July 08, 2004
Millersville University student wins fourth Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Desi R. Carozza of Millersville University of Pennsylvania is the recipient of the fourth Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence.
Carozza of Lancaster received a medallion and a $1,000 cash prize in recognition of her outstanding academic performance and involvement in extra-curricular activities. She graduated in May from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and a minor in biochemistry. She plans to pursue a career in the medical profession.
While a student at Millersville, Carozza volunteered as a tutor for senior level biology and chemistry courses and was involved in research into the development of the university’s histology (microanatomy) center, which was funded in part by a $250,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. She received the Lancaster Labs Award for Achievement in the Application of Scientific Method for Undergraduate Research for her work on that project. Carozza also volunteered at Hospice of Lancaster County, where she provided counseling to terminally ill patients and their family members.
The Ali-Zaidi Award was established by Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, a founding member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors, to annually recognize and reward a graduating senior from one of the 14 state-owned Universities.
Funds for the annual award come from donations made to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation, Inc.
Each of the 14 PASSHE University presidents nominated a student for the 2004 Ali-Zaidi Award. The Board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee selected the winner.
Courtney Thompson of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Abigail S. Pennypacker of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania were this year’s runners-up for the award.
Dr. Ali-Zaidi served two terms on the Board of Governors. He initially was appointed by then-Gov. Richard Thornburgh, upon the creation of the State System in 1983. He later was appointed by then-Gov. Tom Ridge. He served as chair of the Academic Policy and Planning Committee, the Board’s long-range strategic planning task force and the Task Force on Science and Advanced Technology Education, Workforce Development and Implementation Research.
With more than 104,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE Universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 400,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.