CHEMISTRY STUDENT AWARDS (updated by Brad Wallar 4/30/2026)

Each year during the winter semester, the faculty members of the Chemistry Department choose outstanding students to receive the awards described below.

GVSU Chemistry Department academic 

1. General Chemistry Award – The general chemistry awards will recognize students who show excellence in general chemistry. Instructors that taught CHM 125 in the immediately previous Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters will be asked to provide the names of three students that have excelled in the course. Instructors teaching CHM 127 in the current Winter semester, the previous Fall, or previous summer will also be asked to submit three names. Awardees will be selected from the compiled list based on names that appear twice.
2. Organic Chemistry Award – This award recognizes the top students from the CHM 235/237 sequence. Instructors teaching CHM 237 in the current semester, the previous fall, or the previous summer will be allowed to submit one name for each section based on the student’s performance in CHM 235 and CHM 237. An award will be given to every student who was chosen by a CHM 237 instructor.
3. Organic Chemistry Major’s Award – This award recognizes a student that excels in the majors organic chemistry sequence (CHM 245/246/247/248). The student must be a declared chemistry or biochemistry major and have completed the CHM 245-248 sequence by the end of the academic year. The student is selected by the instructors for these courses.
4. Green Chemistry Award – This award is given to a declared chemistry major who has excelled in the green chemistry courses, CHM 421/427/442. Relevant performance in CHM 448 may also be considered. The student must have completed one of these courses (CHM 421/427/442) in the current academic year. The faculty teaching these courses will select the awardee based on the above criteria.
5. Senior Chemical Education Award – This award is given to an Integrated Science - Secondary Education student who has a concentration, emphasis, or additional coursework in chemistry or who has worked in the chemistry department or completed research with a Chemical Education faculty member. This student is typically a graduating senior or other student who has successfully completed SCI 440 and who has demonstrated professionalism as a preservice teacher. Demonstration of professionalism may include activities such as tutoring on or off campus; attendance or presentations at professional conferences; participation in professional organizations, chemical education research, assistance with outreach events, volunteering in schools, or other such activities. The Chemical Education faculty will select the awardee from the best students meeting the above criteria.

Externally-sponsored awards (ACS, AIC, RSC)

1. ACS Analytical Chemistry Division Undergraduate Award – This award is given to a declared chemistry or biochemistry major who is outstanding in CHM 221 and CHM 325. The student must have completed CHM 325 in the current academic year. The analytical Chemistry faculty will select the awardee from the best students meeting the above criteria based upon chemistry GPA. This is a sponsored award—please submit name to ACS for official recognition before award banquet. [ACS deadline typically early July]
2. ACS Division of Biological Chemistry Undergraduate Award in Biochemistry – This award is given to a graduating chemistry or biochemistry major who has excelled in the CHM 461/462/463 sequence. Biochemistry faculty will select the awardee based primarily on the above criteria, but other criteria (e.g. research and service contributions) may also be considered. [ACS deadline typically mid-March]
3. ACS Inorganic Division Undergraduate Award – This award is given to a graduating chemistry or biochemistry major that has excelled in the inorganic chemistry courses CHM 273/448/478. The student must have completed (or be completing) CHM 273 and CHM 478. Preference may be given to students that have completed CHM 448. The Inorganic Chemistry faculty will select the awardee based on the above criteria. This is a sponsored award—please submit name to ACS for official recognition before award banquet. [ACS deadline typically late June]
4. ACS Organic Division Undergraduate Award – This award is given to a graduating chemistry or biochemistry major that has excelled in a combination of organic chemistry courses (including CHM 448) and research and has a desire to pursue a career in chemistry. The Organic faculty will select the awardee based of the above criteria. This is a sponsored award—please submit name to ACS for official recognition before award banquet. [ACS deadline typically mid-March]
5. ACS Physical Chemistry Division Undergraduate Award – This award is given to a declared chemistry or biochemistry major that has excelled in the upper level physical chemistry sequence (CHM 356/358/352). The student must have completed CHM 358 during the current academic year. The Physical Chemistry faculty will select the awardee based on the above criteria. This is a sponsored award—please submit name to ACS for official recognition before award banquet. [ACS deadline typically mid-June]
6. American Institute of Chemists (AIC) Award – This award is given to a senior chemistry major and a senior biochemistry major who meet all or most of the criteria for the Excellence in a Discipline Award. The Chemistry faculty will select two awardees from the eligible students (one for chemistry and one for biochemistry). Eligible students will include all those eligible for the Outstanding Senior Award and any others that the faculty deem eligible. [Deadline typically late April]
7. Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Certificate of Undergraduate Excellence – This award is given to up to two graduating chemistry or biochemistry majors who meet all or most of the criteria for the Excellence in a Discipline Award. Both will receive digital copies of their certificates as well as invitations to participate in a publishing training session hosted by an RSC Executive Editor and to join an exclusive LinkedIn community group for awardees across the continent. Each awardee will receive either an RSC Affiliate membership or an RSC Book prize. Nominations recognize undergraduate students who have shown exceptional achievement in the chemical sciences. The department determines the criteria for selecting the recipients, and the award may be used to complement other internal awards. Nominated students are encouraged to: 1) be in the top 5-10% of their class in subject-specific and overall coursework, 2) participate and excel in undergraduate research projects, and 3) have taken on leadership roles in their department and community. [Deadline typically late April-July]

