Tag: norris medal

National Scholar Elizabeth Caldwell graduated with a degree in genetics in May 2025 and is headed to Yale University for a master’s degree in public health.

Since her freshman year, Caldwell has worked with Michael Sehorn, associate professor of genetics and biochemistry, focusing on DNA damage repair pathways in various disorders, including a rare immunodeficiency disease. Her passion stems from her own underresearched disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Her love for research led her to the highly selective pediatric oncology education program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the summers of 2023 and 2024, where she researched rare, cancerous mutations related to leukemia. On campus, Caldwell founded the Tigers 4 Accessibility club and volunteered at the Clemson Free Clinic.

Caldwell has been named a Truman Scholar and has received Clemson’s Norris Medal, the Matt Locke Leadership Award, the College of Science Outstanding Senior in Science Award, the Riley Institute’s Upstate Diversity Leadership Award, Dr. William Marcotte Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award and the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry Outstanding Senior in Genetics Award.

Genetics senior and Honors student Elizabeth Caldwell has been awarded the 2025 Clemson University Norris Medal.

The Norris Medal has been awarded since 1908 and was established under the terms of the will of the Honorable D.K. Norris, a life trustee at Clemson. The medal is given each year to a graduating student who, on the basis of exceptional scholastic achievement and leadership ability, is judged by the University Scholarships and Awards Committee to be the best all-around student. Recipients of the Norris Medal have their names affixed to a bronze plaque located in Hendrix Student Center.

Elizabeth was also a 2024 Truman Scholarship recipient and a member of the 2021 National Scholars Program cohort. She co-founded and is the president of the Clemson University Tigers 4 Accessibility, a student organization dedicated to improving accessibility, awareness and acceptance for people with disabilities. In addition, Elizabeth is a member of Phi Delta Epsilon medical fraternity and is a student representative on the University’s Accessibility Commission.

During her undergraduate degree, she has been involved in Dr. Michael Sehorn’s lab focusing on DNA repair pathways with implications for genetic disease. In the summer of 2024, Elizabeth was a Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program intern at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which allows students to conduct world-class laboratory research while exploring pediatric oncology’s clinical side.

After graduating, Elizabeth will pursue a master’s degree in public health at Yale University.