Kerrville, TX – The National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD, has accepted two Chemistry students from Schreiner University – Mayte Gonzales and Hannah Ortiz – into their competitive internship for this summer. They will be working for the National Institute of Diabetes, digestive and Kidney Diseases in the Department of Health & Human Services.

“These two girls deserve to be recognized for their outstanding accomplishment,” said Dr. Adrian Zapata, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Schreiner University. “They are both strong Latina female role models that are going to do great things.” Gonzales and Ortiz are both junior Chemistry majors at Schreiner. Zapata is their academic advisor.

Gonzales was accepted to and completed this same internship last year performing research in Bile acids present in diabetics. Her research was awarded at two different conferences in Texas – Department of Biochemistry and structural Biology 2018 Annual Retreat Poster session 2nd place and TAS conference award 2nd place for best undergraduate oral presentation for chemistry & biochemistry section. “Mayte has become a strong and influential leader on campus,” added Zapata.

Ortiz has been on the Dean’s list for multiple semesters, she was a first team all-conference pitcher in 2018 and she was voted fan best sophomore in DIII softball for Schreiner University. This will be her first internship at NIH.

Both Gonzales and Ortiz are newly inducted members of the Xi Theta chapter of Gamma Sigma Epsilon, and Gonzales also holds an executive office. They are both role models for STEM majors, women and Schreiner students.