Among the most eagerly anticipated honors presented by the ASCT are the awards for student case presentations at our Annual Conference. Established in 1989 by the ASCT Executive Council in memory of Dr. Warren R. Lang, the Warren R. Lang Award was originally awarded to a single graduate of an accredited School of Cytology.

Dr. Lang was a distinguished professor of Cytology and Medical Director of the School of Cytology at Thomas Jefferson University's College of Allied Health Sciences in the 1970s. In 1983, he became Chair of the Department of Pathology. Renowned for his unwavering advocacy for cytologists, cytology students, and pathology residents, Dr. Lang was passionate about teaching and deeply supportive of the ASCT's formation. He believed it was not only a cytologist’s right but also their responsibility to shape their profession actively.

Today, students presenting cases at the Annual Conference are eligible for this prestigious award. The first-place winner receives $150 and a one-year membership to the ASCT, while second- and third-place winners receive $100 and $50, respectively.

We are proud to celebrate the ten students who represented Cytology Programs nationwide and competed in the Interesting Case Presentation Competition at the 2026 ASCT Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City, OK.

2024 saw the return of the ASCT Student Interesting Virtual Case Presentation Contest in which cytology students submitted narrated presentations of their interesting cases. These presentations were assessed by the ASCT Education Committee, and among the 12 submissions, two presentations were awarded identical winning scores.

Jacey Yan was a student of the UCLA Department of Pathology, School of Cytology. Her interesting case, titled "Cytomorphological Features of Liver Angiosarcoma" involved a 70-year-old male liver transplant patient presenting with multiple hepatic hemangiomas. Fine needle aspiration cytology was applied showing an additional finding of a malignant neoplasm, eventually diagnosed as an angiosarcoma.

Charliann Friedman was a student of the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology. Her interesting case, titled "Metastatic Carcinoma to the Iliac Bone" involved a 64-year-old female patient with a history of ductal carcinoma. Fine needle aspiration of the iliac bone was collected, and cytology and concurrent immunohistochemical staining confirmed metastatic ductal carcinoma to the bone.

Both cases provided in-depth educational value showcasing the importance of cytology in primary diagnosis and corresponding ancillary testing. Both winners will have their presentations showcased on the ASCT website and receive free membership to the ASCT for the following year. Congratulations to both of our winners this year, as well as all the impressive submissions received for this event!

Jacey Yan - "Cytomorphological Features of Liver Angiosarcoma" Presentation

Charliann Friedman - "Metastatic Carcinoma to the Iliac Bone" Presentation

The “Rookie of the Year Scholarship” was founded in 2018 by active ASCT member and cytologist, Victoria Lingua. Victoria has been a cytologist and tremendous advocate for the field for many years. She is passionate about cytology, education and participation in the ASCT. In 2019, a generous contribution from the Vermont/New Hampshire Cytology Association served to ensure that this scholarship will provide funding for “rookies” to attend the conference for years to come.

The “Rookie of the Year” scholarship winner will receive $1,000 to use towards expenses for the Annual Conference.

2026 Rookie of the Year Scholarship - Awarded!
The 2026 Rookie of the Year Scholarship was awarded at the ASCT Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, OK on May 1-2, 2026. Congratulations to this year's recipient, and thank you to all who applied!

Interested in applying next year?

Check out the application and requirements below to get a head start on your 2027 submission. The next Rookie of the Year will be announced at the ASCT Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN on April 9-10, 2027.

Rookie of the Year Scholarship Form.pdf

Bob Gay Cytology Scholarship

Following the establishment of The Bob Gay Lecture Series in 2012, the Bob Gay family decided to sponsor a Student Scholarship to be awarded annually to cytology students who have demonstrated academic excellence and the potential to make contributions to the cytology profession.   

This scholarship was established by Kim Kowalczik in memory of her father, Bob Gay, who made significant contributions to the education of cytology students and was a founding member of the ASCT. Beginning 2018, the scholarship has been awarded to two cytology students annually. Two outstanding students this year will receive $1,250 and sponsorship (travel and accommodations) to the upcoming  ASCT annual conference.  

Candidates must have completed the first six months of training in an accredited cytology program and must be members of the ASCT. The award is based on academic performance, financial need, service and a demonstrated potential to make significant contributions to the cytology profession. Student membership with ASCT is complimentary and is a requirement for the scholarship application.

The recipients of the 2026 scholarship will receive funding from ASCT Services to attend the 2026 ASCT Annual Conference, May 1-2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, OK where they will receive their award.  To learn more, visit ASCT Services. 

2026 Bob Gay Cytology Scholarship - Awarded!

The 2026 Bob Gay Cytology Scholarship was awarded at the ASCT Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, OK on May 1.2-3. Congratulations to this year's recipient, and thank you to all who applied!

Interested in applying for 2027?

Check out the application and requirements below to get a head start on your 2027 submission. 

Bob Gay Student Scholarship Overview - Deadline Extended 2026.pdf

Bob Gay Student Scholarship Application Form - Deadline Extended 2026.pdf