AFTE Scholarships

Jennifer Louise Bishop

Jennifer Bishop is a student at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Forensic Science Institute, where she is currently working to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science. Jennifer already holds a B.S. degree in Biology and is anticipating graduation for her second bachelor’s degree in December 2010.  She plans to earn her M.S. degree in Forensic Science at the UCO Forensic Science Institute as well, where her focus will be in the Firearm and Toolmark Discipline.
 
Ms. Bishop recently completed and presented research on the drop-off consistency of shotgun wads at AFTE’s 2010 training seminar in Henderson, Nevada, and plans to publish the results of this research in the AFTE Journal. Jennifer is very focused on accomplishing her education goals and plans to seek a position on the Federal, State, or local level as a Firearm and Toolmark Examiner.

 

Rachel Bolton-King

Rachel Bolton-King obtained a high First Class Bachelors Honours Degree in Forensic Science in July 2008 from Nottingham Trent University (NTU), United Kingdom (including a 12 month industrial placement as an analytical chemist). Her interest in forensic firearms identification directed her back to NTU, where she is currently half-way through her PhD program. Rachel’s PhD research is entitled 'Topographical Mapping of Fired Bullet Samples for Forensic Firearms Identification' and focuses on 9 x 19 mm semi-automatic pistols. Ms. Bolton-King’s ongoing research has recently been published in the AFTE Journal and presented in poster format at 2010 summer seminars including AFTE, the Forensic Science Society Firearms Conference in Leeds, UK and the Forensic Research & Teaching Conference at Coventry University, UK.

Rachel also lectures and supervises laboratory practicals for the NTU BSc Firearms and Ballistics Module, as well as undertaking consultancy work for companies offering educational forensic programmes for school pupils. She hopes to continue researching and teaching in this field after completion of her PhD.

 

Heather Charron

Heather received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Radford University, Virginia in 2007. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Forensic Science with a concentration in crime scene investigation from The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C. Heather is president of the Association of Forensic Science Students organization at GWU, and is a professional member of the Chesapeake Bay Division of the International Association for Identification. She attended the annual spring conference in Virginia Beach in March 2010, where she took home a second place award in the poster presentation contest.

Ms. Charron has held multiple internships with police departments and just completed an internship with the investigators at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Washington, D.C. After completing her Masters degree in May 2011, Heather wants to begin her career in the field of forensics. She is interested in latent fingerprints and forensic anthropology.

 

Maggie Widdowson

Maggie is currently in the last year of her Master’s of Forensic Science program at Stevenson University, where students can obtain both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in five years. She graduated in May 2010 with her B.S. in Chemistry. Now working on her thesis, Maggie is researching organic gunshot residue using GC-MS. In addition to researching for her thesis and being a full-time graduate student, Maggie works two part-time jobs and is active in charity work.

Maggie’s interest in firearms was sparked by her father, who was an armorer, avid hunter, and a firearms safety instructor who routinely included Maggie with his activities. After graduation in May 2011, Maggie plans to seek a position as a Firearms Examiner with a local Crime Laboratory, and hopes to eventually take the experience and skills she has attained to be a Firearms Examiner for the federal government.
 

AFTE Scholarships

Lee Sloan

Lee is currently in his final year of a Bachelors Degree in Applied Science in Forensic Investigation at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), Australian Capital Territory in Australia.

Lee is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) and attended the 19th ANZFSS International Conference on the Forensic Sciences in Melbourne in 2008. This sparked great interest and desire to seek research and employment opportunities in Firearms and Tool Mark Identification. As a result, Lee is now working with the Australian Federal Police and CIT on a research project at the AFP’s Forensic and Data Centre in the Firearm Identification department.

Upon graduation in December of 2009, Lee plans to seek a post-graduate research position in Firearms Identification or Chemical Criminalistics. Lee then hopes to find employment within the Australian Federal Police to continue work in Firearms Identification. With this scholarship, Lee has been able to increase the scope of his research assignment and now plans to present his research project at the 2010 ANZFSS International Forensic Science Symposium in Sydney.
 

Amanda Heard

Amanda Heard is currently pursuing her Bachelors degree in Chemistry and her Masters degree in Forensic Science at Stevenson University in Stevenson, MD, which offers a BS/MS program allowing students to obtain both the BS and MFS in a total of 5 years. Ms. Heard is active at Stevenson University in the Junior class Student Council, the Forensic Science Club, the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Club, and Sigma Alpha Phi, the National Society of Leadership and Success. She played rugby in high school and recently started a women’s rugby team in Westminster, MD.

Amanda developed an interest in firearms at a young age when she went hunting with her father. This interest was strengthened when she studied firearms and toolmarks in her forensic science studies at Stevenson. Amanda looks forward to a career in firearms and toolmarks after she obtains her Masters degree in Forensic Science in 2012.
 

Carolyn Schumacher

Carolyn is currently attending Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY. She will graduate in May of 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science with an emphasis in chemistry.

During the summer of 2008 and 2009 she was an intern at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab in the Firearms and Toolmaks section. This summer she hopes to have another internship in a national crime lab.

After completing her Bachelors degree she wants to peruse her Masters degree in chemistry.

