Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Aquinas Chemistry Society (ACS) was one of five Michigan schools to receive a Commendable Chapter award from the American Chemical Society and one of two Michigan schools to be recognized with a Green Chapter Award. Students from the Aquinas chapter were honored this spring at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting in Denver.

The awards are based on ACS’s annual report, which outlines the chapter's activities during the 2013-2014 academic year. Highlights include: Hosting campus events during National Chemistry Week, organizing volunteer peer tutoring for students taking AQ chemistry courses, inviting local fourth grade classes to Aquinas for a day of science experiments and demonstrations, and participating in the local Chemistry at the Mall event by hosting a booth and demonstrating chemistry for the public.

The Commendable Chapter award is the second-highest level of recognition for student chapters. The awards are determined through a system of peer review by the faculty advisors. The Green Chapter Award is determined by the American Chemistry Society’s Green Chemistry Institute in a separate evaluation of the chapter annual report. This award recognizes a chapter for significant contributions to implementing green chemistry in technology and education.

ACS student officers from the 2013-2014 academic year have continued their work in chemistry. Former club president Marissa Saladin ’14, a chemistry and math major, is currently enrolled in the chemistry graduate program at Penn State University. Former club vice president Anastasia McRoberts ’14, a biology major, is working as a research and design technician for Ameriqual in Evansville, Illinois. Former club secretary and current club vice president, Levi Nguyen ’15 has been accepted to and will be starting medical school at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Former club treasurer and current club president Nick Pierce is continuing his studies at Aquinas will be graduating with a chemistry major in May 2016.

The Aquinas Chemistry Society is a student chapter of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific professional society. An active and visible student organization at Aquinas, the student chapter is open to AQ students from all majors who enjoy chemistry.