2025 Annual Awards Banquet Invitation

Posted on November 3, 2025November 3, 2025

Join us for a traditional awards banquet as the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society honors our 2025 award recipients.

Saturday, December 6^th, 2025
11:30AM to 2:00PM
Location: Helena Modern Riviera
8441 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819 (ICON Park)

Lunch Menu
Appetizers
Beef or Veggie Empanadas
Bruschetta Crostini

Iberian Caesar Salad

Entrée choice of
Pasta Primavera
Seasonal veggies tossed over pasta in an olive oil, garlic white wine sauce
Lady and the Tramp
Spaghetti with homemade meatballs with our Marinara Sauce
Vegetarian Paella
Valencia rice, mushrooms, broccolini, asparagus, peas, artichokes, veggie consommé
Chicken Pinxhos
Chicken skewers and a bed of garlic mashed potatoes

Beverages
Fountain drinks
Cash bar available

The cost to attend is $25 per person, which includes tax and gratuity. The Section will cover the total bill with a single payment. You may pay in advance via the RSVP link or at the door using cash or check

Reserve your place through the link: https://valenciacc.ut1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3UHoQbqolRRACh0.

Reservations must be made by December 3, 2025.

Email any questions to contact@orlandoacs.org
We look forward to seeing you there!

Download this Invitation

Call for Annual Awards Nominations

Posted on September 6, 2025September 6, 2025

Since 1991, the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society has recognized individuals who live, work, or study in the seven-county region of the Orlando Section and excel in chemistry. Continuing this tradition, this year, the Orlando Section will give the following awards:

Eileen Tulley Award for Outstanding High School Student
Outstanding High School Teacher
Outstanding Undergraduate at a Primarily Teaching Institution
Outstanding Undergraduate at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Graduate at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Teaching Institution
Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Chemist
Outstanding Chemistry Professional
Outstanding Entrepreneur/Employer Award
Outstanding Volunteer

Descriptions and criteria for each award can be found in our website at https://orlandoacs.org/annual-awards

If you know someone or companies who should be recognized publicly, please nominate them for an ACS Orlando Section award. Each Award consists of a plaque and a monetary award. Awardees will be honored at the local Section’s annual banquet held on December 6^th, 2025. Student nominees need not be currently enrolled in chemistry but can be nominated for achievements for the spring 2025 term. Nominees for awards need not be members.

Nomination package includes:
(1) A letter of nomination stating why this person/company* deserves the award.
(2) A letter of support from someone else who knows the nominee.

Each letter should include the name of the award, and the writer’s email address, and daytime phone number. Electronic submissions are required by completing the google doc form (link below) and uploading PDF letters in the appropriate places on the form. Questions can be directed to Dr. Laura Sessions, Chair of the Orlando Section Awards Committee at lsessions@valenciacollege.edu. To be considered, nominations must be received by 5pm Friday November 7, 2025.

Complete this form and upload ONLY PDF formatted letters here:
https://valenciacc.ut1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_54J6vTbEq03bkAC

Nominators of awardees are expected to participate in the Orlando Section’s annual banquet to introduce the awardees.

* Point of contact for nominated company must be included in the letter.

Meet with 60-year ACS member, Helein Hitchcock

Posted on January 11, 2025January 13, 2025

Helein Hitchcock was recently recognized as a 60-year ACS member at a luncheon with Darlene Slattery and Michael Hampton. Helein has been involved in the Section as an awards reviewer and a science fair judge.

Helein received her B.S. in chemistry from the University of Maryland in 1964 and went to work for Bendix Field Engineering at Kennedy Space Center doing routine analysis of spacecraft and ground systems gaseous samples to meet specifications. Eventually, Helein transferred from working as a contract employee to being a NASA employee. She continued working at KSC supporting the space program until her retirement. During that time, her exemplary service was acknowledged with a number of awards, including the prestigious Silver Snoopy award and the Manned Flight Awareness Award.

2024 Annual Award Banquet

Posted on December 21, 2024January 13, 2025

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The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society held it’s annual awards banquet on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at the At the blu on the avenue restaurant in Winter Park, FL.

