Opening eyes: ‘Berg’s Chemistry Club raises awareness, and people notice

Heidelberg’s Chemistry Club is on quite a roll. For the ninth time, the club has earned the Outstanding Award from the American Chemical Society – the highest award a student chapter can win.

They’ll accept the award when they travel to the national ACS meeting in San Diego in March. For now, Chem Club’s leadership and members can be proud of their efforts to raise awareness that chemistry is more than test tubes and lab experiments. Way more!

During finals week, Chem Club President Mikayla Sage and Vice President Sarah Grosse, both biochemistry majors, took some time to reflect on the club’s accomplishments and the impact their participation is having on their own educational journeys.

The club set out to open eyes around campus, whether just social get-to-know-you activities or popular and creative campus events like “Make a Mole” or making slime or stress balls.

“The goal of Chem Club is to be open to others besides chem majors,” Mikayla says. “We’re hoping to change people’s perspectives. It’s fun to apply chemistry rather than just learn it in the classroom.”

Focusing on just the academic element, while important, can be limiting, so the club thinks outside the box. Sarah explains: “We have hosted Periodic Table bingo with the different elements instead of bingo numbers. During Homecoming, we brought back our Periodic Table of cupcakes – 120 color-coded sweet treats shaped into the Periodic Table. Our alumni love it.”

The club doesn’t lack creativity, that’s for sure. They even hosted a white elephant sock exchange during the holiday and behind the scenes, they collected Toys for Tots to donate to the local Salvation Army.

There’s also an important outreach component to the club’s efforts that impacts future Student Princes. At events such as the National Center for Water Quality Research Fair and Admission Scholars Day events, you’ll find club members present, setting up group activities, talking to prospective students and just generally being involved in positively promoting Heidelberg.

Beyond events: Member opportunities

“The club really does a lot for us,” Mikayla says, citing the various trips and other external activities that give members “really great opportunities.”

The travel opportunities mean everything to the Chem Club members. “That’s the aspect I’m most grateful for,” says Mikayla. “A lot of good comes from our trips. We get to see new things, talk with alums and professionals in the field and explore new places. They’ve given me so much great insight for the future.”

Chem Club travel and conference experiences are often supported by the Joseph ’65 and Brenda Stearns Chemistry Conference Endowment. At the ACS meeting, for example, the ’Berg students have the opportunity to connect with other scientists from different backgrounds and share their fascination for science. Often, they present their research on a national stage, alongside grad students and industry professionals. While that might sound intimidating, it’s actually a huge confidence builder, the students have said.

It’s a source of pride, too, to represent Heidelberg on a national level, Mikayla says, adding that club members bring back to campus a lot of great ideas they can implement.

“Even though we’re a small institution, we are well known among the other (ACS) student chapters. We do have an impact.”

There are individual opportunities too. Last summer, Dr. Beres nominated Sarah for the Student Leadership Insititute, which she attended in Atlanta. It was a great opportunity to present and network – both important skills she brought back to campus and will take with her in her next chapter.

Super support

Having a trio of super caring and attentive faculty members who are actively engaged in supporting their efforts – in and outside of the classroom and beyond their time at the Berg – is extremely helpful. Sarah noted the awesome mentorship of chemistry professors Dr. Nate Beres, long-time Chem Club advisor, and Drs. Bryan Smith and Brandon Van Ness for “always looking out for us and passing along great ideas.”

“They really care about us,” she says.

What’s ahead for the Chem Club?

While Mikayla will graduate in May, Sarah, a junior, plans to keep the momentum of the Chem Club’s legacy alive and growing. “I’m hoping to get as many people involved, both science majors and non-majors. Through their experience, I hope they will understand the benefits of chemistry,” she says.