AFTE Scholarship

Elizabeth Roberts

Elizabeth is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Forensic Science with a concentration in Criminalistics at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. While in school she is also a graduate assistant to the Chemistry Department.

Elizabeth graduated Summa Cum Laude with honors in 2006 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. While at CMU she was a member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, American Chemical Society, and named to the Dean’s List. She also worked as a Chemistry tutor and lab assistant.

Before attending the University of New Haven Elizabeth worked full-time at Poet Biorefining in Macon, Missouri as a lab assistant.

In the summer of 2008 she plans on completing an internship with the ATF in Ammendale, Maryland. Upon graduating in May of 2009, Elizabeth plans to pursue a career as a firearms examiner.
 

Walter J. Howe Scholarship

Janey Deimling

Janey is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Forensic Science at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) where she maintains a GPA of 3.66. She has recently begun an internship with the Birmingham Police Department under the supervision of the talented staff of the Firearms ID unit. She is also a part time employee of the University’s Academic Center for Athletics.

Miss Deimling received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry along with a minor in Criminal Justice from UAB in May 2007 while competing on the University’s Women’s Golf Team. In her four years of competing at a NCAA division I level, she competed in every tournament, won an individual title, was a conference USA player of the week and was named 3rd team All-Conference.

Upon graduating in May of 2009, Janey plans on finding a job in Firearms ID or Trace Evidence.
 

AFTE Scholarship

Brandon Feenstra

Brandon is a current student at California State University, San Bernardino, CSUSB. Brandon is dual majoring in both Chemistry and Criminal Justice at Cal State. He is currently on the Dean’s list for both the College of Natural Sciences and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He plans on graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry and a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice in June of 2009. Brandon currently works at Colton Police Department as a Police Cadet and has been serving at CPD for over two years. He is also enrolled in the Crime Scene Certification program at Univ. of Riverside extension program. Brandon is a graduate of the 2008 CSUSB Leadership academy and hopes to be a leader in the law enforcement and forensics community. His leadership is shown on campus as member and vice president for the CSUSB Criminal Justice Club and also member and secretary of ALPHI PHI SIGMA, the National Criminal Justice honor society chapter at CSUSB.

 

Steve Molnar Scholarship

Sarah J. Milam

Sarah is a student at the College of William and Mary. She will graduate in the spring of 2009 with a degree in chemistry and a minor in anthropology. She is in the Monroe Scholars Honors Program. During the summer of 2007, she completed an internship in the Firearms and Toolmarks division of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. In conjunction with the internship, she completed a research investigation of two of the United States’ automated ballistics identification systems, NIBIN and IBIS.
This summer, Sarah will participate in another honors internship program in a national crime laboratory. Upon graduation, she intends to pursue a Masters of Science in Forensic Science and enter the field of either forensic chemistry or ballistics.


 

AFTE Scholarship in honor of Walter Howe

Faith Lauran Musko

Faith is currently attending the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) for her Masters in Forensic Science, concentration in Criminalistics, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA. She is the Graduate President of the Student Academy of Forensic Science, and is a professional member to both the American Chemical Society and the National Criminal Justice Association. In February 2007, Faith traveled to San Antonio, TX to attend the 59th annual American Academy of Forensic Scientists (AAFS) meeting. She is currently employed as a biomedical research technician at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center conducting cancer and diabetes research.

Miss Musko moved to Oklahoma City from Pittsburgh, PA where she attended Waynesburg College and received a B.S. in Forensic Science with minors in Biology and Chemistry in May 2005. During her undergraduate experience, Faith was a Mock Crime Scene Workshop Instructor and a Mock Trial Expert Witness. She was employed with R.J. Lee Group, Inc. as a Forensic Department intern, where she conducted gunshot residue analysis using scanning electron microscopy.

Upon graduating from UCO in the Spring of 2008, Miss Musko plans to find a job in Trace Evidence or Toxicology and plans to attended law school in the Fall of 2008 for her criminal law degree.
 

AFTE Scholarship in honor of Walter Howe

Candita C. Chapman

Candita, an international student from St. Kitts, West Indies, attends the University of Baltimore in Maryland. In May, 2008, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Studies with a concentration in Forensic Science.

Currently, this straight A student is the Vice President of the UB Circle of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, a certified Emerging and Established leader in the Leadership Certification Program, a Helen P. Denit Honors student, a Wilson’s Scholar, a Conversation Partner for Chinese MPA students, and a part-time employee at the university’s Academic Resource Center. She is also represented in the National Dean’s List.

In June, 2007, Candita interned with the Firearms Unit of the Baltimore Police Department Crime Lab, under the direction of an outstanding staff. She is now, more than ever, eagerly looking forward to a life of dedication to the field of forensics.
 

Steve Molnar Scholarship

Bonnie Floran

Bonnie is currently working on her Master’s degree in Forensic Science at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia. While in school she also works part time as a Forensic Administrative Specialist for the Department of Forensic Science, as well as working as a Barista for Starbucks.

