ACS Puget Sound Section

Website of the American Chemical Society Puget Sound Section

Education Committee of the ACS Puget Sound Section

The ACS Puget Sound Education Committee supports activities and resources for chemical education (K-12 and higher education) in our section. 

This includes the following:

Please share this information with students.

College Scholarships

$2000 Scholarships from the American Chemical Society:
SEE BELOW FOR UPDATED DEADLINES

Students must be enrolled in an institution within the ACS Puget Sound Section (please see this link for a list).

Two-year college students:

Four-year college students:

The John W. Macklin Scholarship application is slightly different than the Wasserman and Rutherford scholarship applications. Students applying for the Wasserman/Rutherford scholarships may also apply for the John W. Macklin scholarship by simply including a separate addressing the additional questions. All other supporting materials (letter of recommendation, transcripts) are the same for all scholarships.

FAQs for Scholarships:

Q. Can all Washington schools take advantage of these scholarships and awards?

A. No, since the funds for the scholarship come from the ACS Puget Sound region. See list of institutions 

Q. We don’t offer organic chemistry at our institution – can our students apply for the scholarships?

A. This has been a recurring discussion, and we realize more and more schools are being forced to cut their organic program. The committee has agreed by majority to require at least concurrent enrollment in organic chem to demonstrate the student’s commitment to taking more than one year of college chem. 

Q. My 2- year college students want to apply but they are transferring to a 4-year next year so do they apply for the 2-year or the 4-year scholarship?

A. Students currently at a 2-year institution apply for the 2-year scholarship to use funds at a 4-year college. It is to encourage and support students to pursue chemistry when they transfer. The funds are not intended to be used for a 2-year student to continue taking courses at a 2-year institution but rather for transfer to a 4-year institution.

For any questions, please contact:

Jennie Mayer
ACS Puget Sound Section
Education Committee Chair
jmayer@bellevuecollege.edu

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ACS Student Affiliate Chapter Grants

ACS Affiliate Chapter Grants (student led chem clubs) of up to $500 for activities and travel. Please pass along to your student groups and encourage them to apply. There is no set deadline! Link to application

Please have your club advisors ensure only one application is submitted per school per year.

FAQs about the Affiliate Chapter Grants:

Who qualifies?
Student clubs related to chemistry activities (e.g., university chem clubs) can apply for the grants. The chapter must be in the ACS Puget Sound Section (see this link for a list)

How much money can Student Affiliate Chapters request?

Up to $500 per year. We want to ensure funds are distributed across the Puget Sound, so we usually do not award more than one proposal from a given college/university in the same year.

What is the deadline to apply for the money?

We accept applications throughout the year. We ask that funds are used in the same year they are received. If you are planning to use funds in the next year, please still apply, but let us know which year you intend to use the funds.

What is the application process? When do we find out if we got the funds?

Please complete the form and send an email to the Education Committee Chair. The chair will get approval from the committee. It should take about 1-2 weeks to hear back. Please email the Chair if you do not hear back within that time.

How do we get the funds?

You will work with the Education Committee Chair and the Treasurer of the ACS Puget Sound Section on getting the funds transferred to your institution.

We appreciate all of you who have been supporting this work by sharing the info with your students. Please continue to do so, and additionally encourage others you know to take advantage of these opportunities as well! 

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High School Teacher Award

The High School Teacher Award is intended to recognize the work of a high school teacher within the local section who goes above and beyond their daily work to introduce and teach chemistry to students. The local section grants one annual award to a deserving teacher who may demonstrate one or more of the following:

  • Excellent teaching skills
  • Ability to inspire and challenge students (e.g. Olympiad, AP/IB/honors program, career advising, mentor projects)
  • Extracurricular work in chemistry, including science fairs, science clubs, and activities that stimulate the interest of young people in chemistry and related field.
  • Willingness to keep up to date in the field.
  • Evidence of leadership and/or active involvement within the profession 

What is the award amount? 

One $250 honorarium plus $750 in science supplies is awarded per year, along with a certificate and regional recognition. 

Who qualifies to be nominated for this award?

  • The school and teacher must be within the section’s geographic area 
  • The nominee must be actively engaged in the teaching of chemistry in a high school (grades 9-12).
  • Retired teachers are not eligible.

Who can make the nomination?

Any individual (except a member of the Education Committee or currently enrolled student and / or parent of a currently enrolled student) can make a nomination. This includes colleagues, former students and parents of former students, principals, or other administrators as well as any member of the Puget Sound Local Section of ACS. 

What is included in the nomination?

