Celebrating Chem club

By Audrey Miller

WASHINGTON D.C. – Last Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Loras College Chemistry Club received news that their student chapter has been placed within the top 30% of all American Chemical Society (ACS) student chapters in the nation. Loras’ chapter’s for the 2018-19 academic year review garnered a ranking of “Commendable”—an award bestowed upon the top 30% of all chapters in the nation. There are approximately 500 chapters in total, located in both the United States and Puerto Rico. The ranking of “Commendable” is the secondhighest award a club can achieve, right behind “Outstanding,” which is achieved by the top 10% of all ACS student chapters. The third rank is “Honorable Mention,” which is achieved by approximately the top 50% of student chapters.

According to the Society Committee on Education—the ACS committee which bestows these awards upon deserving chapters—the awards allow chapters “to receive special recognition on the basis of their programs and activities, as described in their chapter reports. Chapters that do not qualify for these awards receive a certificate of achievement for meritorious service.”

For the 2017-18 academic year, the Loras chapter received an “Honorable Mention” award along with 144 other institutions’ chapters. This award was received at the Spring 2019 ACS National Meeting in Orlando, FL. The club will receive their “Commendable” award this March at the Spring 2020 ACS National Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.

“All of the chemistry faculty are so incredibly proud of the club’s hard work,” said Dr. Adam Moser, Associate Professor of Chemistry. “A majority of high-ranking chapters are from much larger institutions that draw from greater student and faculty populations. This rating is proof of how far the club has come.”

Categories the club fulfilled include service, professional development, chapter development, and fundraising. The reviewer commended the club on activities such as the Walking Classroom STEM education program at Lincoln Elementary school, the mentoring program that takes place between juniors and first-years within the chemistry/ biochemistry programs, and the club’s extensive fundraising efforts. In order to reach the next level of awards, the reviewer suggested the club spend some time on professional development—other than the poster presentations the club already creates annually for the spring ACS National Meeting—and hosting more events during National Chemistry Week. Overall, the reviewer provided a glowing review of the club.

Current club officers include seniors Zach Ney (president), Keighley Lipetzky (archivist), Gabe Smith (treasurer), Sarah Krieger (event planner), and junior Kylie Holubar (club communications). These officers will accept the award in the spring, and set the stage for another prestigious award from the ACS Education Committee. Club officers from the 2018-19 academic year include Ney (communications), Smith (treasurer), and recent graduates Ariel Carter (president), Greta Becker (archivist), and Audrey Miller (event planner).