ASU Biology Students Rank Among Top in the Nation

SAN ANGELO, TX - Angelo State University's Epsilon Sigma chapter of the Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta) national biological honor society earned Honorable Mention for the Lloyd M. Bertholf Award, which annually goes to the Outstanding Chapter of the Year, at the recent Tri-Beta National Convention in Florida.

Receiving Honorable Mention means the ASU chapter ranked fourth among the more than 600 Tri-Beta chapters in the U.S. and Puerto Rico for the 2024-25 academic year. Only the chapters at two branches of the University of Puerto Rico and the chapter at Catawba College in North Carolina ranked higher than ASU.

Established in 1961, the Bertholf Award recognizes the chapter that best exemplifies excellence in programming and embodies Tri-Beta's threefold purpose: promoting scholarship, disseminating scientific knowledge and encouraging biological research. All chapters, regardless of size, are considered equitably for the annual award, based on:

• Member involvement in conducting and publishing research
• Participation in Tri-Beta conventions and other scientific meetings
• Chapter programming and campus/community engagement
• Communication and record-keeping with the Tri-Beta National Office

"It is unbelievable how much these students achieve," said Hannah Jones, ASU biology instructor and chapter advisor. "Between maintaining high GPAs, shadowing and interning, working jobs, participating in Tri-Beta events, and all their community service, I don't know how they get it all done. They're also just genuinely good people. They care for each other, ASU and their community, which shows in the endless number of events and activities they host and participate in. The Bertolf is an incredible award, and these students definitely deserve this recognition. I'm so very proud of them and feel very lucky to be their advisor and to have a front-row seat to witness all their achievements."

During the 2024-25 academic year, ASU's Tri-Beta chapter posted the following accomplishments:

• Five members won research grants and presented projects at the Tri-Beta District Convention.
• Hosted 11 general meetings, 8 social events, and the Tri-Beta District Convention
• Participated in six campus events, including Lab Nights, Night at the Museum, Stress Less Fair and JAMP Health Fair
• Participated in five community service events, including elementary school STEAM Nights, Unidad Park Clean Up and Tires-To-Go with Keep San Angelo Beautiful

Earlier this year, the ASU chapter was also named the Outstanding Chapter in District 2 for 2025-26 at the Tri-Beta South Central Regional Convention in Cedar Hill, where its members also won four research presentation awards and the Chapter History Award. That puts the ASU chapter back in the running for the 2025-26 Bertholf Award that will be announced next summer.

Since 1986-87, the ASU chapter has won the Bertholf Award a record nine times, has been a top-four finalist four times, and has been named an Outstanding Chapter five times by the national Tri-Beta organization. There are currently 45 active student members and 48 associate members, and Jones is the faculty advisor.