FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 16, 2011

Chemical industry group selects 2011 scholars, arranges student internships

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2011 — More than 25 undergraduate chemistry and chemical engineering majors have been named Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) Scholars. Each of these college sophomores and juniors will participate in 10-week internships at SCI member companies this summer.

The SCI, the American Chemical Society (ACS), and American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) developed this summer internship program to introduce chemistry and chemical engineering students to careers in the chemical industry.

“Our industry can only continue to be successful if we continue to attract top young scientists and engineers. The scholars program has become an important tool to achieve this,” said Stephanie Burns, president and CEO of Dow Corning and chairperson of the SCI.

2011 SCI Scholars

NameUniversityHometown
Timoleon BallaiStevens Institute of TechnologyKinnelon, N.J.
Nathan BowserLehigh UniversityShoemakersville, Pa.
Eli CastroUniversity of California, San DiegoChula Vista, Calif.
Trishelle Copeland JohnsonUniversity of South FloridaLutz, Fla.
David CheungUniversity of the Sciences in PhiladelphiaUpper Darby, Pa.
Joshua DoornUniversity of South DakotaSioux Falls, S.D.
Justin ErwinEast Central UniversityMuskogee, Okla.
William FerribyWashington UniversityMuskegon, Mich.
Stephanie GatesMillikin UniversityArlington Heights, Ill.
Apoorv GuptaUniversity of Maryland, College ParkNorth Potomac, Md.
Jennifer HarmonCalifornia State University, FresnoVisalia, Calif.
Sally InghamVanderbilt UniversityLincoln, Neb.
David JeffcoatClemson UniversityIrmo, S.C.
Stephanie JouRutgers UniversityFlorham Park, N.J.
Nathan KonoplivUniversity of California, San DiegoAltadena, Calif.
Maxwell Kushner LenhoffYale UniversityLong Beach, Calif.
Hattie LarsonFlorida State UniversityKingwood, Texas
Stewart MalloryUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, Hawaii
Arielle MenschSaint John Fisher CollegeWaverly, N.Y.
Robert MorrowSUNY at BuffaloWatertown, N.Y.
Molly O’DriscollVillanova UniversityYorktown Heights, N.Y.
Thomas PinkardThe Pennsylvania State UniversityShillington, Pa.
Frederick SeidlSanta Clara UniversityCupertino, Calif.
Joseph SelingerCarnegie Mellon UniversityHudson, Ohio
Erica TamRice UniversityPleasanton, Calif.
Angela TroxellFlorida Institute of TechnologyLakeland, Fla.
Andrew WagnerUniversity of MinnesotaApple Valley, Minn.
Yong WuUniversity of Virginia Falls Church, Va.

SCI member companies participating include Air Liquide, Air Products, Arch Chemicals, Chemtura, Chevron Phillips, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, DuPont, Eastman Chemical, ExxonMobil, Honeywell UOP, International Specialty Products, LANXESS, Milliken & Company, Nalco and W. R. Grace.

Each company makes 10-week summer internships available in their research laboratories or manufacturing plants. Students apply through the ACS in a national competition. Panels of volunteer chemists and engineers review qualifications and recommendations to make final selections. This year, more than 250 students with an average GPA of 3.85 applied for the program. Scholars receive a certificate of recognition and a stipend to supplement their internship salary. Students are encouraged to nominate a high school science teacher who sparked their interest in chemistry. Teachers are recognized for their outstanding ability in the classroom and receive a stipend to further their activities.

“I think this program is amazing. One thing that was great was that I learned what job opportunities were out there,” said Joseph Mosley, 2010 SCI Scholar.

About the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
SCI America International Group, launched in 1894, is part of the Society of Chemical Industry’s international organization. It provides a unique networking forum for chemical industry leaders, industrial scientists and technologists to exchange new business ideas and best practices. It celebrates achievement to promote public awareness of the contributions of industrial chemistry and inspire students to enter technical careers.

SCI America Section also offers its members the opportunity to become part of an international network of industry thought leaders and researchers. Through specialized conferences, e-events, and publications, it helps foster best practices in fields as diverse as fine and commodity chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, agriculture and environmental protection.

SCI America events are managed by the Chemical Heritage Foundation.

Program Contact:
Ron Reynolds
215-873-8244
rreynolds@chemheritage.org

CHF Press Contact:
Neil Gussman
215-873-8262
717-314-2494
neilg@chemheritage.org

About the American Chemical Society (ACS)
The American Chemical Society is a non-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. For more information, please go to www.acs.org.

About the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
AIChE, founded in 1908, is a professional association of 40,000 chemical engineers in 92 countries. Its members work in corporations, universities, and government using their knowledge of chemical processes to develop safe and useful products for the benefit of society. For more information, please go to www.aiche.org.

AIChE Press Contact:
Steve Smith
646 495-1360
steps@aiche.org

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Media Contact

Nancy Blount
202-872-4440
n_blount@acs.org