|
|
|
2003 Scholars: LYDIA (ROBERTS) BARRIGAN, Pomona High School
Where are they now?
|
|
Five years after she was named a Herald Citizens Scholar from Pomona High School, Lydia Roberts is preparing for graduation again.
This time, Lydia Roberts Barrigan is graduating this month summa cum laude with a degree in chemistry and biochemistry from Kansas State University.
She plans to seek a doctorate from the University of North Carolina in pharmacology.
Barrigan said she wants to work for a drug company doing medical drug research, especially for cancer.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do,” Barrigan said. “Both of my grandmothers had cancer.
“That’s always been an inspiration to me to use my talents and God-given ability in science to find a better treatment or a cure for cancer.”
Barrigan had planned to major in chemical engineering but switched to chemistry and biochemistry during her first year at K-State.
Because of the switch, the difficulty of the chemistry courses and to add biochemistry courses, Barrigan decided to delay her graduation by a year.
At K-State, Barrigan was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and has been president of Alpha Chi Sigma, a chemistry fraternity.
Alpha Chi Sigma has staged several chemistry demonstrations for children in Manhattan schools and public events, she said.
“That’s a lot of fun doing the shows with all the explosions and colors that come from chemistry experiments,” she said.
She also has conducted Alzheimer’s research at K-State for nearly three years and a summer at The University of Kansas doing undergraduate research work.
At Pomona, Barrigan was involved in the Future Business Leaders of America, Scholar’s Bowl, National Honor Society, volleyball, basketball and track.
She married her high school sweetheart in December.
She is the daughter of Bill and Natalie Roberts, rural Pomona.
|
|
