2018-2019 KEM Club Events and Awards

Events

• Boo @ the U (10/18/18)
• “Calculate it Forward”
  • KEM Club collaborates with Dr. David Rylander to collect unused calculators to donate to Jones Academy in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. Jones Academy was founded by the Choctaw Nation in 1891 and provides a home and education to American Indian children from lower socioeconomic areas.
• “Chemistry is Out of This World” at Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History (10/27/18)
  Officers and members conducted experiments exploring the value of chemistry in everyday life during National Chemistry Week. During this event, hundreds of local and nearby kids visited the museum and performed science experiments.
• Pioneer Research at the Golden Triangle Mall (11/3/18)
  • Officers and members presented their poster at this interactive event that engaged the community in discussions about academic study and increased awareness of the important work happening every day at TWU.
  • Officers also assisted the organizers during this event.
• Thanksgiving Drive benefitting Denton County Friends of the Family (11/13/18)
  • Every year, KEM Club officers and members collect food items and gift cards to donate to Denton Friends of the Family. Last November, we were able to give a total of $50 in gift cards and 25 canned goods to Denton County Friends of the Family.
• Movie Night (11/29/18)
  • Officers and members held a potluck movie night and viewed “Hidden Figures” which features women breaking down barriers in the sciences. This event is organized to help our students to have a break from their studies and overall help them to manage their stress during the busy time of the semester. Furthermore, we choose movies and documentaries that are inspiring.
• SCI-Southwest Spring 2019 Regional Symposium “Democracy, Civic Engagement, and Student Learning” (2/1/19)
  • KEM Club presented their poster at this event focused on encouraging civic responsibility among students in their teaching, research, and community service. SENCER improves education and student learning by connecting classroom knowledge to critical real-world issues through civic engagement, and facilitates faculty expertise through symposia and workshops. Furthermore, we helped the organizers during this event.
• TWU STEM Day at Explorium (2/23/18)
  • KEM Club, in collaboration with Explorium Denton, helped children explore the world of science through hands on activities and play by putting on the first ever STEM Day. Children attended activity booths designed to show the negative effects of water pollution and what they can do to prevent it. Oakley the Owl even made an appearance.
• Girl Scout Water Badge Event (3/2/19)
  • KEM Club members helped the scouts perform experiments to learn more about water chemistry, water consumption, and water pollution in order to earn their Water Badge.
• Potluck Movie Night (3/21/19)
  • Members held a potluck movie night and watched a documentary about NASA’s Cassini Mission.
• Denton Public Library South Branch Magic Show (3/23/19)
  • Officers and members performed a magic show at Denton’s South Branch Library. Magic shows engage children and inspire the next generation of scientists by making science fun.
• Backpack Drive benefitting Denton County Friends of the Family (April 2019)
  • Officers and members donate new backpacks to Denton County Friends of the Family. This provides children in need with backpacks to return to school with in the fall. This is an annual event.
• Finals Study Night (4/24/19)
  • Officers and members provide snacks and support during finals week with a study night held in the Science Learning Resource Center.

Collaborations

• Denton County Friends of the Family
• Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History
• SENCER (Science Education for New Civic Engagement and Responsibilities, A National Center focused on empowering faculty and improving STEM teaching and learning by making connections to civic issues).
• Girl Scouts Northeast Texas
• Denton Public Libraries
• Explorium Denton – A Children’s Museum
• Golden Triangle Mall
• TWU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Jones Academy in Oklahoma/Dr. David Rylander, Professor of Marketing, TWU

Accomplishments

• KEM Club received the Outstanding Award for student chapter, the highest award from the American Chemical Society Committee on Education, in recognition of the chapter’s achievements and service to the university and community.
• KEM Club also received the 2018 Redbud Award for Outstanding Student Organization for our activity during the 2017-2018 school year.
• Dr. Nasrin Mirsaleh-Kohan, KEM Club’s faculty advisor, also received the 2018 Redbud Award for Outstanding Student Organization Advisor of the Year.

Page last updated 3:54 PM, April 11, 2019