As a member of the honors program, Casandra Nguyen is challenged to do more than the standard curriculum requires. One of those assignments recently earned her second place in a national writing competition.

During the spring semester, Nguyen was asked to write an honors paper about a topic that was relevant to one of her classes. The Medical Laboratory Science major wrote more than 1,000 words on “The Uses and Importance of Cardiac Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Diseases.”

Dr. Jude Okoyeh, her clinical biochemistry professor, was impressed enough to recommend that Nguyen submit her work to a student technical writing contest that is sponsored by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Her essay took second place, judged by a panel of practicing medical laboratory scientists.

“Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death worldwide,” Nguyen says, explaining her interest in the subject. “When we were learning about it in class, I found it intriguing and wanted to delve deeper.”

An Aston resident, she has her sights set on medical school when she graduates in May of 2024 with ophthalmology, neurology, and cardiology as possible areas of specialization.

Nguyen, who turns 21 in July, chose Neumann because of the Biology-Medical Laboratory Science program and the small campus environment. “I’m not just a number here. My professors know me by name.”

She is active on campus, leading tours as a Neumann Navigator and working in the library as a peer tutor for biology and chemistry. She performs with the Boogie Knights dance team and was recently inducted into two national honor societies, including Sigma Zeta, which recognizes undergraduate scholars in the natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics. 

Dr. Okoyeh describes Nguyen as “focused, hardworking, and dedicated,” noting that she is the first Neumann student to win an AMT technical writing award.

American Medical Technologists has certified health care professionals since 1939. Today, it certifies medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, medical assistants, certified laboratory consultants, and more. To enter the technical writing contest, students had to be enrolled in an accredited program leading to eligibility for AMT certification.

AMT will acknowledge winners at an awards banquet during its annual meeting on July 24-28 in Norfolk, Virginia.

Nguyen won’t be able to attend, however. She is busy taking summer courses in accelerated physics.