Dec. 15, 2006 --Five students at Arkansas State University have been awarded the Student Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Christopher Cato, Mary Elizabeth Harrison, Alexi Lamm, Jennifer Little, and Alison Wiley are this year's recipients.

The SURF program is designed to allow undergraduates to conduct in-depth research in their specific fields of study and to allow them a travel budget to present that research in conference. All types of undergraduate research from all academic disciplines are eligible for support. Eligibility requirements include a minimum GPA of 3.25, 30 hours of credit towards a degree at the time of funding, and the support of a faculty mentor.

Christopher Cato’s field of study is biology. He is from Tyronza, and his parents are Ricky and Missy Cato. Dr. Ron Johnson, Zoology, served as Cato’s faculty mentor.

Mary Elizabeth Harrison’s field of study is engineering. She is from Judsonia, and her parents are Larry and Deborah Harrison. Dr. Brad Edgar, Mechanical Engineering, served as Harrison’s faculty mentor.

Alexi Lamm’s field of study is Art History. She is from Jonesboro, and her parents are Rob and Martha Lamm. Dr. Alyson Gill, Art, served as Lamm’s faculty mentor.

Jennifer Little’s field of study is biology. She is from Corning, and her parents are Jane Cox of Corning and Gary Little of Sweet Home, Oregon. Dr. David Gilmore, Environmental Biology, served as Little’s faculty mentor.

Alison Wiley’s field of study is mathematics. She is from Malvern, and her parents are David and Joy Wiley. Dr. Debra Ingram, Mathematics, served as Wiley’s faculty mentor.