresses independent work and intense engagement with faculty and other Honors students both in and out of the classroom. A student's work in the Honors Program culminates in a year-long senior project.

Wasilewski's thesis was "Antiproliferative Factor Regulates Connective Tissue Growth Factor Expression in Bladder Carcinoma Cells." She was mentored by Sonia L. Planey, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry at The Commonwealth Medical College.

"I studied the development of interstitial cystitis (IC), a painful bladder disease, by studying the molecular changes that occur in bladder carcinoma cells treated with antiproliferative factor, the potential causative agent for IC," Wasilewski said.

Wasilewski majored in biochemistry and cell and molecular biology/biomathematics. She was president of Phi Lambda Upsilon Honor Society, treasurer of Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society and a member of Beta Beta Beta, Pi Mu Epsilon, Alpha Epsilon Delta and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies. She was a Dean's List Student and was named to "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges." A Goldwater Scholar, she received the Excellence in Biomathematics Award, Excellence in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Award, the Frank O'Hara Award and the Ellen Miller Casey Award for Honors Research.

Wasilewski will attend Temple University School of Medicine for the M.D./Ph.D. program on a full-tuition scholarship and stipend.

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Melissa Wasilewski, Clark Summit, was among the 22 members of The University of Scranton's Class of 2011 to graduate from the Jesuit university's Honors Program. Her thesis was "Antiproliferative Factor Regulates Connective Tissue Growth Factor Expression in Bladder Carcinoma Cells." Standing from left are Sonia L. Planey, Ph.D., assistant professor biochemistry, The Commonwealth Medical College; Wasilewski; and Joseph Kraus, Ph.D., director of the Honors Program and associate rofessor of English and Theatre at The University of Scranton.