Several UM students show off the awards they won at the recent ACS annual awards banquet.
OXFORD, Miss. – Several University of Mississippi students and faculty members were honored for achievements in the field of chemistry at the Ole Miss American Chemical Society annual awards banquet.
Various awards were presented for excellence in chemistry courses, research achievements by students, and service by faculty and other ACS members. Also, area high school students were recognized for their achievements in the National Chemistry Olympiad.
“This event highlights our top students and helps us recruit chemistry majors,” said Nathan Hammer, an assistant professor of chemistry who also received an ACS service award. “It is an opportunity to recognize our very best.”
The world’s largest scientific society, the American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. The Ole Miss local section has more than 200 members.
Maggie Morgan, a junior from Anniston, Ala., received one of two Analytical Chemistry Awards.
“I definitely consider it a huge honor to receive this award,” Morgan said. “I always try to do my best and give 110 percent. My teachers have always not only been helpful, but they continue to challenge me to do my best and push me to the next level.”
Other UM students who received awards at the banquet are:
– General Chemistry: Anna Craig of Hartselle, Ala.; Ryan Sessums of Lena; Jonathan Redding of Taylor; Charles (Trey) Moore of Florence, Ala.; and James Bryan Crenshaw of Memphis, Tenn.
– Organic Chemistry: Cara Thorne of Toronto, Katlyn Carpenter of Mantachie and Gabe Labonia of Cordova, Tenn.
– Analytical Chemistry: Danielle Dykes of Madison, Ala.
– Physical Chemistry: Annie McClellan of Hernando
– Biochemistry: Andrew Matrick of Brandon, Emily Caldwell of Pontotoc, Logan Fair of New Albany and Jonathon Troy Jackson of Madison
– Forensic Chemistry: Jordan Kennedy of Huntsville, Ala.
– Inorganic Chemistry: Rachel Williams of Vicksburg
– Undergraduate Research: Kristina Cuellar of Wayazata, Minn.; and Sara Dempsey of Dacula, Ga.
– Graduate Research: Xiaofei Zhang of Wuhan, China; Kaixuan Bu of Jiaxing, China; Kari Copeland of Coldwater; and Gang Fu of Beijing
Area high school students recognized for their achievement in the Chemistry Olympiad are:
– Oxford High School: Taide Ding and Sam Mossing
– North Panola High School: Whitney Pettis and Shakemia Towns
– Ripley High School: Rachel Walker and Caleb Stubbs
For more information on the Ole Miss local section of the ACS, visit http://olemiss.sites.acs.org. For more information on the UM Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/chemistry.