News from 2008-2009 School Year News from 2007-2008 School Year August 2, 2008 – Summer commencement graduates in Chemistry were Brandi Ajpacaja, Chase Burns & Sonya Chadna received their Bachelor of Science degrees. Jermaine Cooley received his Master of Combined Sciences degree. May 10, 2008 – Spring commencement graduates in Chemistry were Hugh Brown, Morgan Culpepper, Chauncey Garrett, Heather Holder, Kenada Jackson, Ashley Montgomery, Amy Snyder & Amika Sood received their Bachelor of Science degrees. We had two students, Bei Cao & Jiabei Lin, receive their Master of Combined Sciences degree. April 24, 2008 – SAACS’s Spring Awards picnic was held at Lion’s Club Park. April 22, 2008 – The annual CATALYSTS-supported Senior Dinner in honor of this year's graduating seniors was held at the University Club, in Jackson. April 5 – 9, 2008 – Drs. Bishop, Magers & Valente took a group of their research students to the National ACS Conference in New Orleans. April 3 & 4, 2008 – Dr. Magers headed up the 40^th Annual Southeastern Undergraduate Research Conference of the American Chemical Society on campus. March 25, 2008 - SAACS sponsored Medical Missions talk with Dr. Dale Touchstone. The title was “Medical Missions: Short Term Experiences.” February 18, 2008 – Dr. B. Ramu Ramachandran from Louisiana Tech University gave a seminar to upper classmen on “Two Explorations: Scaling Correlation Energy in DFT, and Computational Organolithim Chemistry.” December 14, 2007 - Winter commencement graduates in chemistry were Leslie Robinson receiving her Bachelor of Science degree and Donna Boyd Rose receiving her Master of Combined Sciences degree. November 27, 2007 – Four Chemistry majors were named Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. The students are Chauncey Garrett, III, Heather Holder, Harley McAlexander and Ashley Montgomery. October 20, 2007 - the Department hosts MC Homecoming activities.  Dr. Jasper McPhail is named the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. October 15, 2007 – Dr. Stephen Fox from the University of Louisiana – Monroe held a seminar in MCC402 for upper classmen. October 1, 2007 – The Germany Science Forum invited Dr. Lewis Metts to present “Beyond the Yew Tree” to upper classmen and “The Story of Taxol and Taxolog, Inc.” to everyone. September 17, 2007 – Dr. Victor Davidson from the University of Mississippi – Medical Center gave a talk on “Protein-derived Cofactors. Expanding the Scope of Post-translational Modification”. September 6, 2007 – Held the SAACS Annual Fall Picnic at Dr. & Mrs. Parks’ home. Had 163 students and faculty attend. Largest attendance ever. News from 2006-2007 School Year August 4, 2007 – Summer commencement graduates in Chemistry are Jennifer James, Frederick McFarland & Jaszmine Eugene. May 12, 2007 - Spring commencement graduates in Chemistry are Travis Ball, Eric Burden, Colin Campbell, Chris Collins, Jasmine Eugene, Brad Farley, Scott Gibson, Hitesh Goel, Chris Holley, John Horton, Will Jones, Liz Krason, Jessica Lavender, James Liskin, Brittany Miner, Christina Moeller, Brett Moore, Kimberly Nelson, Nick Phillips, Brandon Polander, Austin Smith, Lyssa Taylor, Jill Styron each graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree.  Joining them is Qianyi Cheng’ graduating with a Master of Science in Chemistry.  Good luck grads! April 26, 2007 - The annual CATALYSTS-supported Senior Dinner in honor of this year's graduating seniors was held at the University Club, in Jackson. April 24, 2007 – Graduate Research Forum at 6:00 p.m. in MCC 402. April 12, 2007 - SAACS annual Spring Cookout was held at the Lions' Club Park in Clinton. March 24 – Dr. Bishop took four undergraduate students and one Master student to the 232^nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Chicago. There were six published abstracts and four presentations given by Scott Gibson, Jennifer James, Chris Holley, Hitesh Goel, and Jiabei Lin. March 22^nd and 23^rd – The Fourth Annual Mississippi College-Tougaloo College Undergradute Research Symposium was held on the MC campus. There were 101 abstracts submitted from eight different universities. March 1, 2007 – SAACS sponsored Medical Missions talk with Dr. Dan Jones, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine. February 21, 2007 – Once again MC Chemistry students brought home two of the three awards at the 27^th Annual University of Memphis Undergraduate Chemistry Research Conference. James Liskin received the top award in the Organic and Biochemistry Division and Amika Sood tied for first in the Analytical Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Division. Seven MC Chemistry students gave oral presentations this year and did a great job! February 5, 2007 – SAACS sponsored a seminar on Stimuli Responsive Micelles and Vesiciles for Biomedical Applications: Diagnostics, Gene Delivery, and Targeted Drug Release by Charles L. McCormick and Brad Lokitz, School of Polymers and High Performance Materials – The University of Southern Mississippi in MCC 402. December 15, 2006 – There was only one commencement graduate in Chemistry, Angela Crawley. October 26, 2006 – SAACS sponsored Medical Missions seminar with Dr. Jasper McPhail, a retired cardiovascular surgeon and former missionary to India. This was the first lecture in the series. News from 2004-2005 May 7, 2004 – Spring commencement graduates in chemistry are Jamie Brown, Heather Cook, Bill Cruse, Clair Nettles, Francy Parkman, Steven Pearson, Drew Rainer, Chris Stevens, and Rachel Webb, each graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. Joining them is Ayana Jackson who is graduating with a Master of Combined Sciences. Graduating