Two Linfield University chemistry students earned competitive scholarships last week from the Portland Local Section of the American Chemical Society, while the student club, the Linfield Society of Undergraduate Chemists (LSUC), earned national recognition.
Kenni Proctor ’26, a chemistry major from Tacoma, Washington, received the Anderson, Van Santen, Zeh Scholarship. The award includes $3,000 and an additional $1,000 to support travel to a national ACS conference in spring 2026. Proctor is the first Linfield student to receive the AVZ Scholarship since 2019.
Allan Fernandez ’27, a chemistry major from McMinnville, received the Dunne-Currie Scholarship, which includes a $3,500 cash award. He is the first Linfield student to earn this award since its inception in 2020.
Both scholarships are open to students at colleges and universities in the Portland and Salem areas.
“These honors show how Linfield students are rising to the top in chemistry, not just in Oregon but across the country,” said Andrew Baggett, associate professor of chemistry.
In addition to the scholarships, the LSUC — an official student chapter of the ACS — received the society’s highest recognition. LSUC earned the “Outstanding Chapter” award for the 2023-24 academic year. The “Outstanding” honor of the Student Communities Award honors ACS student organizations for their campus programs and activities. Honors are based on a peer review by faculty members nationwide. During the 2023-24 academic year, the club’s leadership included president Dan Khazaei ’24 and vice president Abraham Solomon ’24. Khazaei previously made headlines as Linfield’s youngest-ever known graduate.
Fernandez, representing the club, formally accepted the recognition at the March 2025 ACS national meeting in San Diego. Six Linfield students attended the national meeting to present their research to an international audience.
Linfield University’s Department of Chemistry is accredited by ACS. It offers a major and minor in chemistry, and provides coursework and research opportunities for chemistry students and for students enrolled in the interdisciplinary biochemistry and molecular biology major.
