BME Grad Student Wins Centennial Achievement Award

Nine students – two undergraduates and seven graduates – from a range of colleges have received the University of Arizona's 2023 Centennial Achievement Awards.

The annual awards, established in 1984, recognize undergraduates who have demonstrated integrity, persistence and a commitment to their communities and families. Since 1987, the awards have also recognized graduate students for their outstanding achievements and contributions.

The undergraduate awardees receive a $250 stipend; the graduate awardees receive $500. All awardees also receive an engraved plaque.

From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, graduate student Gerardo Figueroa earned a Centennial Achievement Award. 

Born and raised in Mexico, Figueroa and his family immigrated in 2007 to San Luis, Arizona, a small border town in Yuma County. He is part of the Orthopedics Biomaterials Laboratory, led by Dr. David Margolis, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery in the College of Medicine – Tucson. Figueroa graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering from UA in 2021.

Figueroa's research focuses on developing bone tissue engineering technologies and using electronics for long-term monitoring of bone health. As an undergraduate, he participated in several national fellowship programs. His work has been presented in professional organizations such as the Society for Biomaterials and the Orthopedic Research Society. Figueroa is deeply passionate about STEM outreach, especially for rural communities and underrepresented minorities. After graduating in 2021, he returned to his hometown to teach engineering at a summer camp. Figueroa is also involved in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, working with a program aimed at helping parents of first-generation engineering students understand the culture and life changes associated with their child starting college.

Figueroa plans to become a tenure-track professor at a research-intensive university. He hopes to build a strong team to conduct cutting-edge biomedical research and a collaborative culture dedicated to meaningful mentorship and STEM outreach.