Florida Atlantic University hosted its annual Talon Leadership Awards ceremony as part of Homecoming 2023, honoring outstanding faculty, student, alumni and community leadership. Co-sponsored by Florida Atlantic Alumni and Community Engagement and Student Government, the Talon Awards have been presented during Homecoming week since 1997.
“The Talon Awards are one of the most prestigious honors bestowed on members of the Florida Atlantic community,” said FAU President Stacy Volnick. “In their unique way, each honoree has helped lead the University into a new era of excellence and achievement.”
The Student Talon Award was awarded to Kaylia Cooper, an undergraduate researcher in the College of Science Honors in Biological Sciences program. Cooper is the founding director of the Medi-Futures FAU Virtual Shadowing Program, which helps students connect with various health professionals, allowing them to learn from seasoned experts in the health field.
“Our Talon Award honorees are truly stellar representatives of this university and have consistently gone above and beyond in their leadership and service to Florida Atlantic,” said Katie Burke, Ph.D., assistant vice president of alumni and community engagement. “We’re immensely proud to showcase such outstanding members of our community.”
Cooper is an undergraduate researchers in the Honors in Biological Sciences program working under Dr. Kailiang Jia in his research of molecular genetics of aging in C. elegans. She conducts experiments and prepares agar plates needed in the lab. Additionally, Cooper is a mentor in FAU's First-Year Connections Mentor Collective Team, where she counsels incoming freshmen so that they can have a confidant and friend during their first year of college. She is also a scholar in the College of Science Soar-in-Four program, which connects students with advisors who provide mentorship.