The 2024 winners are:

Award	Recipient	Organization
Outstanding Student at a primarily teaching institution	Julia Dasque	Seminole State College
Outstanding Student at a primarily research institution (undergraduate)	Disha Iyengar	University of Central Florida
Outstanding Graduate Student	Edwin Davidson	University of Central Florida
Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Research Institution	Dr. Denisia Popolan-Vaida	University of Central Florida
Outstanding Chemist	Dr. Titel Jurca	University of Central Florida
Outstanding Volunteer	Dr. Denisia Popolan-Vaida	University of Central Florida

2024 NCW Illustrated Poem Contest: The Results

Posted on December 5, 2024January 13, 2025

Among many other activities for the 2024 National Chemistry Week (NCW), the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) hosted the 2024 NCW Illustrated Poem Contest for K-12 students in Central Florida. This year, the theme of the contest is “Picture Perfect Chemistry”.

Thanks to members of counties’ school boards and the teachers who brought the contest to students’ attention, the contest received many entries from multiple schools.

Results of the local contest

K-2 Category
Honorable Mention: E. M.
Freedom 7 Elementary School (Brevard County)

Winner of Grade 9-12 Category, by A. E. from Lake Mary High School (Seminole County)

Grade 3-5 Category
Honorable Mention: A. R. C.
Highlands Elementary School (Osceola County)

Grade 6-8 Category
No Winner

Grade 9-12 Category
Winner: A. E.
Lake Mary High School (Seminole County)

The winner of each category will receive a certificate and a monetary award of $50. The teacher who guided the winner of each category will receive a school supply funding of $100. Honorable Mention will also receive certificate and a monetary award ($25 and $50% for student and teacher, respectively).

The winner of each category also advances to the national 2024 NCW Illustrated Poem Contest. The full results of the national contest can be found at ACS website. If you have any comments or questions regarding the local contest, please contact the local section’s coordinator of the contest (Dr. Duy Le, submission@orlandoacs.org).

Annual Awards Banquet Invitation

Posted on November 17, 2024November 17, 2024

The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society will recognize 2024 award winners in a traditional annual awards banquet on December 7^th, 2024. You are cordially invited to attend the banquet:

Saturday, December 7^th, 2024
11:30AM to 2:00PM
Location: blu on the avenue
326 Park Avenue South Winter Park, FL 32789

The event will commence with a social including hors d’oeuvres of tomato bruschetta, shrimp cocktail, and crab bruschetta. A cash bar will be available.

Lunch Menu
Beverages:
Iced Tea, Soft Beverages, and Illy Coffee
Entrée choice of
Pasta Primavera – seasonal vegetables, grana padano cheese
Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken – grana padano cheese, house made caesar dressing, croutons
Chicken Piccata – white wine, butter, capers, lemon sauce, garlic mash, seasonal vegetable
Salmon – tomato bruschetta, balsamic glaze, garlic mash, seasonal vegetable
Dessert choice of
Tiramisu or Apple Caramel Crisp

We will recognize individuals for their outstanding achievements in chemistry and across the broader chemical enterprise following lunch. The cost will be $25/person (after subsidy, tax, and gratuity included). The Section will pay the bill with a single check. Please be prepared to pay at the door by check or cash—unfortunately we cannot accept credit cards.

All reservations must be made by December 1^st, 2024 and can be submitted:

Online – https://forms.gle/qrh5bu7eC4pihq9q6

Via Email: contact@orlandoacs.org
By Phone: Stephen Smith, (321) 309 – 3037

Chemistry & Community: A Membership Meet-Up with guest speaker Bill Easter

Posted on October 3, 2024October 4, 2024

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On Saturday, September 21^st 2024, the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society hosted a Membership Meet-Up with guest speaker Bill Easter, a subject matter expert in the area of Semiconductor Chemical Mechanical Polishing and Material Development and local serial entrepreneur who founded Semplastics, X-MAT, X-BATT and DioQuest. Bill, who was recognized as the Section’s Outstanding Entrepreneur in 2023, presented an informative talk entitled The Accidental Entrepreneur – A Perspective on Material Systems, Chemistry and Innovation. After the talk, attendees enjoyed a light lunch and networking opportunities. The event concluded with a brief Executive Meeting, during which six undergraduate attendees were awarded complimentary one-year memberships to ACS.

