UPIKE Student Selected as 2021 Ledford Scholar

By Stacey Walters

Each year, the Appalachian College Association (ACA) awards scholarships to support ongoing educational objectives. Ledford Scholars present their research from various fields of study, such as health sciences, social sciences or humanities, applying multiple methodologies, laboratory research, fieldwork, participant observation, interview/oral history or archival/library research.

The University of Pikeville was delighted to announce biology student Nyla Gulley as a recipient of the 2021 ACA’s Ledford Research Scholarship.

The undergraduate students awarded the scholarship are provided financial support, enabling them to work on a significant research project during the summer. Each student will receive assistance from a faculty mentor at their home institution. During the fall semester, the scholars will provide a video presentation of their research findings, which is recognized and made available for viewing on the ACA’s website.

UPIKE Professor of Biology Phillip Jen, Ph.D., is serving as Gulley’s mentor in determining the effects of specific neurotransmitters on breast cancer tissue.

“Ms. Gulley is an Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program scholar and one of the best overall students at the University of Pikeville,” said Jen. “Since she is on the path to becoming a medical doctor, it would be highly beneficial for her to gain some experience in medical research, especially a high-profile research project that is strongly supported by Pikeville Medical Center.”

Gulley is thankful he agreed to be her mentor for the Ledford Scholar program.

“Dr. Jen is an amazing mentor, and it helps that he has a passion for science. The classes he teaches at the university will help prepare me for medical school in the future,” said Gulley. “I am grateful he is taking time out of his summer to be my mentor.”

Since Gulley was able to choose the type of cancer tissue she wanted to study, she decided to research breast cancer tissues in memory of her grandmother, who passed from breast cancer in 2014.

Gulley has had research experience in the past, and the hard work and dedication she endured to gain this achievement are due to all the long nights spent studying and preparing herself for classes to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

“At the age of 19, I was selected for the Global Environmental Microbiology (GEM) summer course at the University of Southern California,” said Gulley. “Attending the GEM course helped me have an amazing opportunity working with different equipment and meeting new people.”

UPIKE is committed to excellence and leading in the areas of research and practice.

UPIKE has paved the way for me in many ways. I want to be the best person I can be, whether in or out of the classroom. My professors are very passionate about their students and science,” said Gulley. “This has made a huge impact on me to strive to be a good student and mentor to the lowerclassmen.

The program culminates with the Ledford Scholars’ presentations of their research findings at the ACA’s Annual Summit held in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. This is an opportunity to bring together faculty, staff and administrative leaders from across the ACA to engage in ongoing collaboration and share information and best practices in the ever-evolving effort to prepare students for success.

The two-day program will showcase outstanding ACA members across a broad spectrum of teaching, research, and service and furnish opportunities to share proven strategies to implement in classrooms and work at institutions.

“I am grateful for being accepted and able to attend the ACA’s Annual Summit. I believe anyone interested in summer research should apply for the Ledford Scholarship,” said Gulley. “It is an honor to be given such a prestigious opportunity.”

Gulley plans to graduate with a bachelor of science in biology and aspires to enter medical school at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine.