On March 22-26, 10 students and the faculty adviser from SAACS will be down in the “Big Easy” for the national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

At the New Orleans Convention Center, they will receive the award for outstanding chapter.

The UTM chapter has won 23 outstanding awards and four commendable ratings since its charter in 1971.

“SAACS students at UTM are a special breed. They keep doing great things,” said Dr. Airee, faculty adviser and chemistry professor.

While down in the Big Easy, the students will be representing UTM among universities from all 50 states including Puerto Rico. “There will be 200,000 people from professionals in the field to undergraduates in attendance,” said Dr. Airee.

They will attend seminars on green chemistry, how to work with children in chemistry shows, volunteer a day to work with children at a local museum and four of the students will be presenting papers.

“Last year we went to Orlando, Flordia for the convention. I’m looking forward to this trip where I will be presenting the chapter activity paper,” said Rebekah Kirkpatrick, SAACS president.

Dan Comer and Andrew Barnard will be presenting a paper on Biodiesel and Micheal Fultz on Synthesis of Silicon based Platforms for Hetergeneous Catalysis.