2021-Kimberly Manalang
My Lafayette admission essay focused on my mother’s hands – full of calluses and scars – and its relationship to her immigration to America. I am reminded of her struggles and triumphs each time I feel her hands against mine, which inspire me to keep working hard to cultivate a path for myself just like her. I often wondered what I could do to help in my own way and use my own hands for good.
Being the oldest cousin in my family, I have embraced tutoring and mentoring younger children, which I have pursued through community service in Easton. At Lafayette, I began my volunteer work through POSP. This exposed me to the opportunities that allowed me to be involved with the Easton community and the rest was history- community service through LANDIS comprised the next 4 years of my life.
While I love community service, I equally love Biology. I quickly became involved in research and am currently conducting Honors Thesis research. To pair with my passion for teaching, I became a lab TA for the next 3 years, honing down my ability to tutor at different levels.
However, it was not until junior year that I realized the importance of my own voice. Through MOSAIC, I became the director of the tutoring team in which I lead events raising awareness on immigration, migration, and refugees with the goal to have students step out of Lafayettes campus bubble.
Given my experience with my immigrant roots, it has taught me to be independent, proactive, and unapologetic when it comes to my journey. Balancing passions both inside and outside of academics is key to being a well-rounded student. Throughout my time here, I realized what I can do with my own two hands – to reach out to others and touch people’s hearts.
Here at Lafayette, I involve myself in the community and find ways to be more virtually connected, especially during the pandemic. Maximizing the liberal arts aspect, I was able to take Film classes and apply them to my jobs on campus. For instance, I produced a video on the event, “Having the Conversation on ICE,” which I ran with my team and promoted the event! Additionally, the Firth Youth Center Video was used by the organization to promote our free tutoring sessions and game nights. The last video was my final project for “Documentary Storymaking” that embodies my mother’s journey, her transition to America, and how technology played a huge role in maintaining her connection to her family.
Having the Conversation on ICE Video: https://youtu.be/aXpIm-F3mDg
Promoting Virtual Tutoring/ Games Firth Youth Center Video:https://youtu.be/1hh-21B3wMs
A New Sense of Connection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQKGGIH9gbI
Academic Activity/Award 1:
Posse Full Tuition Scholarship-4-I was awarded the Posse Scholarship for my leadership abilities in high school and the potential to become my own type of leader on Lafayette’s campus. The Posse Foundation mission states its “primary aim is to train these leaders of tomorrow.”
Academic Activity/Award 2:
Senior Honors Thesis-1-Project Title: Exploration of Co-Signaling Toll-Like Receptor (TLRs) Cascades. Project Mentor: Dr. Robert Kurt, Professor of Biology. Project Description: A hallmark discovery of Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) in the field of immunology led to an understanding of how the immune system recognizes the variety of pathogens humans encounter on a daily basis. This recognition of pathogens is made possible by innate immune cells that provide a first line of defense that non-specifically, yet rapidly clear infections. Pathogens are recognized by Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) in the innate immune system. Despite the plethora of research behind TLR signaling cascades, it is unclear how the immune system responds to simultaneously activated TLRs as studies have shown both competitive and synergistic effects of co-signaling. Our results demonstrate the diverse reactions the innate immune response is capable of creating with both time and dose dependent effects. We anticipate further exploration of co-toll like receptor signaling cascades can shed additional light on the complexity of co-infections.
Academic Activity/Award 3:
Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society Research Grant-1-I was awarded funding by the national chapter to conduct my honors thesis research project on “Exploration of Co-Signaling Toll-Like Receptor (TLRs) Cascades.” The TriBeta Research Foundation Program provides financial support for meritorious undergraduate research proposals. I will be presenting my research at the virtual Northeast District 2 Tri-Beta Convention in mid April!
Academic Activity/Award 4:
Lab Teaching Assistant for the Biology Department-3-SEA-Phages TA (Fall 2018-Spring 2019), General Biology TAA (Fall 2019), General Biology TA with SEA-Phages (Spring 2020), Molecular Genetics (Fall 2020), General Biology TA (Spring 2021). When I was a part of the Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-Phages) cohort in 2017-2018 and TA’d for the class in 2018-2019, the SEA-phages general biology lab component was a part of the nationally recognized Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) SEA-Phages Program. My role consisted of creating the materials needed for wet lab and dry lab, grading assignments and holding help sessions outside of class time. I guided and evaluated the new phages students to isolate phages and coding the founded phages. For Molecular Genetics, my responsibilities included guiding lab lectures, grading lab reports, and being a mentor and teacher for the students. Currently for general Biology lab, my responsibilities include being able to mediate and facilitate biological conversations between students, grading, etc.
