SILVER CITY, N.M. – It will be an exciting and eventful summer for two Western New Mexico University student-athletes. Sophomores Jordan Gutierrez (Albuquerque, NM/Valley High School) and Adrianna Grijalva (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood HS) will have the chance to do research studying immunogenic cell wall component of pathogenic fungi at the cancer research facility at the University of New Mexico.

The 10-week program is called the New Mexico Idea Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (NM INBRE), which is funding the program to allow both of them to do the research.

"We both were beyond excited to hear the news that we have been accepted," Grijalva said. "We were in contact with multiple donors after the acceptance and worked closely with Dr. White to finalize which research project we were going into."

"I am honored to conduct research at the cancer research facility under such prestigious doctors and programs," Gutierrez said. "This is a wonderful opportunity."

They will be performing experiments and researching in the Neumann laboratory. They will be working under Dr. Neumann and Dr. White and at the end of the program they will present their findings at a symposium.
"This is such an honor for me and I am looking forward to representing WNMU," Gutierrez said.

Both Gutierrez and Grijalva have spent the past two years playing for the Mustangs with Gutierrez, from Albuquerque, playing for women's basketball, while Grijalva, from Tucson, playing for women's golf. Grijalva was also honored by the RMAC for her academic work being named to the First-Team with a 3.80 GPA.