Seven San Francisco State University science students, who study everything from the genetics of rice and rough-toothed dolphins to humpback whales and marine algae, have been honored by the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation for outstanding achievement in their fields.

The students each received $5,000 scholarships from the ARCS Foundation Northern California chapter, which promotes scientific excellence through scholarships. SFSU is the only California State University campus to participate in the Northern California scholarship program.

The students, chosen for their academic excellence and their desire to contribute to their communities, include undergraduate Rob K. Fanter of San Francisco (cell and molecular biology), and graduate students Palma M. Formica of San Rafael (marine biology), Julian Herndon of Tiburon (marine biology), Margaret B. Sidells of Berkeley (ecology and systematics biology), William E. Funk of Albany (chemistry), Daryl Haggard of San Francisco (physics and astronomy), and Hector Martin of Richmond (physics).

“This is the largest scholarship within the college,” said Lannie Nguyen-Tang, coordinator of alumnae relations and student projects for the College of Science and Engineering. “It’s very prestigious and these students are really the cream of the crop.”

Eligible candidates must maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average and must be full-time students. They are nominated by their advisers on the basis of their potential for growth and a strong track record of research within their disciplines.

SFSU has participated in the scholarship program since 1991, and the University’s science students continually make the grade with at least a half-dozen students winning an award each year, Nguyen-Tang said. Most of the scholarship recipients have gone on to pursue doctoral studies.