She received her Bachelor’s of Business degree in Marketing from the University of New Mexico in 1999 and then decided to pursue a second degree in Biology. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Biology and minor in Chemistry in 2003. In school she was a member of the Golden Key and Mortar Board National Honor Societies as well as a member of the Chi Omega sorority.

After graduating college, she worked full time as a certified Cytogenetics Technologist at Genzyme Genetics before moving to Virginia to pursue a dream in the forensic sciences.

Upon graduating in May of 2008, Bonnie plans to begin a career working as a trace evidence or firearms examiner.
 

AFTE Scholarship in honor of Walter Howe

Lauren Claytor

Lauren is currently working two jobs, including being employed as a Forensic Administration Specialist by the Department of Forensic Science in Richmond, Virginia. She is enrolled in the Forensic Science Master’s Program at Virginia Commonwealth University where she maintains a 4.0 GPA while being a Graduate Representative for the Forensic Science Student Club and a Graduate Mentor.

Lauren received her B.S. in Biology from Wake Forest University in May of 2005, where she was a member of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, the National Dean’s List, Golden Key International Honor Society, and Pi Beta Phi Sorority.

In the Fall, Lauren plans to complete an internship at the Department of Forensic Science in the Firearms and Toolmarks section under Ann Davis. Upon completion of her education, she plans to pursue a career as a firearms examiner.
 

Steve Molnar Scholarship

Jordan Tidrick

Jordan graduated with honors from Furman University in Greenville, SC with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry concentrating in Biochemistry. While at Furman she was a research intern with Dr. L. Trzupek studying suicide substrate enzyme inhibition; she also interned at MicroAnalytical, Inc, a private forensic lab. After graduating from Furman, Jordan served as a missionary with the United Methodist Church working primarily as a youth program specialist at the Susannah Wesley Community Center in Honolulu, HI. Jordan then taught introductory physics & chemistry at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, GA. Jordan is completing her final year of a Masters of Science in Forensic Science at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and will graduate in May of 2007. She is looking forward to interning in the Firearms Section at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science.
 

2005

AFTE Scholarship Award in memory of Ken Raynor

Michael Thomas Beddow

I graduated from Northern Arizona University in December of 2003 with Cum Laude honors. I received an Extended Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and a Minor in Criminal Justice. During my undergraduate education I completed an internship with the Firearms Division of the Phoenix Police Department's Crime Laboratory Services Bureau as well as assisted Dr. Michael Ketterer (Professor of Chemistry) and Luke Haag in a forensic science related research project. I am currently a graduate student attending the University of California Davis pursuing my Masters of Science degree in Forensic Science, with an expected firearms or toolmarks related thesis project. I expect to graduate in June of 2006. Upon completion of my education I will be pursuing a career as a firearms examiner.

Steve Molnar Scholarship

Naila Bhatri

Naila is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Forensic Science at The George Washington University. She will graduate in May 2006 with a concentration in Forensic Molecular Biology. She has completed her Bachelor’s of Science degree with a double major in Zoology and Botany and an Honor’s Certificate in Zoology from the University of Mumbai. During her graduate studies she has been working with Dr. Walter Rowe on fire-arm artifacts that were collected from the site of the Fetterman Massacre. This work with Dr. Rowe enabled her to present a poster on the removal of calcareous deposits from aged fire-arm artifacts at the 2005 meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists, in Pittsburgh.

Through the months of May to July of 2004 Naila worked as a trainee in the Directorate of State Forensic Science Laboratories in Maharashtra, India. During this training she learnt the intricacies of the working of the Biology/Serology section of a Forensic Laboratory.

During the moths of June till August Naila will intern with DNA Security, Inc in Burlington, North Carolina as a Genetic Analyst Trainee.

In her free time she enjoys the outdoors as well reading fiction.

2004

AFTE Scholarship Award

Thomas A. Van Drunen

I graduated June 2005 with distinction from the University of Toronto at Mississauga with an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Chemistry. I completed an internship with Murray Smith and Bill Sopiro at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Forensic Laboratory Services in Ottawa and I have been hired at the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to your organization for awarding me this honor!

2003

AFTE Scholarship Award

Patricia Rines

For the past five years, Patti has been employed as a Senior Criminalist by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She is presently assigned to the Firearm and Toolmark Identification Section. Prior to this assignment, she worked in the Narcotics and Clandestine Laboratory Field Investigations sections. She has taught at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Recruit Academy and for the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

She has a B.S. degree in Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry from San Jose State University (1993). She has over four years of research work experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and at the University of Southern California. Currently, she is completing her research thesis for a Master’s of Science Degree in Criminalistics from California State University, Los Angeles.

2002

AFTE Scholarship Award

Ms. Zoe Burgess

Zoe is currently employed as a Forensic Laboratory Specialist by the Virginia Division of Forensic Science, Richmond, Va. in the Firearm and Toolmark Section.  

She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va., where she received a B.A. degree in Chemistry in December, 1999.  Currently, she is a candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. for a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Science, to be conferred December, 2001.  

Zoe successfully completed an internship in the Spring, 2001 and is currently conducting an independent study with the firearm/toolmark section.  Zoe plans to pursue a career in Forensic Science, primarily in the Firearm and Toolmark area.