December 15, 2005

 

 

Last year we said goodbye to Dr. Truman Turnquist after 39 years of service and said hello to Dr. Deb Boyd-Kimball.  Well after one year into retirement, our new college President Richard Giese asked Dr. Turnquist back to Mount Union to become our acting Dean yet once more while a search ensues for a replacement.  Welcome back Truman!  Dr.'s Holloway and Murdoch still visit us at the occasional seminar or social event, but have preferred to stay retired.  Some highlights from last year include:

 

• The continuation of a sponsored research agreement between McGean-Rohco, where Dr. Gary Loar (1973) works, and the Chemistry Department.

 

• Our first Biochemistry majors (3) graduated last May.  Rosetta Shallcross is working at BenVenue Labs in Bedford Heights, OH as a full-time chemist.  Ken Hovis is pursuing a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition at Carnegie Mellon University.  Drew Kocher is currently looking for employment.  Our one Chemistry major last year, Lydia (Bell) Ellerhorst was recently married and is in dental school at Ohio State University.

 

• The department was a Summer Internship site for two high school chemistry teachers sponsored by a Math/Science Partnership grant for Stark County from the NSF.

 

• The department officially expanded the Alumni Scholarship Award to two students, one in Chemistry and one in Biochemistry thanks to your generous support through the years.  The recipients were Andy Smith in Chemistry and Sean Trevino.  Both were involved in REU's last summer, Andy at the Polymer Institute at the University of Akron and Sean at Kent State University.  Sean also won the ACCESS Award.  Both are involved in research projects as Juniors here at Mount Union as well.

 

• The number of Chemistry and Biochemistry majors is now hovering around 20.  This is double our enrollment in the late 90's.  A little more than 1/3 are Biochemistry majors.

 

• Lydia Bell received the Alumni Scholarship award last year.  She is currently a senior Chemistry major and president of the Student Affiliates ACS. 

 

• Rebekah Miller (2004) a 2^nd Lt. in the United States Air Force was recently deployed to Qatar and is the assistant officer in charge of 120 plus aircraft mechanics.  The college picked Rebekah as a campus wide holiday service project and we sent 6 boxes of various items to her and her platoon thanks to the efforts of our students in the department.

 

If you happen to be in the area, please drop by for a visit.  We would enjoy showing you Bracy Hall, the department, and the work of our students.  From all of us and our families to you and your families, have a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Mount Union College Chemistry Faculty & Staff