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Student Activities
Students in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry are
engaged in a variety of activities, both professional and just for
fun, including.
- Office of Student Affairs activities, such as "Student
Appreciation Day".
- Department activities, such as the trip to a Phillies
game with the freshman.
- ACS Student Affiliate activities, including picnics,
the ACS Dinner, and trips to nearby attractions such as Six Flags.
- Professional activities, such as the Magic Show
sponsored by the Franklin Institute,
an internationally recognized science and engineering museum,
and the Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Just for Fun - Phillies Baseball Game
Student at USP have the opportunity to attend a wide
variety of sporting events in the Philadelphia Area, including professional
sporting events such as football (Eagles), hockey (Flyers), and
baseball (Phillies), as well as amateur sporting events such as
the Penn Relays (track and field) and the Dad Vail Regatta (sculls).
 In August of
2001, the Department organized a trip to the baseball game between
the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Veteran Stadium
for the entering freshman as part of their Orientation experience.
The two teams were in a hot race for the division title, and this
was to be the first game of a series that might decide that race.
Even the non-baseball fans were looking forward to the antics of
the Phillies Phanatic that evening.
However, between the time we acquired the tickets and the evening
of the game, the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York
City took place. Several baseball games were canceled as a result,
but as it turned out, this was the first game to be played subsequent
to the attack. This was a difficult time for everyone, but at a
meeting of the students it was decided that we should not let the
terrorist attack prevent us from attending. The game was emotional,
with special ceremonies on the field prior to the game, and many
American flags displayed throughout the stadium. It was a night
that I'm sure everyone will remember for a long time to come.
Although the description of this baseball game has been included
in the "Just for Fun" section, because it was an event designed
for that purpose, it should be clear that the evening took on a
much more important meaning to all those in attendance, and this
section of the Web Site is dedicated to the memory of the events
of September 11, 2001.
The first picture above shows a few of the freshman Orientation students in their seats
watching the game in Veteran's Stadium, and in the second, the students from the Class
of 2005 that were able to attend the game that night are standing on one of the stadium
ramps with Center City (downtown) Philadelphia in the background. [Note: Veteran's Stadium
was demolished in 2004 and replaced
with Citizen's Bank Park, a new, baseball-only stadium, in time for the 2004 baseball season.]
Magic Show
As part of the opening of the new (April, 2001) Magic Exhibit at
the Franklin Institute Science Museum, the Department was
asked to put on two "Magic Shows" for youngsters that
would stimulate their interest in science. Dr. Catherine Bentzley,
one of our analytical chemists, developed the show in conjunction
with several of our majors, including, Edward O'Brien, Rob Swoboda,
Matt Banghart, Brenda Salerno, Franco Verde, Phil Moravec, Katie
Heaton, Clair Darling and Phillipe Silva (Dr. Bentzley is in front,
3rd from the left). They mesmerized the crowd with chemistry demonstrations
such as "Elephant's Toothpaste", The "Light"
of Electrolytes, and "Quick, the Color Changed". The kids
and their parents were delighted, and our students had fun also,
as can be seen from the pictures below. More pictures are available
here.
The Franklin Institute is a pretty neat place, and no visit would
be complete without meeting Ben Franklin!
Links to additional pictures from the Magic Show are available below.
Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Symposium
Each Spring, Sigma Xi, a professional
scientific honor society, sponsors an Undergraduate Research Symposium
at the University at which students that have carried out undergraduate
research on campus can present their results. Each student, together
with their research mentor, puts together a poster which is then available
for review at a poster session open to all faculty and students. Awards
for the best posters are presented that evening at a Society dinner.
A few pictures from the poster session are shown here.
Just for Fun - Student Appreciation Day
The pictures below are from
the annual "Student Appreciation Day" at the University.
A variety of games are brought to campus, a local band provides
entertainment, and lunch is provided for all students. But the really
fun part is seeing the faculty dishing out the food and having the
chance to send a faculty member into the dunk tank! It's a great
break from the study grind and a lot of fun for all.
Two of the faculty, Mr. LaPrade
(now retired) and Dr. Bentzley who teaches the Principles of Chemistry
class for all our entering majors, volunteered for the dunk
tank and attracted a good deal attention. Quite a few students
took advantage of the opportunity to hit the target and put them
into the water tank.
Also available are full-sized
pre- and post-dunk pictures for Mr. LaPrade (LaPrade
Pre-Dunk, LaPrade
Post-Dunk), and Dr. Bentzley (Bentzley
Pre-Dunk, Bentzley
Post-Dunk).
Just for Fun - ACS Student Affiliate Dinner
Every April, near the end
of the academic year, the ACS Student Affiliate sponsors a dinner
for all majors, faculty and staff associated with the Department,
as well as friends and significant others. Pictures from the dinner
held at Cavanaugh's in University City, are shown below, or click
here for more
snapshots.
Just for Fun - Students at Work
Students even find some time
to work! The students below (Michael Ivers and George Crossley) were
caught studying for their Inorganic Chemistry exam (CH 431) in the
Department Conference Room.
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