Stories this week include: It’s time to celebrate graduation for Augusta University, a student in the Professional Scholars Program makes university history, and research finds that more formal education may be beneficial to the health of Black women.

Commencement ceremonies will be held Thursday and Friday

Augusta University’s class of 2022 is set for commencement ceremonies. At 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12 at the Bell Auditorium, graduate students will have their commencement ceremony and hooding.

Undergraduate ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, May 13 at the Augusta Marriott Convention Center. The morning ceremony will be for the College of Education, College of Science and Mathematics and Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The afternoon celebration is for the College of Nursing, College of Allied Health Sciences and Hull College of Business.

Pre-med student becomes first Goldwater Scholar at Augusta University

Sophomore Dipen Mehta has made school history as the first Augusta University student to receive the Goldwater Scholarship Award. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type for those who pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news. I didn’t expect it at all,” said Mehta, a sophomore BS/MD student in the Professional Scholars Program. “Everyone around the country is applying for this and so many people are doing such incredible research.”

Education level may play a role in better health among Black women

According to results of a national analysis, one of the best things Black women can do for their health may be to get a college education.

“Essentially what the study observed was that for Black women, the higher your education level, the lower your allostatic load,” said Dr. Justin Xavier Moore, epidemiologist at the Medical College of Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Center, referencing the impact the wear and tear of chronic stress and life have on the body and health. High allostatic load is considered to have a broad, negative impact on the body.

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