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World's Largest Scientific Society Seeks Minority Students for Scholarships

American Chemical Society Scholars Program for 2005-2006 Announces March 1 Deadline

Release by the American Chemical Society

The American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, is accepting applications for its Scholars Program, a financial support effort for underrepresented minority students in the chemical sciences. The applications are for the 2005-2006 academic year.

African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native American recipients are eligible to receive up to $3,000 and awards are renewable. High school seniors and students in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, environmental science and related disciplines at two- and four-year colleges may apply for scholarships. Financial support is based on a mix of academic achievement and financial need.

The goal of the American Chemical Society Scholars Program is to diversify the chemical sciences, both in academe and the workforce, by helping underrepresented minority groups obtain undergraduate degrees, and to encourage them to advance in chemistry or a chemically related field. The Society expects to award approximately $850,000 this academic year to current and new scholars.

The deadline to apply for the 2005-2006 program is March 1. For more details about the ACS Scholars Program and an online application form, visit www.chemistry.org/scholars or call 1-800-227-5558, extension 6222.

Relatively few minorities pursue chemistry-related careers, according to a report prepared by the Society. In 2000, for example, Hispanics/Latinos, who make up 14 percent of the U.S. population, represented less than 3 percent of the chemistry workforce; African Americans, at almost 12 percent of the population, comprised less than 2 percent of the chemical workforce; and Native Americans, representing 1 percent of the population, made up less than 1 percent of the chemical workforce.

Since the Scholars Program was launched with a $5 million grant in 1995, nearly 1,500 students have received financial support from the ACS. The program is a winner of the 2001 President's Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, and the 1997 Award of Excellence from the American Society of Association Executives.

Several collaborating partners, including AstraZeneca, Bayer, the Dreyfus Foundation, Dupont, GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough and Xerox, have contributed $100,000 or more to the Scholars Program. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation and the Procter & Gamble Company are sustaining partners that have contributed more than $200,000 to support student scholarships. PPG Industries Foundation, Inc. - a founding partner of the program - has contributed more than $500,000. Many companies also offer mentoring and paid internships to selected program participants as part of a student's academic and career development plan.

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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization, chartered by the U.S. Congress, with a multidisciplinary membership of more than 159,000 chemists and chemical engineers. It publishes numerous scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.