The Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS) chapter at UTM has earned outstanding chapter recognition for the 2001-02 academic year.

Based on a peer review of annual reports submitted by SAACS chapters across the nation, the Committee on Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society (ACS) selected UTM as one of 31 outstanding chapters out of more than 900 chapters.

Fifty-five chapters received commendable ratings, while 71 chapters received honorable mention.

The UTM chapter has won 23 outstanding and four commendable ratings since its charter in 1971, said faculty adviser Dr. S.K. Airee, professor of chemistry.

"A special chemistry has developed between the students, faculty and staff at UTM, leading to professional development for students, a valuable service to community and continuous outstanding ratings for the SAACS chapter," Airee said.

During the past year UT Martin SAACS made great strides under the leadership of 2001 president Amanda B. Coke and the 2002 president Micheal W. Fultz, both of Clarksville.

The chapter was awarded two grants - one from Community Interaction-Student Affiliates (CISA) and the other for an Innovative Activities (IAG) project - which allowed them to sponsor the 22nd Annual High School Science Bowl, a Chemistry Merit Badge Clinic for Boy Scouts, a Try-It Clinic for local Brownie Girl Scouts, and chemical demonstration programs for area high schools.

Chapter members also hosted guest speakers to lecture on the topic of green chemistry, and made investigations on hydrogen peroxide as a green chemistry reagent.

Presentations of student work were made at a national meeting of ACS in Orlando, Fla; the University of Memphis Undergraduate Research Symposium; and the 25th Annual Area Collegiate Chemistry Meeting, held in Martin. UTM SAACS is one of the pioneering chapters focusing its activities on the topic of green chemistry.

The UTM chapter's achievements were featured in two national ACS publications: the spring/summer 2002 issue of "Chemistry," a publication with a circulation of more than 160,000; and the September/October 2002 issue of "in Chemistry," with a circulation of more than 10,000. Both printed full-length stories with color photos focusing on the UT Martin SAACS. In addition, the chapter printed two copies of their own newsletter, "The Condenser," with a total of 36 pages of chapter activities and photos.