Members of Niagara University's Kappa Kappa chapter of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon National Chemistry Honor Society.
Niagara University is pleased to announce that its student chapter of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon National Chemistry Honor Society was presented with this year’s Outstanding Chapter Award during the organization’s 44th Biennial Convention on March 4, 2011 at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The award is based predominantly on a chapter’s community service activities.
Megan McGahan, a senior biochemistry major, attended the conference to showcase the work of Niagara’s Kappa Kappa chapter, for which she serves as vice president. Philanthropic projects undertaken last year by Niagara’s chapter included donating $500 to and volunteering for The Magdalene Project, an organization that distributes Bible tracts, toiletries, food and roses to women in despair; raising $2,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life; generating funds in honor of breast cancer patients during the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk; repeatedly visiting ailing elderly people at various area nursing homes; and performing a chemistry magic show for elementary school students.
For their efforts, Niagara’s Kappa Kappa chapter received a plaque and $100 prize.
“Considering that Niagara’s chapter of the National Chemistry Honor Society began in 2008, it’s quite an accomplishment to be recognized with this award,” said Ronny Priefer, Ph.D., the chapter’s advisor. “The students deserve a lot of credit for taking time out of their very busy academic schedules to not only participate in the honor society but to also tackle a number of community service projects, which falls right in line with the mission of NU.”
Gamma Sigma Epsilon was established in 1919 with the idea to “unite those with a high scholastic grade in chemistry, in Class A colleges, in order to foster a more comprehensive and cooperative study of that great branch of science and its immediately allied studies.” Since its original beginnings, Gamma Sigma Epsilon has now grown to include chapters in 20 states.
In October 2010, Niagara University’s student chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS) received an Honorable Mention Award for its activities conducted during the 2009-2010 academic year. McGahan is president of that chapter.
