Chemistry Scholarships Offered For Minorities

 WASHINGTON  — The American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program is now accepting applications from African-American, Hispanic/Latino and Native American students who are pursuing, or intend to pursue, bachelor’s degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology or related majors.

Renewable awards from $1,000 to $5,000 per year are given to qualified high school seniors, community college students and college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. The awards are based upon academic standing and financial need.

A degree in chemistry prepares students for employment in such varied fields as: medical research and drug design, environmental studies, forensics, food, the search for alternate energy sources, safeguarding national security, and engineering new materials. Starting salaries in 2009 for newly graduated B.S. chemists averaged $38,250.

ACS established the Scholars program in 1995 to attract underrepresented minorities to the chemical sciences and to build awareness of the value and rewards associated with careers in chemistry. In addition to financial support, the program provides mentoring and research and networking opportunities that help students acquire the skills and credentials needed for a successful career. Since its inception, the ACS Scholars Program has awarded more than $12 million to nearly 2,400 students. For academic year 2010-2011, ACS expects to award approximately $1 million to both new and continuing Scholars.

The ACS Scholars Program is generously supported by:

Benefactor $1,000,000+
PPG Industries Foundation, Inc.

Visionary Partners $500,000+
GlaxoSmithKline
Procter & Gamble

Sustaining Partners $250,000+
3M Corporation
ACS Petroleum Research Fund
Dow Corning Foundation
DuPont
Schering-Plough Research Institute
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
Xerox Foundation

Partners $100,000+
AstraZeneca
Bayer Foundation
Dow Chemical Company Foundation
Société de Chimie Industrielle – American Section

The program is also supported through the generosity of many individual donors, ACS local sections and ACS members, including more than 60 former ACS Scholars.