Page 9 - January 2026 Insider
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INSIDER January 2026
Page 9
Fall General Meeting (October 28, 2025)…
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Many of the new Scholars are first generation to
graduate from college. Madison Wagner, who is
also studying chemistry at Skaggs, is the first in her
family to graduate from high school. Her road to
graduate school included starting at community
college and serving as Miss Rodeo California 2019.
The Scholars are involved in diverse research—
investigating treatments for ovarian cancer and
aggressive breast cancer, simple ways to track Karen Bowden, Barbara Starkey, Robin Luby,
pollution, and strategies on how to prevent suicide. Meera Venkatesh
Noah Stapper, who is in a joint program with SDSU
and UCSD, told the audience that every 40 seconds,
someone in the world commits suicide and 50 people
attempt it. His research examines how combining
ketamine with cognitive behavioral therapy might
provide longer-lasting relief.
Ginny Chacos, Jessica Ritchie, Kelsey Dale,
Brittany Conley
Nancy León-Rivera, Leslie Bruce, Doris Ellsworth,
Barbara McColl, Margaret Dudas
Jill Baltan, Laurie Roeder, Teri Harrah
The Scholars also talked about what they do
outside of the lab— hike, surf, play the piano and
guitar, ride horses and participate in many sports
including tennis and water polo.
Hearing the 19 Scholars speak with such passion
and clarity, it was impossible not to feel
Madison Wagner, Kimberly Miller,
Peggy Hanley, Anthony Gurunian optimistic about the future and why we are
ARCS members.
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