Isabella Horton

Isabella Horton wants to build a career in biomedical research to help people and discover new ideas. The 18-year-old senior at the Denver School of Science and Technology in Stapleton received a Boettcher Foundation scholarship to attend the University of Colorado. She plans to double major in chemical and biological engineering, and molecular, cellular and developmental biology.

“I really like biology and I’m good at math,” said Horton.

According to CU’s website, chemical and biological engineers develop technologies that diagnose conditions and fight disease. “Chemical engineering is fascinating because of its applications in the real world, that are pertinent to our future.” Horton said.

Molecular biology studies how living systems operate, with heavy emphasis on genetic information. “I like the discovery aspect—the opportunity to do research,” Horton said. “One example is editing the human genome—going into cells to find mutations that might have caused diseases.

“I’ll pursue either an MD or a PhD. I want to give back by uncovering new ideas in labs in Colorado.”

The scholarship includes virtually all expenses for eight semesters, including full tuition, fees, a book allowance and an annual stipend for living expenses.

Horton was chosen from among 1,500 applicants. “Isabella stood out, with her accomplishments both in and out of the classroom,” said a Boettcher Foundation press release. Taken into consideration were her high grade point average, SAT and ACT scores, as well as her extracurricular accomplishments, including qualifying for state-level competition in track and field.