Ostmo named NSU Outstanding Graduate Student
Ostmo named Northeastern State University Outstanding Graduate Student
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. —Northeastern State University has named Lydia Ostmo as the spring 2024 Outstanding Graduate Student.
Ostmo, who is originally from Ava, Missouri and now resides in Bixby, Oklahoma, will graduate with a master’s degree in natural science on May 13.
“I am honored and humbled to receive the 2024 Outstanding Graduate award,” Ostmo said. “I was surprised when I found out I had won, I was not expecting that to happen.”
Ostmo first received a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in 2004. In 2017, she returned to higher education as a biology major at Tulsa Community College before transferring to the University of Tulsa then graduating from NSU with an undergraduate degree in cell and molecular biology in 2022.
Ostmo’s thesis is entitled “Exploring the Roles of the Non-Catalytic, Essential Domain of Polymerase Epsilon.” During her time at NSU, she has served as the president of the Natural Science Graduate Student Association and presented at several conferences, including the Oklahoma Academy of Science Technical Meetings.
She said she once found grad school intimidating and credits her husband and mentors, like Dr. Sapna Das-Bradoo, as a motivating factor and said their unwavering support is what helped propel her forward.
“I used to look at grad students like academic and research wizards, operating at a level I could only imagine being able to do myself,” Ostmo said. “The reality is much more down-to-earth; those students got there with hard work and experience, and I was very fortunate to be able to follow that path myself. If a younger version of me could see myself now, I think she’d be amazed—back then she didn’t believe her dream of becoming Mr. Spock [i.e. a scientist] was possible, but it is."
Using the leadership skills and knowledge she has acquired at NSU, Ostmo has used time to help train multiple undergraduate research students, helping them to succeed. After graduation, Ostmo hopes to pursue her PhD with a molecular biology focus.
NSU graduate faculty nominate outstanding graduate students who meet the criteria of a 3.5 cumulative GPA, excellence in scholarship in an advanced degree program, leadership, service and a positive impact on the campus community.
For information on NSU’s spring 2024 commencement ceremonies, visit www.nsuok.edu/commencement. To view the livestream of the commencement ceremonies, visit NSU’s Facebook page at facebook.com/NSURiverHawks/.
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![TAHLEQUAH, Okla. —Northeastern State University has named Lydia Ostmo as the spring 2024 Outstanding Graduate Student. Ostmo, who is originally from Ava, Missouri and now resides in Bixby, Oklahoma, will graduate with a master’s degree in natural science on May 13. “I am honored and humbled to receive the 2024 Outstanding Graduate award,” Ostmo said. “I was surprised when I found out I had won, I was not expecting that to happen.” Ostmo first received a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in 2004. In 2017, she returned to higher education as a biology major at Tulsa Community College before transferring to the University of Tulsa then graduating from NSU with an undergraduate degree in cell and molecular biology in 2022. Ostmo’s thesis is entitled “Exploring the Roles of the Non-Catalytic, Essential Domain of Polymerase Epsilon.” During her time at NSU, she has served as the president of the Natural Science Graduate Student Association and presented at several conferences, including the Oklahoma Academy of Science Technical Meetings. She said she once found grad school intimidating and credits her husband and mentors, like Dr. Sapna Das-Bradoo, as a motivating factor and said their unwavering support is what helped propel her forward. “I used to look at grad students like academic and research wizards, operating at a level I could only imagine being able to do myself,” Ostmo said. “The reality is much more down-to-earth; those students got there with hard work and experience, and I was very fortunate to be able to follow that path myself. If a younger version of me could see myself now, I think she’d be amazed—back then she didn’t believe her dream of becoming Mr. Spock [i.e. a scientist] was possible, but it is.” Using the leadership skills and knowledge she has acquired at NSU, Ostmo has used time to help train multiple undergraduate research students, helping them to succeed. After graduation, Ostmo hopes to pursue her PhD with a molecular biology focus. NSU graduate faculty nominate outstanding graduate students who meet the criteria of a 3.5 cumulative GPA, excellence in scholarship in an advanced degree program, leadership, service and a positive impact on the campus community. For information on NSU’s spring 2024 commencement ceremonies, visit www.nsuok.edu/commencement. To view the livestream of the commencement ceremonies, visit NSU’s Facebook page at facebook.com/NSURiverHawks/. ###](https://nsuok.edu/_resources/images/Hanley%20and%20Ostmo.jpg "Hanley and Ostmo")