Linfield College junior Haley Smith of Eugene has been selected by the Portland section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) to receive a $3,000 scholarship for her academic record and collaborative research conducted at Linfield.
Smith will also receive an additional $1,000 travel stipend to present at an ACS national meeting.
“Haley is a highly motivated individual who shows enthusiasm for the tasks that she takes on,” said Elizabeth Atkinson, professor of chemistry and chair of the department. “She demonstrates understanding and creativity in her courses, which are important qualities that show promise for a successful future in chemistry research as a Ph.D. student and beyond.”
Along with her studies, Smith also competes for the Linfield swim team and served as team captain this year.
“It means a lot to be recognized for the hard work and dedication I put into my classes, research and other campus involvements,” said Smith, a chemistry major and mathematics minor. “As a student wanting to continue my chemistry education after Linfield, this award assists me in pursuing these goals.”
After Linfield, Smith plans to attend graduate school to further her studies in organic chemistry. She said the Linfield chemistry department, including collaborative research on the synthesis of small molecules with Andrew Baggett, assistant professor at Linfield, has been instrumental in preparing her for graduate studies.
“It has been a wonderful opportunity go from learning in the class setting to applying that knowledge in a research environment,” Smith said. “The department has outstanding professors, mentors and research advisers. Their support, knowledge and guidance are helping me achieve my goals and aspirations in the field.”
The ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and one of the world’s leading sources of authoritative scientific information. A nonprofit organization chartered by Congress, ACS is at the forefront of the evolving worldwide chemical enterprise and the premier professional home for chemists, chemical engineers and related professions around the globe.