The person submitting a nomination, must provide the following information in this form:

  • Person submitting nomination: Name, E-mail address, phone number
  • Nominee’s information: Name, E-mail address, phone number, school)
  • A nomination letter clearly articulating how the candidate demonstrates the qualities of an excellent teacher

How is the nomination submitted?

Submit the form to the Education Committee Chair.
Jennie Mayer
ACS Puget Sound Section
Education Committee Chair
jmayer@bellevuecollege.edu

How is the teacher selected?

The ACS –Puget Sound Section Education Committee will review the nomination materials and announce its decision within one month of the nomination deadline (by June 30 or Nov 30). Winners will be invited to receive their award at the annual Puget Sound Section Awards Event and will be considered the following summer for an additional competitive award presented at the Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM).

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K-12 Educator Grants

IThe Education Committee awards up to $1000 per year (up to two $500 grants) to K-12 teachers for supplies and equipment that support education.

The following activities are considered eligible for grants:

  •  Supplies and equipment for high school students doing chemistry/science demonstrations at K-12 schools.
  •  Expenditures for selected chemistry/science journals and books, including safety and waste disposal texts.
  •  Supplies and equipment for K-12 teachers developing new experiments for the chemistry/science curriculum.
  •  Expenditures for K-12 teachers to attend chemistry/science courses, symposia or institutes. Preference will be given to teachers who are extending their range of competence.

Eligibility Criteria/ Restrictions / Other Requirements

The following criteria and/or restrictions apply to the K-12 grant applications:

  •  The school and teacher must be within the section’s geographic area
  •  Any school and/or individual teacher is only eligible once every two years for a grant

Deadline: Applications are accepted year-round. 

To apply:

Use this form to complete your grant application. 

Selection Process:

The ACS Puget Sound Section Education Committee will review proposals within 30 days of the application being received. Grants will be mailed within six weeks of the application being approved.

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US National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO)

Each year, the Puget Sound Section participates in the US National Chemistry Olympiad. 

We sponsor the local (preliminary) exam in March and the national exam in April (according to the timeline provided by the USNCO each year). In 2026 we will hold the local exam at Bellevue College on Saturday, March 7, 2026 (9-11 a.m.) and the national exam for finalists (by invitation) at Bellevue College on Friday April 17, 2026.

Please contact the USNCO Puget Sound coordinator(s) for more information on how to participate:
Clarita Bhat (kalrika.csaky@gmail.com)

Jennie Mayer (jmayer@bellevuecollege.edu)

If you are interested in participating in 2026, please complete this form: https://tinyurl.com/usnco2026.  For more information about the USNCO, please visit the ACS USNCO website.

Update: Congratulations to the 2025 finalists and honorees!

Owen Cao, Skyline High School
Xiyuan (Carol) Gong, Interlake High School
Marie Kouzmine, The Bear Creek School
Daniel Lu, Interlake High School
Yucong Ma, Newport High School
Vishnu Mangipudi*, Lakeside Upper School
Landon Phan, Kentridge High School
Drik Sarkar, Redmond High School
William Wang*, Lakeside School
Benjamin Weise, The Bush School
Youran Wu, BASIS Independent Bellevue
Phil Yao, Newport High School
Hanzhi (Henry) Zhu, The Overlake School

*Special recognition to Vishnu Mangipudi and William Wang for being selected to attend the study camp in Washington DC (only twenty spots in the US). Based on the study camp, William Wang was selected to serve on the International USNCO team, representing the USA!

And for the prior year, congratulations to the 2024 finalists and honorees!

Owen Fei (High Honors), Interlake High School
Brent Hu, Charles Wright Academy
Anurag Kapila (Honors), Redmond High School
Vishnu Mangipudi (Honors), The Lakeside Upper School
Shiv Mehrotra, Interlake High School
David van Wingerden, Mount Si High School
Tianyi ang (Honors), International School
William Wang (Honors), The Lakeside Upper School
Benjamin Weise, The Bush School
Kaden Wu, Kamiak High School
Andrew Zhu, Newport High School

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Current Education Committee Members (2025-2026):

  • Leonard Andrews
  • Sailaja Arungundram
  • Amy Balazs (Co-chair)
  • Clarita Bhat
  • Gwen Gross
  • Cody Jennings
  • Jennie Kong Mayer (Co-chair)
  • David Munch
  • Tim Sorey
  • Despina Strong
  • Lauren Wugalter
  • Amar Yahiaoui

Contact info:  Jennie Mayer (jmayer@bellevuecollege.edu) and Amy Balazs (amy.balazs@gmail.com)