Academic Activity/Award 5:
Excel Scholar Program-1-Project Title: Finding Uniform Permeability Reductions from 15cm to 1m in Sand Columns. Project Mentors: Dr. Laurie Caslake, Professor of Biology and Dr. Mary Roth, Professor of Civil Engineering. Project Description: The goal is to grow biofilm, a sticky, sugary-like secretion from the microscopic organisms, in sand and to control growth so that the biofilm is distributed uniformly throughout the sand. The biofilm will fill the small spaces between sand particles, and they will be able to control the speed of water moving through the sand.
Academic Activity/Award 6:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) SEA-Phages Program-1-or my general biology lab, I was chosen along with around 20 other students to have an immersive research experience. The goal was to discover and isolate a bacteria-fighting virus called a bacteriophage – in short, a phage. In the fall semester, I worked in a wet lab to isolate the DNA of one singular phage from soil on Lafayettes campus. In the spring semester, we worked on a program called DNA master to annotate the genes from the two chosen phages that were sequenced at University of Pittsburgh. In the following year, I worked as a teaching assistant to help the new cohort of first years isolate their phages and introduce them to the field of research and the challenges that come with it.
Academic Activity/Award 7:
Organic Chemistry Teaching Assistant-0.5-I graded lab reports and notebooks for organic chemistry. I also served as a proctor for exams.
Academic Activity/Award 8:
Summer Dorflinger Research-Summer 2018-Lafayette funded my research at Weill Cornell Medical College for the summer of 2018. I worked in a joint lab at Weill Cornell Medical College run by Dr. Barry Sleckman and Dr. Jessica Tyler whose lab has a focus on DNA repair and damage and its connection to cancer mechanisms. I worked on the effect of Cancer Associated Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH1/IDH2) Mutants on DNA damage repair in Budding Yeast. I contributed to a new project pertaining to finding a new mechanism within yeast and humans. I also created a distinct strain “KMY 001 Δdld2,” which is used as a negative control in current experiments.
Academic Activity/Award 9:
Science Horizons Program-1-In a cohort of around seven students, I was taught how to get involved in research based activities, including the opportunities available on and off campus, the benefits, the role of undergraduate research in future careers, and our current students’ research projects.
Academic Activity/Award 10:
Ani Health Professions Student Grant-Spring 2020-I was awarded the Ani Health Professions Student Grant in Spring 2020. The Ani Family, Dr. Nasser Ani and Dr. Samar Shami, are parents (LC 2013 and 2019) and long-time supporters of health professions and the College. They have served as externship and internship hosts, as well as recommenders and ongoing mentors for our students. Through their generosity, the Ani Fund has been used to support health professions programming and other student-focused efforts.
Campus Service Activity /Award 1:
Senior Interviewer/ Lafayette Student Ambassador-1-I am currently working with the admissions team to interview prospective Lafayette students, assessing how they may uniquely contribute to the incoming class. Tasks include effectively asking questions abouts life, goals, and interests, as well as submitting write ups during and after the interview that will be referenced in their application process if they choose to apply. I also conduct solo interviews and follow up emails for these prospective students.
Campus Service Activity /Award 2:
Head Resident-1-The Head Resident role is a supervisory role and coaching role. While I handle all of the paperwork, I am also responsible for working with the RAs one-on-one to ensure that they are the best RA that they can be. I serve as a liaison between the RAs and Professional Staff and therefore assume the role of advocating for the RAs to make sure that their needs are being met by Professional Staff. All in all, the role is about ensuring that things get done in a way that is timely, fair, and meets the needs of the entire community from Professional Staff, to the RAs, to the residents.
Campus Service Activity /Award 3:
Residents Advisor-2-I was the resident advisor for first and second year students at Lafayette college. My roles included ensuring the safety of my residents, forming a welcoming community by planning events with the whole building or with just my floor, checking in on my residents, and being a mentor, and a resource for them. In addition, I planned and created approximately 12-15 community events per semester to foster a safe and welcoming environment. I also served as policy enforcer to ensure a safe and welcoming environment.
Campus Service Activity /Award 4:
Resident Advisor Awards-2-I received Team Player of the Year (2019-2020), spirit award, best community theme (2018-2019), as well as program of the quarter awards.
Campus Service Activity /Award 5:
1st Year Victoire Commons Council Lead-1-I worked with a team for the first year students to create and execute activities specifically for all of the students who lived and were a part of the “Victoire community.” This consisted of planning and managing costs and locations for the intended events.
Campus Service Activity /Award 6:
Class Year Experience-1-I worked with a team to plan, organize events, and make unique merchandise for the class of 2021.
Campus Service Activity /Award 7:
Asian Cultural Association-1.5-As the Events Liaison, I work with ACA and other organizations on campus to facilitate conversations and events to spread cultural awareness and appreciation for asian cultures.
Campus Service Activity /Award 8:
Basketball Team Manager-1-From Fall 2017 – Spring 2018, I worked as the team manager on the D1 men’s basketball team for Lafayette College. My role was to ensure the team had all the materials and food for practice and games.
