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2025 MN ACS Awards

The MN ACS is happy to announce our 2025 award winners, Linda Nanko-Yeager and Kevin Dirksen!

• 2025 Janet Tarino Volunteer Award: The Janet Tarino Volunteer Award is given to an individual for outstanding volunteer service to Minnesota ACS, and/or chemistry related projects and events not directly connected to Minnesota ACS. This year's award goes to Ms. Linda Nanko-Yeager. Linda received her B.S. in Chemistry from Carnegie-Mellon university and worked for nearly a decade doing production analysis, quality control, and formulations in the fields of polymers and pharmaceuticals. Since her retirement she has been a science education volunteer in addition to engaging in a number of community activities.  Her notable volunteer work is for the Chemists-in-the-Library program with Dr. Phil Buhlmann for our section since 2005 (20 years!). Phil writes in her nomination that Linda has attended as a volunteer 142 of library events, a number that is higher than any other of the volunteers who are helping him with this program. Her other volunteer activities include volunteering for the Kids & Chemistry program for our section, Science Museum of Minnesota, Wyoming Elementary School, Delta Gamma Society of Minnesota, Forest Lake Montessori School, Giese Memorial Library in Wyoming (MN) and Rotary Club of Forest Lake as well as 17 years of service for the Wyoming City Council. The Minnesota section of ACS is very enthusiastic in bestowing this award to an absolutely exceptional volunteer, Ms Linda Nano-Yeager. The award comes with a plaque and a $250 honorarium. Linda will be honored at the May Awards Dinner at 3M Innovation Center on May 13.

• 2025 Minnesota High School Chemistry Teaching Award: The Minnesota high school chemistry teaching award is given to an outstanding high school chemistry teacher for Excellence in High School Chemistry Teaching. This year's award goes to Mr. Kevin Dirksen of Eagan High School (EHS) in Eagan, MN.  Mr. Dirksen serves as both a Chemistry and Physics teacher and according to EHS Assistant Principal of EHS, Mr. Stephen Thompson, possesses a profound understanding of his subjects, which he conveys with enthusiasm and clarity. He has developed a series of videos related to his courses which have become invaluable resources for his students. He uses these videos to "flip his classroom" so he can spend more time with hands-on activities and labs in his classroom.  Beyond the classroom, Mr. Dirksen has taken on a variety of coaching and co-curricular roles. He has been a science olympiad coach, football coach, track coach, cross country coach, newspaper advisor, and advisor of several smaller student run clubs. He currently is a volunteer coach of the ISD 196 mountain bike team, which he co-founded in 2011.  For his chemistry innovative teaching methods, science olympiad coach and outstanding contribution to the EHS school community, MN ACS is proud to honor him with this award in our May Awards meeting at 3M Innovation Center on May 13.  This award comes with a plaque and a $600 honorarium.

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Winchell Symposium Scholarship

The 2025 Winchell Symposium will be held on Saturday, April 26th at North Hennepin Community College. This is a great chance for chemistry program students to present their research, and the MN ACS local section offers a scholarship for student presenters to cover some of the costs. In order to qualify for the scholarship you must meet the following criteria:

• You and/or your advisor is a member of ACS

• Your research is in chemistry or biochemistry

• You are among the first seven students to register from your institution 

• You attend an institution within the boundaries of the MN ACS local section (see list of schools here)

Scholarship requests should be emailed to Nick Schlotter (click on "Contact Us" link to request contact information).

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Chemistry for a Better Planet

The 2025 Great Lakes Regional Meeting of the ACS is coming up fast! We hope to see you there in Appleton, WI on June 4-6, with hundreds of chemistry students, faculty, and industry professionals from around the upper Midwest. For more information, see our website at https://greatlakesregion-acs.org/event-welcome/glrm-2025.

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Committee Volunteer Opportunities

Are you looking to enhance your leadership, project management, and networking skills? Volunteering as a committee chair for the Minnesota Local Section of the ACS is a fantastic way to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact! We are currently seeking passionate leaders for the following committees:

• Younger Chemists - leads initiatives to support, engage, and connect early-career chemists and students within the MN ACS

• National Chemistry Week - responsible for leading efforts to promote and coordinate activities related to National Chemistry Week, an annual outreach event organization by the ACS

• Public Affairs - serves as a bridge between the chemistry community and policymakers, advocating for science-related policies and engaging the public on key issues

• Government Affairs - plays a key role in advocating for science policy and fostering relationships between the chemistry community and government officials

• Minority Affairs - plays a key role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the MN ACS

If you're interested in learning more, please reach out to Sarah Dimick Gray (click on "Contact Us" link to request contact information) to explore these opportunities. Take the next step in your leadership journey - get involved today!