SEBASTIAN — Andrew Stygar, who is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida Indian River Research and Education Center near Fort Pierce, has been named to the UF upper division Honors Program through the university’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
According to UF officials at the Gainesville campus, Stygar is the first distance-education student to represent the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in its upper division honors program.
Dr. Peter Stoffella, professor and director at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce, said Stygar, along with his fellow students who are pursuing a new Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Cell Science, are outstanding scholars who are able to participate in unique laboratory internships along the Research Coast, in addition to their studies.
A resident of Sebastian, Stygar intends to further his education and pursue a medical degree in immunology or pharmacy at the University of Florida, upon completion of a bachelor’s degree. To enhance his course work, he is working as an intern at the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory under the direction of Dr. Smartt, whose expertise is with molecular genetics.
“I’m interested in the diversity and complexity of immunology and how innate it is – how the body develops immunological memory,” he said.
Andrew has for five years been employed at Indian River Estates in Vero Beach. There, he held positions with increasing roles of responsibility – from food runner, then server, to host and cashier, and trainer.
He is a member of Crossroads Fellowship in Sebastian where he participated in a mission trip to Mexico. As a volunteer, he served a Christian Outreach program, Campus Life, at Storm Grove Middle School.
Andrew was earlier this year honored with the Treasure Coast Gator Club Scholarship Award. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Indian River State College (IRSC) in spring of 2011 with an Associate in Arts degree in General Studies, and with a 3.95 grade point average.
During his tenure at IRSC he was recipient of the Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship, and the Daryl C. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship Fund. He was also the recipient of five student scholarships presented to him by his employer, Indian River Estates.
He graduated from Sebastian River High School.
