Chemistry Students Attend National American Chemical Society Meeting
Seventeen UCA chemistry students attended the 2012 Spring American Chemical Society meeting in San Diego from March 23 through March 27. The students had the opportunity to attend presentations by Sandra Pizzarello, who has studied the assemblage of amino acids found in the Murchison Meteorite, as well as Roger Tsein, a co-recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Additionally, the students explored technological advances in instrumentation at the Exposition and spoke to representatives from the national ACS office.
Student Chapter officers presented “Psychedelic Solubility” at the Chem Demo Exchange and had the opportunity to observe additional demonstrations that they can perform at future events on the UCA campus, in the Conway community and surrounding areas. That evening, all seventeen students attended an awards ceremony where the 2010-2011 Chapter received an Honorable Mention Award. At this award assembly they had the opportunity to hear the “Science is Fun” guy and ACS President Bassam Shakhashiri speak.
All students had the opportunity to present information on chapter activities and eleven posters involving original research performed on the UCA campus under the direction of Melissa Kelley, Donald Perry, Karen Steelman, William Taylor and Faith Yarberry. Lennon Bates, a student in Steelman’s group, had the honor of being selected to present her research again at Sci-Mix Monday evening.
The students said they had fun learning the various facets of chemistry, and meeting world-renowned scientists in the field of chemistry.
The students would like to thank the Department of Chemistry, the College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, the American Chemical Society, UCA’s Student Government Association, NSF and NIH research funding, and the UCA Foundation for their support.
Chemistry Students Recognized for Achievement
The UCA Chemistry Department recognized five students for their achievement in the areas of research and service during the 2012-13 academic year.
Venusa Phomakay, who graduated in May, received the Jerald Manion Outstanding Chemistry Student Award and the Distinction on Service Award. The Jerald Manion Outstanding Chemistry Student Award is presented to the best all-around graduating senior and most enthusiasm for learning. Phomakay was said to be the most effective president of the Chemistry Club in years. She was also said to have excelled in her studies, demonstrated excellence in research for Dr. Melissa Kelley and showed genuine optimism and enthusiasm. She will be attending UAMS in the fall.
Recent May graduate Katie Primm also received the Distinction on Service Award for service to the department and the Chemistry Club. She will be attending graduate school at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Tsungyen Chen, who also graduated in May, was the award winner for the Undergraduate Honors Thesis Award for his excellent hands in the research lab. He also was said to have spent countless hours in the lab doing research for Dr. Don Perry, and even proposed his own project and published and presented his results. He also won the Distinction in Academics Award along with May graduate Jessica Gambill. They received this award for their excellence in their coursework. Chen was also awarded the Distinction in Research Award for his excellence in research for Dr. Don Perry, including publications, grant proposals, presentations and a demonstrated ability to formulate and test hypotheses in the laboratory. Both plan to attend UAMS in the fall.
Jared Evanov, who graduated in the fall of 2011, also won the Distinction in Research Award for the same reasons as Tsungyen Chen.