EDUCATION
C&EN Names First Merit Award Winners Nominees set high standard of achievement for youngsters seeking careers in science Top academic standing and interests varying from glee club to football mark the range of activities enjoyed bv the 12 undergraduate winners of the first C&EX Merit Awards. The award is an outgrowth of the C&EX All-Chemical, All-American football award started in 1952 as part of an effort to attract students to careers in science and engineering. More than 80 nominations were received for this first C&EX Merit Award, and the task of reducing the field to 12 was a tough one lor the six judges. Qualifying standards for scholastic attainment rose to first or second rank in class or straight ' A s . " Extracurricular activities covered the spectrum to include a top debater, editors, dramatists, and an All-American in basketball. The over-all ability of the candidates is summed up by one of the judges: "Jt is obvious/' he says, "that there are no average students among this group; all are outstanding." When the first cries of ''get more students into science" were heard in the early 1950s, vocational guidance counselors found youngsters balking. Pursuit of a curriculum in a field such as chemistry or chemical engineering, they said, would leave no time for outside activity. In an effort to dispel this notion, the editors of C&EX decided to show how a sport as demanding as varsity football could be combined successfully with studies in chemistry or chemical engineering. With the hope that enough boys were participating to prove their point, C&EX launched the All-Chemical, All-American football team in 1952. Sixteen nominations were received that year. When more than 95 nominations came in for the 1959 team, the editors felt that their original concept should be broadened to recognize scholarship plus participation in all areas of collegiate-sponsored activity, whether athletic or nonathletic. This Year's Winners. Nominees for 46
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the 1961 C&EX Merit Award were sought among students majoring in chemistry or chemical engineering who filled three requirements: planned a career in chemistry or chemical engineering: evidenced high scholastic attainment: and demonstrated accomplishment in a collegiate extracurricular activity. Equal weight was given in the judging to scholastic and extracurricular achievements. The editors are proud of this opportunity to recognize these future leaders of our science and industry. John H. Arndt. Jr., Junior, Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technologv.
Mr. Arndt ranks first in the junior chemical engineering class and holds the Standard Oil of Calif, undergraduate scholarship in chemical engineering. This 160-pounder has also compiled an outstanding athletic record: As a junior he was elected captain of the football team and named end on the all-conference football team of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He ranked fourth in the Small College XCAA as a pass receiver with 56 receptions for 704 yards and six touchdowns. He also lettered in basketball and baseball and was recently elected athletic manager of the Board of Directors, Asso-
Mr. John H. Arndt, Jr., California Institute of Technology
COMMITTEE
Dr. Wallace R. Brode
Dr. Harvey R. Russell
ciated Students of the California Institute of Technology. William E. Barnett, Junior, Chemistry, Southern Illinois University. Mr. Barnett carries a 4.85 grade point average and a 4.9 chemistry average out of a possible 5.0. He is married and became a father early this year. Since last June he has been working as a laboratory research assistant on a National Science Foundation project to help pay the bills. His extracurricular activity is golf, and, as low scorer for the past two years, he is considered tops in the southern Illinois area. He was an Mr. Peter M. Jeffers, Lehigh University
Dr. C. M. Sliepcevich
Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg
Illinois State High School Champion. William R. Bauer, Senior, Chemistry, California Institute of Technology. At the end of his junior year, Mr. Bauer ran second in the chemistry option at Caltech. For three years he has done research in the chemistry of hemoglobin with Dr. Jerome Vinograd. At present, Bill is president of the Student Body Association and has been elected to membership in two honorary societies—The Beavers and Tau Beta Pi. He plays the piano and trumpet and is particularly interested in folk music and dancing. Last summer, as winner of the Du Pont Travel
Dr. Earl T. McBee
Mr. William P. Drake
Prize, he visited Greece, lived with Greek families, and took part in several folk music festivals there. Mr. Bauer holds a National Merit scholarship and honors in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. David Cartwright, Junior, Chemistry, Hamline University. Mr. Cartwright carries a straight "A" in chemistry and has only one grade below "A" in his academic record. He's a member of the Hamline University basketball and baseball teams and also finds time to sing in his church choir. He is 23 and plans to do graduate work in chemistry.