Community Service 1:
Making Our Society An Inclusive Community Point Coordinator and Tutoring Team Director-3.5-Tutoring Team Director (Fall 2020 – Spring 2021), Point Coordinator (Spring 2018 – Present ) for Firth Youth Center (Spring 2018, Fall 2019 – Present ) and Cops N’ Kids (Fall 2018 – Spring 2019). I am a program coordinator for Making our Society an Inclusive Community (MOSAIC) which is under the campus organization of LANDIS. My roles consisted of recruiting volunteers from Lafayette Campus to work and become mentors for children in the Easton and New Jersey Community. I also help plan and implement campus-wide week-long events related to Criminal Justice Reform Awareness for 2 years. I am currently the point coordinator for FIRTH Youth Center. I manage 7-15 volunteers and their attendance on a weekly basis for Firth Youth Center in Phillipsburg, NJ. During the Pandemic, my team and I transitioned to weekly tutoring sessions in Fall of 2020 to now weekly virtual game sessions in Spring 2021. Additionally, as the tutoring team director, I lead events that have a heavy focus on bringing awareness to immigration, migration, and refugees. Leading events such as the Fall 2020’s, “Having the conversation on ICE” with student and faculty panelists, and now Spring 2021’s “Continuing the Conversation on ICE,” – with it being the first event of Lafayette first ever Migration week!
Community Service 2:
Community-Based Learning and Research Award-1-This award is given annually to a senior who has made significant contributions to the community through course projects, an honors thesis, EXCEL scholar work, and/or some other form of academic community engagement.
Community Service 3:
STEM Initiative Point Coordinator-0.5-I worked at Third Street Alliance for Women & Children. My roles consisted of planning and executing STEM related activities with volunteers at Lafayette and the children at the organization.
Community Service 4:
Pre-Orientation Service Program (POSP)-Once-I was selected to participate in POSP and volunteered at FIRTH Youth Center before the semester of my first year of college.
Special Interest Activity/Award 1:
Weill Cornell Tri-I MD/PhD Program-Summer 2019-I embarked on a 10-week intensive journey of learning about the challenging and rewarding road of becoming a physician-scientist. Over the summer, I worked in Dr. Daniel Hellers Lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering in which his lab focuses on the use of nanotechnology to develop nanomedicines to treat cancer. The project was entitled “Nanomedicines to Improve Drug Delivery in Drug Resistant Tumors.” I worked with liposomes to specifically target a protein to harness its mechanism to treat tumors that highly express this specific protein. In addition to this research, I participated in clinical shadowing at New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY in a variety of fields including Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Ophthalmology, Geriatrics, Anesthesiology, Pediatric Neurology and community health outreach events called “Heart-2-Heart.” By the end of the program I gave three oral presentations and one poster presentation in front of Principal Investigators, doctors, post-doctoral fellows, faculty, staff and other students.
Special Interest Activity/Award 2:
Gateways Award, Weill Cornell Tri-I MD/PhD Program-Summer 2019- I was awarded the “Gateways Award” which is given in recognition of my outstanding achievements in the 2019 Gateways to the Laboratory Program by going beyond the high expectations set upon the Gateways students.
Special Interest Activity/Award 3:
Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) Travel Awardee-Winter 2019-I received the travel award to travel to the Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in Anaheim, CA.
Special Interest Activity/Award 4:
The Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children-Winter 2020-I was able to fully fund my trip through donations and online fundraising to experience a two-week excursion in LaMerced, Peru. Here, I was able to understand and get first hand experience of the peruvian health care system as well as leading fun education workshops for the local children.
Special Interest Activity/Award 5:
Kaplan MCAT Scholarship-Fall 2019-I was awarded a free Kaplan MCAT course through the Health Profession Program to support me in my endeavors into the medical field and to take the MCAT.
Special Interest Activity/Award 6:
Excel Scholar Presentation Poster Event-Spring 2019-I presented a poster on the “Finding Uniform Permeability Reductions from 15cm to 1m in Sand Columns” at Lafayette College.
Special Interest Activity/Award 7:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) SEA-Phages Annual Symposium-Summer 2018-I represented Lafayette at the national symposium and presented on “The Corazon of Lafayette College: Analysis of Genes 32 & Gene 35 Mycobacterium Phage Corazón.”
Special Interest Activity/Award 8:
Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society-2-I was initiated in Spring of 2019. I was Vice President of Tri-Beta (Fall 2019- Spring 2020) and my responsibilities were to help run board meetings, full meetings with all members, plan events, find co-sponsorships and plan and run the annual induction ceremony for new full and associate members. Currently, I am a member (Spring 2019 – Present).
Special Interest Activity/Award 9:
Tri-Alpha First Generation Honor Society-2-I was initiated in Spring of 2019. A Tri-Alpha chapter promotes academic excellence and provides opportunities for growth, leadership development, and community service for first-generation college students. Currently, I am a member (Spring 2019 – Present).
Special Interest Activity/Award 10:
Dean’s List-Spring 2018, Spring 2019 – Present