WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 — The American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program is now accepting applications from African-American, Hispanic/Latino and Native American students who are pursuing, or intend to pursue, bachelor’s degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical technology or related majors.

Renewable awards from $1,000 to $5,000 per year are given to qualified high school seniors, community college students and college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. The awards are based upon academic standing and financial need.

Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2011, for academic year 2011-2012. An online application form can be found on the ACS Scholars Program website (www.acs.org/scholars). Additional information is available by calling 1-800-227-5558, extension 6250, or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A degree in chemistry prepares students for employment in such varied fields as: medical research and drug design, environmental studies, forensics, food, the search for alternate energy sources, safeguarding national security, and engineering new materials. Starting salaries in 2009 for newly graduated B.S. chemists averaged $38,250.

ACS established the Scholars program in 1995 to attract underrepresented minorities to the chemical sciences and to build awareness of the value and rewards associated with careers in chemistry. In addition to financial support, the program provides mentoring and research and networking opportunities that help students acquire the skills and credentials needed for a successful career. Since its inception, the ACS Scholars Program has awarded more than $12 million to nearly 2,400 students. For academic year 2010-2011, ACS expects to award approximately $1 million to both new and continuing Scholars.

The ACS Scholars Program is generously supported by:



Benefactor $1,000,000+

PPG Industries Foundation, Inc.



Visionary Partners $500,000+

GlaxoSmithKline

Procter & Gamble



Sustaining Partners $250,000+

3M Corporation

ACS Petroleum Research Fund

Dow Corning Foundation

DuPont

Schering-Plough Research Institute

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation

Xerox Foundation



Partners $100,000+

AstraZeneca

Bayer Foundation

Dow Chemical Company Foundation

Société de Chimie Industrielle – American Section



The program is also supported through the generosity of many individual donors, ACS local sections and ACS members, including more than 60 former ACS Scholars.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 161,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.