GREENSBURG, PA- For the eighth consecutive year, The Seton Hill College Chemistry Club has received the American Chemical Society (ACS) Outstanding Student Affiliates Chapter Award. The Seton Hill Chemistry Club ranks among the top 24 in the nation.
Attila Pavlath, past president of ACS, writes: "Professor Susan Yochum, faculty advisor of the chapter, deserves special commendation. Few faculty members are willing to make the great commitment of time and energy that a successful chapter requires of its advisor. It takes more than exceptional effort to be an Outstanding chapter; it takes the nurturing attention of a dedicated advisor. Professor Yochum’s efforts certainly represent the best in undergraduate science education and mentoring around the country."
The following activities are a sample of the Club's involvement during the past academic year:
• Explore the Sciences Day enables middle school students to "Go to College for a Day" at Seton Hill where they participate in and conduct various experiments in the chemistry labs. This project is funded by the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. The 5th -8th graders from Mother of Sorrows in Murrysville were hosted last year.
* Adopt-a-Highway Club members participated in roadway clean-up near Twin Lakes Park.
*Mole Day and National Chemistry Week (NCW) Celebrations. During NCW the Club joined the ACS Pittsburgh section at the Carnegie Science Center where 5,000 people visited during the 2-day event.
*Seven members attended the American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Diego on April 1, 2001.
The "Outstanding" award will be presented to the chapter on Sunday, April 7, 2002 in Orlando, Florida at the 223rd ACS National Meeting. In addition, a note of accomplishment was listed in Chemical&Engineering News, the ACS's weekly periodical, and in Chemistry, the Student Affiliates magazine.
The ACS offers undergraduate students majoring in chemistry or a related science the opportunity to enroll in the ACS Student Affiliates (SA) program. The SA program has a current enrollment of 7,500 students with over 900 chapters at colleges and universities in the US and Puerto Rico. Every chapter submits an annual report of its activities. Based on the review of these reports, chapters are selected by the Society Committee on Education for recognition as Outstanding, Commendable or Honorable Mention chapters. For the 2000-2001 academic year, 24 outstanding, 46 commendable and 74 honorable mention awards will be presented.
Members of the 2000-2001 chemistry club at Seton Hill include: Officers: Christin Hanigan of Westminister, MD, President; Tracey Harshberger of Cairnbrook, PA, VP; Sara Hileman of Ford City, PA, Treasurer; Demetra Chengelis of Ashland, OH, Public Relations; Susan Gillenberger of Finleyville, PA, Secretary. Other members include: Ryanne Forcht of Butler, PA; Jessica Conlon of Scenery Hill, PA; Kristen Ventrice of Greensburg, PA; Kristy Adamcyzk of Windber, PA; Amanda Sirochman of Washington, PA; Kimberly Hart of Pittsburgh, PA; Stephanie Reigh of Bellwood, PA; Nabila Uddin of Greensburg, PA; Jacquel Morris of Bear, DE; Emily Ciak of Hunlock Crek, PA; Nicole Lock of Jeannette, PA; Michelle Ballard of Hyattsville, MD; Rose Lees of Greensburg, PA; Mike Gebhart of Greensburg, PA; Jeffi Gross of Greensburg, PA; Kate Shane of Lower Burrell, PA; and Monica Waltz of Pitcarin, PA. Sr. Susan Yochum, associate professor of chemistry and chair of the division of mathematics, science and computer technology, serves as the faculty advisor.