with a Master of Science in Chemistry is Michael Michel. April 21, 2005 – SAACS annual Spring Cookout with be held at the Lions’ Club Park in Clinton. April 15, 2005 – The annual CATALYSTS – supported Senior Dinner in honor of this year’s graduating seniors will be held at the University Club, in Jackson. April 14, 2005 - SAACS-sponsored "Movie Night". April 11, 2005 - the Department hosts Dr. Daniel Crawford of the Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, for a seminar titled "Ambidextrous Quantum Chemistry:  Ab Initio Calculations of Optical Rotation in Chiral Molecules". March 17-18, 2005 - Several undergraduate chemistry research students presented research talks and posters at the 2nd Annual Mississippi College - Tougaloo College Undergraduate Research Symposium held on campus. March 1, 2005 - the Department is notified of receipt of an award of $300,000 from the WM Keck Foundation as a result of a grant application.  See News Release. February 19, 2005 - Ten undergraduate chemistry research students presented research talks and posters at the 25th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium held at the University of Memphis.  Claire Nettles was the recipient of the best presentation award in General, Analytical, and Physical Chemistry.  This is the seventh-straight year that an MC Chemistry undergraduate researcher has won an award.  The students were accompanied by Drs. Bishop, Magers, and Valente. See News Release. January 13, 2005 - Chemistry majors Brad Farley, Liz Krason, Jessica Lavender & Jason Thompson begin semester-long study in London as part of the Mississippi College London Semester Program. December 17, 2004 - Winter commencement graduates in chemistry are Jo Ellen Boyte, Monica Ramsey and April Smallwood, each graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. November 10, 2004 - SAACS field trip to the Toxicology/Pharmacology labs at University Medical Center in Jackson November 4, 2004 - as part of National Chemistry Week, SAACS hosts a "Chip-n-dip" social in the SAACS study room. November 2, 2004 - SAACS field trip to the US Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg October 30, 2004 - the Department hosts MC Homecoming activities.  Dr. James Holland is named the 2004 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. October 14, 2004 - MC hosts the Mississippi Section of the American Chemical Society annual Awards Banquet September 2, 2004 - SAACS annual Fall Cookout held at Dr. Parks' home. August 19, 2004 - Dr. Anthony Dribben is promoted to Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry. News from 2003-2004 School Year July 31, 2004 - Summer commencement graduate in chemistry is Stephanie Gilley, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. May 8, 2004 - Spring commencement sees several graduating seniors from the Department moving into the ranks of alumni.  Graduating with a Bachelor of Science are:  Patricia Honea, Ben Jeanfreau, Jami Lewis, Jeanann Lovell, Randall Reed, Ashley Ringer & Arthur Wood.  Graduating with a Master of Combined Sciences are Michelle Dawley & Shelley Huskey.  Good luck grads! April 22, 2004 - The annual CATALYSTS-supported Senior Dinner in honor of this year's graduating seniors was held at the University Club, in Jackson. April 21, 2004 - SAACS annual Spring Cookout held at the Lions' Club Park in Clinton. April 15, 2004 - Several chemistry majors presented research talks at the First Annual Tougaloo College - Mississippi College Undergraduate Research Symposium held at Tougaloo College. March 27, 2004 - At a special ceremony held during the 227^th ACS National Meeting in Anaheim, CA, the MC chapter of SAACS was recognized as one of top chapters in the nation, by receiving an  "Honorable Mention Award". February 21, 2004 - Several chemistry majors presented research talks at the 24th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium held at the University of Memphis.  Jeanann Lovell was the recipient of the best presentation award in General, Analytical, and Physical Chemistry.  This is the sixth-straight year that an MC Chemistry undergraduate researcher has won an award. February 19, 2004 - Several chemistry majors presented research talks at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences held in Biloxi. December 19, 2003 - Winter commencement graduates in chemistry are Jalin Wood and Keith Frost, both graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree.  Dr. Edward Valente, Professor of Chemistry and the 2003 Distinguished Professor of the Year, gives the commencement address.   November 16, 2003 - Several chemistry majors presented research talks at the 55th Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) held in Atlanta. November 3, 2003 - the Department hosts Dr. Abby Parrill of the Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, for a seminar titled "Biochemistry of Adenosine Receptors". October 18, 2003 - the Department hosts MC Homecoming activities.  Dr. Samuel L. Maxwell, class of 1969, is named the 2003 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. October 11, 2003 - the SAACS group hosts an "MCAT/DAT Practice Session" organized by Kaplan Testing Center for all students in a Saturday-morning workshop. September 22, 2003 - the Department hosts Dr. Greg Chinchar of the Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, for a seminar titled "Virology of Catfish". September 9, 2003 - SAACS annual Fall Cookout held at Dr. Parks' home. August 20, 2003 - Dr. David Magers is named 2003 Distinguished Lecturer in the Arts and Sciences.  He will present a lecture on October 23, 2003 titled "Some Thoughts on Science by a Practicing Scientist".