Northern Michigan University biology major Cole Swiston of Washburn, Wis., is the student recipient of the second annual Golden Key Commitment To Education Award, presented by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) and Golden Key International Honour Society. Swiston also presented a research poster at the NCHC’s 49th Annual Conference Nov. 5-9 in Denver, Colo.

The research poster, titled Identification of Basigin in Glioblastoma Multiforme Stem-like Cells, presents work performed by Swiston, fellow NMU student Jeff Maniko and faculty advisor Robert Belton through NMU’s collaboration with the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center. Their work identifies a protein known to assist the spread of cancer.

“Identifying this protein is a key step in characterizing the cancer stem cells and planning novel therapeutic techniques,” said Swiston.

NMU student Scott Evans of Williamston, Mich., also presented a paper titled The Effects of Enrichment on Growth and Basic Psychological Behavior in Rats. The research project used two groups of rats to study the psychological effects of the presence and absence of toy enrichment within a neutral environment. The result found no significant difference.