B.S. in Public Health student Quentaxia Wrighting has be honored with the Outstanding Poster Award at the Undergraduate Research Day. Wrighting presented her research on the Cigarette Purchasing Patterns, Readiness to Quit, and Quit Attempts Among Homeless Smokers, which was recently published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research Journal.

Wrighting’s research focuses on a niche which isn’t often explored. “Homeless individuals aren't often considered when it comes to intervention programs and I hope to change that with my research,” she said.

Wrighting credits her mentor, Lorraine Reitzel, with supporting her as she pursued her research. “Dr. Lorraine Reitzel has been everything for me since my sophomore year,” said Wrighting. “She's opened up countless opportunities for me that I couldn't thank her enough for.”

Wrighting plans to graduate in May 2017 and go to medical school, after which she plans to open a family clinic in her hometown Beaumont, Texas.