JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 7, 2010 — 黑料论坛鈥檚 Student Member chapter of the American Chemical Society has received an Outstanding Chapter Award from the ACS.
Of the more than 1,000 SMACS chapters, only about 30 were recognized with the award. The Union chapter has now won the award for 12 straight years.
Chemistry professor Charles Baldwin, a faculty adviser to the Union chapter, said the award is based on such criteria as community service, professional development events, research and involvement with ACS regional and national meetings.
鈥淭his chapter has always placed a high priority on community service,鈥� Baldwin said. 鈥淲e have seen other chapters across the country increase their outreach to the community in the last decade. I think it鈥檚 partly due to the example that our chapter has set.鈥�
The Union chapter regularly does demonstration programs and hands-on activities at several local schools, including initiatives to teach science standards in an attempt to increase scores on standardized tests. It has worked with the Jackson Tree Board to plant trees in the community and has partnered with the Jackson Old Hickory Rotary Club to provide Thanksgiving baskets to families in need.
Union chapter members have also hosted students from the Explorer Club at Lincoln Magnet Elementary School in Jackson for an overnight event in the small gym on the Union campus.
The award-winning chapters will be recognized in the November/December issue of 鈥渋n Chemistry鈥� magazine and at the ACS Student Chapter Award Ceremony during the 241st ACS National Meeting in Anaheim, Calif.
In addition to the Outstanding Chapter Award, the Union chapter also won a Green Chemistry Award from the national ACS organization.