GVSU Chemistry Department service and research awards

1. Outstanding Service Award – This award will be given to a declared chemistry or biochemistry major that has made significant contributions in service to the department. Nominations for the award can be submitted by any faculty/staff in the department (e.g. stockroom supervisor, the Chemistry Club advisor(s), etc.). The award winner(s) will then be selected by the Directors of the stockroom and Chemistry Success Center, and the Student Affairs Committee.
2. Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award – In order to be eligible, the graduating chemistry or biochemistry major must have shown outstanding skills, motivation, and progress in undergraduate research. This award is reserved for students that display exceptional abilities to a) thoroughly understand their research project, b) think critically and creatively in the research processes, c) work independently, and d) make significant progress in their research. In addition to participating in multiple CHM 499 and/or summer research opportunities, this student should also demonstrate the ability to disseminate their work to the scientific community either at regional/national conferences or through publications. Nominations for the award can be submitted by the students’ research advisors and/or self-nominations by the student in the form of a written research activity summary and research rubric provided by the Student Affairs Committee. The award winner(s) will then be selected by the Student Affairs Committee.

University awards

Excellence-in-a-Discipline awards – To be eligible, a senior, presenting in CHM 491 this academic year, must be a declared chemistry or biochemistry major and have an overall GPA of 3.5 or greater. The Chemistry faculty will select an awardee from the eligible students for both the Excellence in Chemistry and the Excellence in Biochemistry awards. The students should be selected based upon the following criteria: [Deadline typically beginning of February]

• Research participation.
• Service to the department, including tutoring, grading, and stockroom assistance.
• Extracurricular activities, especially chemistry related activities (such as Chemistry Club, Science Olympiad, etc.)
• General attitude, enthusiasm, interest, and cooperation. 

Glenn A. Niemeyer Student Award - Students selected for the Niemeyer Award are well-rounded individuals with demonstrated excellence in both the classroom and extracurricular activities. Nominees should excel in the classroom and demonstrate a joy of learning as part of a community of scholars. Along with intellectual achievements, nominees participate in activities outside the classroom that serve to enrich their lives and the lives of others. Niemeyer Student Awards are presented at the Student Awards Convocation. Recipients receive an academic gift and an individual award. Undergraduate students should have a 3.70 or higher cumulative GPA and earned a minimum of 90 credit hours. The Chemistry Department can nominate one student per year. A letter of support must be submitted along with the nomination. The Student Affairs Committee will solicit nominations from faculty, decide who the nominee will be, and oversee the submission of the nomination materials. The nominating faculty member will write the letter of support. [Deadline is typically end of January, send message out to faculty in early December]

Thomas M. Seykora Award for Outstanding Contribution - The Seykora Award recognizes seniors who, through their involvement, have made significant contributions to the GVSUcampus Community.

Criteria for candidates:

1. Must be a senior enrolled Fall and/or Winter Semester;
2. Must be in good academic standing; and
3. Must demonstrate a significant contribution to the University through their involvement.

Nomination materials are available on the Dean of Students Office website under the Awards and Ceremonies tab (gvsu.edu/dos). A letter of support must be submitted along with the nomination. More than one student can be nominated from the department. The Student Affairs Committee will make faculty aware of this award, but will not coordinate nominations for it.

[Nominations are due by the end of January, send message out to faculty in early December]

Kenneth R. Venderbush Leadership Award - The Venderbush Award recognizes one senior who has demonstrated an exceptional blend of academic achievement and leadership efficacy while making significant contributions to the campus community.

Criteria for candidates:

1. Must be a senior enrolled Fall and/or Winter semester;
2. Must demonstrate a significant contribution to the campus community through their involvement; and
3. Must excel academically and show that they have been able to balance course work with extracurricular involvement. 

Nomination materials are available on the Dean of Students Office website under the Awards and Ceremonies tab (gvsu.edu/dos). A letter of support must be submitted along with the nomination. More than one student can be nominated from the department. The Student Affairs Committee will make faculty aware of this award, but will not coordinate nominations for it. [Nominations are due by the end of January, send message out to faculty in early December] 

Gayle R. Davis First Generation College Student Emerging Leader Award - The Davis award recognizes a sophomore or junior who is the first in their family to attend college and shows a promising future as a leader.

Criteria for candidates:

a.      is a first generation college student
b.     is making a positive impact in the Grand Valley or external community 3. is exhibiting collaborative leadership qualities 4. is excelling academically:

• has a GPA of 3.3 or higher
• has earned between 25 and 84 credit hours at the time of nomination

Nomination materials are available on the Dean of Students Office website under the Awards and Ceremonies tab (gvsu.edu/dos). A letter of support must be submitted along with the nomination. The Student Affairs Committee will make faculty aware of this award, but will not coordinate nominations for it. [Nominations are due by the end of January, send message out to faculty in early December]