Call for Annual Awards Nominations

Posted on September 26, 2024September 26, 2024

Eileen Tulley Award for Outstanding High School Student
Outstanding High School Teacher
Outstanding Undergraduate at a Primarily Teaching Institution
Outstanding Undergraduate at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Graduate at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Teaching Institution
Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Chemist
Outstanding Chemistry Professional
Outstanding Entrepreneur/Employer Award
Outstanding Volunteer

Descriptions and criteria for each award can be found in our website at https://orlandoacs.org/annual-awards

If you know someone or companies who should be recognized publicly, please nominate them for an ACS Orlando Section award. Each Award consists of a plaque and a monetary award. Awardees will be honored at the local Section’s annual banquet held on December 7^th, 2024. Student nominees need not be currently enrolled in chemistry but can be nominated for achievements for the spring 2024 term..

Nomination package includes:
(1) A letter of nomination stating why this person/company* deserves the award.
(2) A letter of support from someone else who knows the nominee.**

Each letter should include the name of the award, and the writer’s email address, and daytime phone number. Electronic submissions are required by completing the digital form (link below) and uploading PDF letters in the appropriate places on the form. Questions can be directed to Dr. Nasri Nesnas, Chair of the Orlando Section Awards Committee at nesnas@fit.edu. To be considered, nominations must be received by 5pm Wednesday November 13, 2024.

Complete this form and upload ONLY PDF formatted letters here: https://valenciacc.ut1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2b4n5Kri7jWWjki

Nominators of awardees are expected to participate in the Orlando Section’s annual banquet to introduce the awardees.

* Point of contact for nominated company must be included in the letter.
** Nominees for awards need not be members of the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society.

2023 Annual Award Banquet

Posted on December 28, 2023February 6, 2024

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The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society held it’s annual awards banquet on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 at the At the 310 Lakeside restaurant in Downtown Orlando.

The 2023 winners are:

Award	Recipient	Organization
Outstanding Student at a primarily teaching institution	Ms. Denette Boucome	Keiser University
Outstanding Student at a primarily research institution (undergraduate)	Ms. Arden Floyd Mr. Matthew Pensenstadler	University of Central Florida Florida Institute of Technology
Outstanding Undergraduates Students	Alivia Taylor Natali Barakat	Seminole States College University of Central Florida
Outstanding Graduate Student	Mr. Jorge Pereira	University of Central Florida
Outstanding Teacher at a primarily teaching institution	Dr. Mahesh Peddibhotla	Valencia College
Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Research Institution	Dr. Pavithra Pathirathna	Florida Institute of Technology
Outstanding Chemist	Dr. Nasri Nesnas	Florida Institute of Technology
Outstanding Chemical Professional	Dr. Nahid Mohajeri	Nitto Americas
Outstanding Volunteer	Dr. Duy Le	University of Central Florida

Annual Awards Banquet Invitation

Posted on November 13, 2023November 13, 2023

The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society will recognize 2023 awards winners in a traditional annual awards banquet on December 2^nd, 2023. You are invited to attend the banquet:

Saturday, December 2^nd, 2023
11:30AM to 2:00PM
At the 310 Lakeside
301 East Pine Street, Orlando, FL 32801

MENU
Appetizers
Stuffed Mushroom – sausage, spinach, parmesan
Fried Green Tomato – pimento spread, bacon jam, chives
Tomato and Mozzarella Skewer – fresh basil, olive oil, balsamic glaze
Entrée choice of
Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken
Pasta Primavera
seasonal vegetables, grana padano cheese
Chicken Piccata
white wine, butter, capers, lemon sauce
Salmon
tomato bruschetta, balsamic glaze
Dessert
Tiramisu
Beverages
Iced tea, soft beverages, and Illy coffee
Cash bar is available

The cost will be $25/person (after subsidy, tax and gratuity included). The Section will pay the bill with a single check. Please be prepared to pay at the door by check or cash—unfortunately we cannot accept credit cards.

Reservation can be made online at https://forms.gle/ppkK4WM5aHDQDFu88, or by email to Nicole.lapeyrouse@ucf.edu. Reservations must be made by November 26, 2023. Please include names so that we can provide nametags.

We look forward to seeing you all there!