Wartburg College alumnus Austin Thompson has been awarded a Dr. George and Emma J. Torrison Scholarship for students pursuing medical careers.

Thompson, who graduated in 2020 with a degree in biochemistry, is now attending Case Western Reserve Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio. The scholarship endowment is managed by the Foundation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and recipients must be part of an ELCA congregation and admitted to an accredited medical college to be eligible for the award.

After graduating from Wartburg, Thompson took a year to serve as a dermatology medical assistant in a professional practice in Boston.

In nominating Thompson, Wartburg President Darrel Colson praised his academic excellence and significant educational service and leadership.

“During his two years as a supplemental instructor in chemistry, Austin was concerned for students challenged by the demanding introductory curriculum. In response, he spearheaded the creation of a student-directed Chemistry Tutoring Lab that offered peer-to-peer, individual support. The Tutoring Lab thrived and expanded to support other introductory science courses,” Colson wrote. “Austin also embraced opportunities to share his genuine enthusiasm for scientific discovery, contributing to the popular Demo Show and Science Symposium panel — events designed to introduce and promote the excitement and creativity of scientific study and research, both to curious pre-college students and to the general community.”