LAHS graduate Esteban Abeyta wins SACNAS award for his outstanding contribution and research presentation in Biochemistry. Courtesy photo
Staff Report
Los Alamos High School 2015 graduate Esteban Abeyta was one of 117 graduate and undergraduate underrepresented minority students honored with a Presentation award for their research and presentation skills at the 2017 National Diversity in STEM Conference. His particular award was for outstanding contribution and research presentation in the Biochemistry category.
The awards, presented by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) recognize the next generation of scientists and STEM leaders for exemplary science while giving visibility to their investigations and home institutions, as well as encouraging students to continue fostering a career in science.
“One of the goals of the SACNAS conference is to provide a training ground for students and professionals that provides support and guidance throughout STEM educational and career paths,” SACNAS President Dr. Lino Gonzales said. “Through the Presentation Awards we proudly recognize and lift up the hard work and effort of students in their respective fields.”
Abeyta has a long history of success in local, regional and national science fairs. In 2014 he and another LAHS student, Ashvini Vaidya made it to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Alamos, Calif. in the field of Microbiology. In 2015, in Pittsburgh, Penn., he and Vaidya won third place in the Microbiology category out of 100 projects. At the New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair in 2015, he and Vaidya won the grand award in the Life Science category and first place in the Microbiology category.
Abeyta is majoring in biochemistry at the University of New Mexico. He is the son of Joe and Eva Abeyta. Eva Abeyta has taught science at Los Alamos Middle School for many years and was recently named the Los Alamos Public Schools science fair coordinator.
Among those sponsoring this year’s awards were Sandia National Laboratories.