Mr. Chrissman R. Lawrence, Colgate University
Mr. William R. Bauer, Caltech
Mr. Michael C. Zerner, Carnegie Institute of Technology
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Mr. Charles E.Wilkes, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Besides maintaining "scholarship" grades and an outstanding athletic record, David helps pay school costs with outside jobs. William B. Deem, Senior, Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University. Mr. Deem holds a National Merit scholarship and American Cyanamid scholarship, has consistently ranked in the top l'/( of all engineering students at Lehigh. He is a member of Lehigh's two ROTC honorary organizations—the Pershing Rifles and Scabbard and Blade; president of the AIChE student chapter: and winner of the William Chandler Chemistry Prize and the Honorary First Defenders Trophy. Peter M. Jeffers, Chemistry, Lehigh University. Mr. Jeffers is the only student toprated by more than one of the C&EN Merit judges. Besides having an outstanding record, which places him second in his class, he is captain of both the varsity baseball and soccer teams. Also a member of the Glee Club. Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society, Pi Mu Epsilon mathematics honor society, Mr. Jeffers was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year. He won the Diefenderfer Award in Analytical Chemistry, the Lehigh Valley Section ACS Award, and served as president of the ACS Student Affiliate at Lehigh. Crissman Ralph Lawrence, Senior, Colgate University. Colgate's student dean says of Mr. 48
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Miss Ruth Vars meets with her college president, Dr. Richard G. Gettell of Mount Holyoke
Lawrence: "During each of his four years as an undergraduate at Colgate, he has not only distinguished himself as a scholar, but has been an outstanding leader and a constructive influence in the life and activities of this college/' He has a grade point average of 3.45 out of a possible 4.0 and is a candidate for Phi Beta Kappa as well as cum Jauclc distinction. He started his career of service to the university by acting as chairman of the Freshman Honor Court and has continued as a member of the Student Judiciary Board throughout his four years. He serves as president of the senior honor service group and president of his fraternity. Last summer, in competition with political scientists, he won membership in Independent Summer Study in Europe, sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation. After securing a master's degree in chemical engineering, he hopes to do some work in business administration in preparation for a career in chemical industry management. Richard Carl Miller. Senior, Chemical Engineering. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Miller heads his class in chemical engineering. His cumulative average is 3.79 out of a possible 4.0. He is editor-in-chief of The Transit. Rensselaer's yearbook, a member of the executive committee of the Interfraternity Council, and secretary of the Executive Committee of the Stu-
dent Union. Nominated to "Who's Who among Students in American Colleges and Universities," Mr. Miller is a member of Rensselaer's select Honor Society Phalanx, a Tau Beta Pi Honor Junior, and a member of Pi Delta Epsilon. a journalism honorary, as well as Fourragere, the ROTC honor society. Thomas C. Richardson, Senior, Chemical Engineering, Princeton University. This capable senior in chemical engineering at Princeton was elected to Phi Beta Kappa from the junior class. Rated by one of his professors as a gifted athlete as well as an outstanding scholar. Mr. Richardson is captain of the 1961 varsity tennis team and a member of the squash team. His older brother, the famous "Ham" Richardson, is a former member of the U.S. Davis Cup Team. Currently Tom is tied for seventh position in the entire Princeton senior class. He is a member of the Cap and Gown Club, the AIChE Student Chapter, and the Undergraduate Schools' Committee. Ruth Vars, Senior, Chemistry, Mount Holyoke College. Miss Vars was a Sarah Williston scholar during her first two years at Mount Holyoke and won the Louisa Stone Stevenson Prize as outstanding chemistry major in her junior year. She served as secretary of her sophomore class and as junior class president. With students from 14 other colleges, she participated in a panel
Mr. Thomas C. Richardson, Princeton University
Mr. Richard C. Miller, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Mr. William B. Deem, Lehigh University
Mr. William E. Barnett, Southern Illinois University
Mr. David Cartwright, Hamline University
discussion held in St. Louis, Mo., sponsored by "Moonshooter '60", a nonprofit educational publication. As president of the Student Government Association, highest student honor, Miss Vars has shown "remarkable initiative and ability in dealing with the problems of the college community." She plans to enter the HarvardRadcliffe Masters program next year and expects to teach chemistry at the high school level. Charles E. Wilkes, Senior, Chemistry, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Wilkes is cited by his professors as the "rare example of a student who is active in extracurricular affairs and at the same time is outstanding scholastically." He stands at the top of his class of seniors in chemistry and chemical engineering, serves as editor for the school yearbook, The Peddler,
and is president of the Interfraternity Council. He teaches a chemistry laboratory section at Worcester Junior College and has been active in the ACS Student Affiliate group at Worcester Poly. Mr. Wilkes is president of the Tech Senate, president of the Council of Presidents, treasurer of the Athletic Association, Fraternity Rushing Chairman, and a member of Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and Pi Delta Epsilon. He has received the Du Pont Chemistry Award and a prize from the American Military Engineers Association. Michael C. Zerner, Senior, Chemistry, Carnegie Institute of Technology. Mr. Zerner ranks second in a class of 290, and his department head calls him the type of student who "comes along too infrequently." His scholastic versatility is further shown by
uniformly excellent grades in all of his studies. During the current year, he is president of the Men's Dormitory Council and a member of the Student Government Executive Council. He has been elected to both of the school's ROTC honorary groups and to Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, scholarship societies. His dean wrote that, under Mike's guidance, "the Men's Dormitory Council has taken productive action to reduce the irresponsibility that plagues all campus housing. Mike is a Procter & Gamble scholarship holder at Carnegie, a member of the ACS Student Affiliate, and of the Armed Forces Communications Association. Awards Committee. Each member of the selection board, whether from campus or industry, reflects by his own achievements and breadth of inMAY 2 2, 1961 C&EN
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terest, the high standards of accomplishment the C&EN Merit Award seeks to recognize: Dr. Wallace R. Brode, scientist and statesman; Pennsalt Chemical's president William P. Drake, distinguished industrialist and member of Sports Illustrateds 1960 Silver Anniversary All-America; Dr. Earl T. McBee, Purdue University, research chemist and teacher; Dr. Harvey R. Russell, American Cyanamid Co., chemist and writer serving education and industry; Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, chairman, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Nobel prize winner in chemistry and football fan; and Dr. C. M. Sliepcevich, University of Oklahoma, chemical engineer, teacher, and science talent scout.
BRIEFS The 1961 Advanced Placement Chemistry Conference will be held at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., June 22-24. Professor Paul R. Frey of Colorado's chemistry department will direct the conference which is sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board.
Government funds for academic research are turning American universities into "mere discovery mills," says Dr. Max Tishler, head of research for Merck & Co. He told an Industrial Research Institute meeting that government R&D directed at specific problems should be separated from the campus. He also believes that the Government's academic research funds, now some $900 million a year, need to be spread to more colleges. In fiscal 1959, Dr. Tishler says, only 287 of the 1940 U.S. colleges received government research funds; five schools received over 60% of these funds. The Atomic Energy Commission is accepting applications for a year's course to train college graduates for jobs in state, county, and municipal governments that are responsible for radiation in public health and safety matters. Trainees spend an academic year at the University of Michigan or Harvard schools of public health. They then go to an AEC installation for a practical course. Applications for the course should be sent to the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, Oak Ridge, Tenn., by June 15.
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