In 2003 I was asked to assume the chairmanship of this committee which had previously been chaired by Paula Andrelchick.  Activities of the committee appeared to have ceased after Ms. Andrelchick left the area.  For 2003 other members of the committee were Ronald D’Amelia, Neil Jespersen, Joseph Landesberg and Joan Laredo-Liddell.  Membership from 2004-2009 was identical to that in 2003.  As was the case in 2003-8 the committee did not actually meet during 2009.   When I assumed the chair of the committee in 2003 we performed one function ? the preparation of award certificates for high school students in Manhattan and the Bronx.  The reason that the section committee prepares certificates only for Manhattan and the Bronx is that award certificates for other geographical regions of the section are prepared by the respective subsections.  From 2004-2008 and again in 2009 we also prepared certificates for high school students who participated in Chemagination.  This year there were 84 such students from 9 high schools.

We have received virtually no guidance regarding our responsibilities and it would be useful for the Board of the New York Section to have some discussion as to whether there are other activities which the Awards Committee can and should do.

Prior to 2004 the mailing soliciting nominations was sent by the Section Office.  However, in 2004 and 2005 I handled the mailing.   In 2006 and 2007 the mailing materials were printed and stuffed by me at Adelphi, but the actual mailing was done by Neil Jespersen.  In 2008 and again this year, the mailing was done entirely at the Section Office.  In late April we sent letters to approximately 200 high school teachers in Manhattan and the Bronx asking them to nominate students to receive a certificate.  This letter was essentially the same letter which was drafted in 2003.  Included with the letter was the nomination form.  The cost of this mailing is not included in the expenses listed in this report.

The template for the certificates was essentially the same as that first used in 2004.  A sample copy of the certificate (without the gummed ACS logo) is included at the end of this report.

In response to the mailing to schools a total of 29 certificates were sent to 19 different high schools.  Of these, 14 had requested certificates in 2008.  In 2008 19 schools requested at total of 25 certificates; in 2007 25 schools requested at total of 33 certificates; in 2006 22 schools requested a total of 33 certificates; in 2005 27 schools requested a total of 40 certificates; in 2004 19 schools requested certificates.  A listing of the schools, students honored, and teachers requesting certificates is on pages 5.  Listed on page 6 are the 5 schools which had requested certificates in 2008 but did not request them in 2009.  Similar year to year lists for previous years are included on page 6-7.

As previously indicated, I also prepared certificates for the 84 (77 in 2008; 81 in 2007; 96 in 2006, 46 in 2005) students from the (9 in 2008; 7 in 2007, 11 in 2006, 3 in 2005) high schools which participated in Chemagination.    These certificates were presented to the students by Vijaya Korlipara and Victor Cesare, coordinators of Chemagination for the New York Section.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1) While the recognition of outstanding students is something which the section should do, this task does not require a committee; a single person can easily do the work which is currently the responsibility of this committee.  I have done so in 2003-2008.  The Board of the New York Section should clearly define a larger role for the awards committee or consider abolishing it.

2) The Section might consider whether it is possible or desirable to have a uniform way of recognizing outstanding high school students.  At this time there is a considerable disparity in how this is done.  For example the Long Island Section Subsection has an awards dinner at which the certificates, in the form of plaques are presented to the students, whereas for Manhattan/Bronx schools the certificates are sent to the teachers who request them.  I am not aware of what procedures, if any, are currently used in the other subsections.