From Fire Ant to Fulbright

USC Sumter Alumni, Denzyl Josh Lastimoso, Awarded Lucrative Fulbright Scholarship

by Alethia Hummel

Sumter, SC (01/21/2025) — Denzyl Josh Lastimoso, 2021 USC Sumter alumni, was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study Master of Research in Cardiovascular Sciences at Newcastle University, UK.

Lastimoso was born in the Philippines, but his family immigrated to the United States when he was four years old and settled in Sumter. He attended Sumter public schools and graduated from Sumter High School in 2019.

At first, Lastimoso wasn't sure where he wanted to go to college or what he wanted to study, but scholarships and his proximity to USC Sumter helped sway him to become a Fire Ant. Once enrolled, he began taking general education courses, but that all changed when he took Introduction to Statistical Reasoning.

In that class, he met USC Sumter's Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Sher Chhetri, who encouraged him to participate in a student research project. The project was a statistical analysis, and the findings were later applied to analyze data relating to bladder cancer patients.

"Josh showed an interest in medical research when I first met him in my statistics class in Fall 2019. He exhibited an extensive background in mathematics and statistics, enthusiasm, and dedication. Because of this, it better prepared him to work with a new probability distribution model and later the model was applied to cancer patients' data," said Dr. Chhetri.

That research experience started Lastimoso down the path to his future goal of becoming a physician-researcher.

"At USC Sumter, I found a passion for research through the guidance of Dr. Chhetri. There, I formed a strong interest in discovery for the biological sciences. Because of that opportunity, I've grown as an individual and have been taking steps to develop my career as a physician-researcher," said Lastimoso.

While Lastimoso was at USC Sumter, he and Dr. Chhetri completed two research projects, "Mathematical Characterization of Lomax Distribution" which was presented and published in the Proceedings of the 16th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium, and "Extended Lomax Distribution with an Application to Cancer Patient Data", which was published in the Future of Information and Communication Conference. They also presented their findings at the 2021 South Carolina Academy of Sciences Meetings.

Due to his hard work and dedication, Lastimoso was named the Mathematics, Science and Engineering Outstanding Student in 2021. He graduated USC Sumter with an Associates in Science degree, and he went on earn a Bachelor of Science degree from USC Columbia in 2022. Once Josh graduated, he was hired at Lexington Medical Center in Columbia as a pathology support technician.

After working nearly two years, Lastimoso decided it was time to take the next step in his educational career. He began to look for Master degree programs that would nurture and expand his passion for medical research. The Fulbright Scholarship program was the perfect fit for Lastimoso's goals, but it would be a challenge to land the lucrative scholarship.

According to their website, "The Fulbright Program, the United States government's flagship program of international educational and cultural exchange, offers passionate and accomplished students and scholars in more than 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to mutual understanding. These talented Fulbrighters from all backgrounds inspire, innovate, and contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world."

Lastimoso completed the extensive application and interview process and in mid-2024 he learned he had been awarded the scholarship and would have the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom at Newcastle University and work towards a Master of Research in Cardiovascular Sciences.

"I was thrilled to hear Josh received a Fulbright scholarship to study in the UK. It is an honor to be a part of his success story. For a teacher/educator, it is a great joy to help others and see them succeed," said Dr. Chhetri.

Lastimoso finished his first semester at Newcastle this Fall and has enjoyed his experience thus far.
"I've had a wonderful experience. I've met lots of great people from different backgrounds and it's been fascinating to talk directly with people from around the world. Despite the weather, I've warmed up to Newcastle, and I would happily call it a new home. From the local shops to the variety of food, my time in Newcastle has been nothing short of fantastic," said Lastimoso.

Lastimoso added, "I want to thank Dr. Chhetri for introducing me to the world of research in statistics throughout my undergraduate education at USC Sumter. Without this experience, I'm not sure if I would've pursued a research-oriented career. I'm also grateful to USC Sumter for having a welcoming environment and for giving me support as I advanced through my later years of undergrad."

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