Melissa Straub receives the Catherine Freed Leadership Award

Melissa M. Straub, a senior biology and pre-medicine major with a minor in public health from Canfield, Ohio, has been awarded the 2011 Catherine Freed Leadership Award at Ohio Northern University.

“I was so surprised when my name was read for the award,” Straub said. “It is such an honor to be among the ranks of the women who have received this award before me, women who I have looked up to for so long. I am very thankful for this amazing recognition.”

While at ONU, Straub has been active in many leadership organizations, including Student Senate, the senior honorary Mortar Board, and the national biology honorary Beta Beta Beta. She was named the 2011 Greek Woman of the Year and received the President’s Recognition and the DeBow Freed Award for Outstanding Leadership.

She also worked as a teacher’s assistant and tutor and took part in a summer undergraduate research fellowship with Dr. Kim Howe at Forum Health’s Northside Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio.

Following graduation, Straub will enter the M.D. program at the University of Toledo College of Medicine.

The award, named for the University’s former First Lady Catherine Freed, recognizes the outstanding female leader on campus.

Published: Mon, 05/16/2011 - 3:52pm