Current Students, Alumnae/i

Student Accomplishments
Alumnae and Alumni

Student Accomplishments

Join us in congratulating our students for their recent accomplishments!

Awards and Distinctions for RSC Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors

This is a partial list of the annual endowed scholarships for which students in the department are nominated:

  • The Van Dervoort Award: a science award which recognizes outstanding overall performance in chemistry or biochemistry by a senior.
  • The Chemistry Majors of the Class of 1965 Award: in memory of professor Grace I. Van Dervoort for outstanding performance in chemistry by a non-chemistry major.
  • The Grace I. Van Dervoort Scholarship: to the chemistry or biochemistry major with an impressive record of academic achievement.

Additional monetary awards and recognitions (ACS) are given for performance in chemistry courses.

Conclusion of the 2008-09 Academic Year:

  1. Van Dervoort Award for outstanding overall performance by a senior

    • Jessica Kufs (Salutatorian, Class of 2009)

  2. Stedman Award for contributions to the chemistry program

    • Danielle Basore

  3. Class of 1965 Award for excellence in chemistry by a non-chemistry major

    • Amanda Levesque

  4. Program Honors in Chemistry

    • Jessica Kufs

Conclusion of the 2007-08 Academic Year:

  1. Van Dervoort Award for outstanding overall performance by a senior

    • Kayleen Moore

  2. Van Dervoort Scholarship for academic achievement in chemistry

    • Jessica Kufs

  3. Stedman Award for contributions to the chemistry program

    • Lauren Cassidy

  4. Class of 1965 Award for excellence in chemistry by a non-chemistry major

    • Jenny Johnson

  5. Project Honors in Chemistry

    • Kayleen Moore

  6. Project Honors in Biochemistry

    • Lauren Cassidy

Conclusion of the 2006-07 Academic Year:

  1. Van Dervoort Award for outstanding overall performance by a senior

    • Nicole Surace

  2. Van Dervoort Scholarship for academic achievement in chemistry

    • Jessica Kufs

  3. Stedman Award for contributions to the chemistry program

    • Jenny Johnson

  4. Class of 1965 Award for excellence in chemistry by a non-chemistry major

    • Christina Cervone

Click here for biographies of some of our recent chemistry and biochemistry graduates, with information on their career paths.

Awards and Distinctions for RSC Forensic Science Majors

Forensic Science majors can be nominated by the Program Coordinator for these and other national awards:

  • Student membership in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
  • The George W. Neighbor Jr. Memorial Scholarship Award of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists.
  • The Association of Firearms and Toolmark Examiners scholarship.

Program Honors are awarded for students graduating with a major GPA of at least 3.5.

Recent awards and nominations:

Program Honors 2009

  • Jessica Kufs
  • Jade Pierce

Student nominated in 2008 for AFTE scholarship:

  • Jennifer Lippens

Student nominated in 2008 for NEAFS scholarship:

  • Jade Pierce

Program Honors 2007

  • Michelle Hunsinger

Student nominated in 2007 for AFTE scholarship:

  • Jessica Kufs

Student nominated in 2007 for NEAFS scholarship:

  • Sara Smith

Student awarded AAFS membership in 2006:

  • Nicole Surace

last updated: May 22, 2009

Alumnae & Alumni

Nancy Sothern Mueller, RSC Chemistry '65

Alumni_Home

On a tour of the Troy campus Science Hall in November 2001.
Right to left: Nancy Sothern Mueller, Tiffany Magnino, Amy Steuerwald, Dr. Frank Vozzo,
Katie DeGoosh, Kristen Mitchell, Dr. Tom Keane, Dr. Jack Harris.

Nancy Sothern Mueller is a third generation Russell Sage College alumna. In October 2001, Nancy made a $2 Million pledge to the school, designated to Project Jumpstart and for a permanent endowment for science equipment. On June 2, 2006, the Troy campus Science Hall was renamed in her honor. Thank you, Nancy!

A born entrepreneur, Nancy Sothern Mueller founded Nancy's Specialty Foods in 1977, a manufacturer and distributer of a variety of frozen foods. In 1999, she sold the company to pursue interests she didn't have time for during the 22 years she built the Company. Nancy's was an inspiration that came from making and freezing thousands of appetizers by hand and giving parties. The business grew from a machine assisted production technique to a large manufacturing plant that could produce 1 million Nancy's Petite Quiche per day! As the business grew, additional products were added to the line such as Mushroom Turnovers, Crab Cakes, Party Spirals and individual portion, microwavable Quiche in several varieties. Distribution extends throughout all of the U.S. and Canada in Club Store and Retail distribution channels. She credits her background as a Chemist with Syntex Corporation and her Chemistry degree at RSC as the foundation upon which she learned to use her analytical skills to drive problem solving. Her innate sense for the marketplace, her ability to recognize a unique opportunity and a lot of hard work drove her success.

Mueller serves on the Board of Trustees of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, San Francisco Opera and Palo Alto Medical Foundation. She was named Entrepreneur of the Year (RPI, 1999), Enterprising Woman of the Year (Silicon Valley Chapter, National Association of Women Business Owners [NAWBO], 1999), Laureate for Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame (Santa Clara County, 1999), Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (Trailblazer Award, NAWBO, 1997), and received the Woman of Vision Award (Career Action Center, 1996).

Click here for biographies of some of our recent chemistry and biochemistry graduates, with information on their career paths.

Click here to link to the home page of the RSC Alumnae newsletter.

Click here to link to the home page of the SCA (formerly JCA and SEC) Alumni newsletter.