Alumna Ross addresses Chemistry Honors Banquet

Pamela A. Ross, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics with the University of Virginia Health System, and an exceptional UTC chemistry alumna challenged the students at the 16th annual Chemistry Department Honors Banquet to "exercise their gifts." "People always remember how you make them feel; it is an impact that is made every time we come in contact with another human being," Ross said.

Ross conducted undergraduate chemistry research with Dr. Tom Waddell, Guerry Professor of Chemistry, while she was a student at UTC. In his introductory remarks, Waddell told the crowd Ross is "a special person, and her excellence clearly permeates everything she does."

Ross is a dedicated volunteer, serving on the Virginia Child Fatality Review Board. The Board develops and implements procedures to ensure that child deaths occurring in Virginia are analyzed in a systematic way.

Ross told the group of 150 a touching story about a man she had treated in the emergency room who came back to visit her.

"When I walked into the family room to meet him, I did not recognize him. He was in a wheelchair-- no legs and a severely deformed left arm. He told me he had been in an accident, his car had flipped over, and had caught fire while he was in it, and I was his attending physician," Ross said.

"I see thousands of patients, but I remembered this case. I remembered the smell of his flesh, the aggressive resuscitation, talking to his parents and feeling that my best efforts were not going to pull this man through. Often, we loose track of patients like this, as they are cycled through the health care system, but this man came back to talk to me."

Recalling experiences from her career in emergency medicine, Ross also warned the students of the dangers of mixing alcohol and automobiles. "It only takes a second to change your life forever. Don't be afraid to stand alone, do the right thing,"

As the banquet drew to a close, Ross said. "I believe there is a God. As scientists, we don't talk about this. When people pray, they do feel better."

The Chemistry Department Honors Banquet recognizes service, scholarship, awards and graduating seniors in the department. The event was held in the Tennessee Room at the UC, and over $54,000 in awards and scholarships was presented to the students. View photos from the event on the chemistry webpage.

Ross, along with the entire UTC community, congratulates the following students:

SERVICE RECOGNITION
Laboratory Assistants
Bassem Abazid
Diana Abdelaziz
Claire Brown
Abbie Byrom
Colette DeLacy
Jane Dickerson
Brett Ferrell
Randi Gant
Scott Gass
David Hays
Gregory Helton
Vanessa Janeksela
Mehvish Khan
Aaron Leatherman
John Madakacherry
Amanda Mansfield
Erika Milczek
Suzanne Miller
Megan Morgan
Laura Palmiero
Chanda Price
Eva Prince
Lane Rankin
Seth Robinson
Crystal Shotwell
Charles Sisson
Charles Slater
Carrie Stewart
Josh Stiles
Courtney Swafford
Mary Teague
Lane Rankin
Seth Robinson
Susan Tuckniss
Stephanie Vermillion

Outstanding Laboratory Assistant Award
Scott Gass

Office Assistants
Diana Abdelaziz
Colleen Demunbrun

RESEARCH RECOGNITION
Provost Student Research Awards
Paul Boerema
Jane Dickerson
Scott Gass
Gregory HeltonLensey Hill
Vanessa Janeksela
Erika Milczek
Laura Palmiero
Ken Patel
Mary Teague

Summer Research Participants
Daniel Barker
Paul Boerema
Weinan Chen
Robert Craven
Jane Dickerson
Brett Ferrell
Scott Gass
Gregory Helton
Lensey Hill
John Lee
Sara Magee
Erika Milczek
Laura Palmiero
Ken Patel
Mary Teague
Katherine Van Deusen

Departmental Honors Candidates
Robert Craven
Brett Ferrell
Gregory Helton

Academic Year Research Participants
Bassam Abazid
Bassem Abazid
Paul Boerema
Kimberly Bryson
Weinan Chen
Robert Craven
Jane Dickerson
Randi Gant
Scott Gass
Gregory Helton
Lensey Hill
Vanessa Janeksela
Sara Magee
Erika Milczek
Darshan Naik
Laura Palmiero
Ken Patel
Chanda Price
Eva Prince
Charles Sisson
Mary Teague
Matthew Zoerb

SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNITION
Alco Chemical Scholarships
(Outstanding Chemistry students)
Kira Shurtz
Charles Sisson

Marvin Anthony Scholarships
(Outstanding Chemistry students with an interest in business)
Weinan Chen
Darshan Naik

Jean Dreyfus Boissevain Undergraduate Research Scholarship
(Excellence in Chemistry)
Lensey Hill

Grote Scholarships
Alicia Allen
Daniel Chatham
Lauren Deloach
Kendra Hanlon
Vanessa Janeksela
Nathanael Kokes
Sara Magee
Amanda Mansfield
Lindsey Miller
Ken Patel
Laura Palmiero
Carrie Stewart
Stephanie Vermillion

Murray Raney Scholarship
(Outstanding B.S. Chemistry student with an interest in graduate school or industry)
Erika Milczek

Dr. Charles Robert Thomas Pre-Medical Scholarships
(Outstanding Chemistry Pre-Medical students)
Randi Gant
Gregory Helton
Tiffany Jones

STUDENT AWARDS
Gamma Sigma Epsilon
(Chemistry Honor Society)
Jon Drumm
Randi Gant
Vanessa Janeksela
Nathanael Kokes
Rebecca Li
Sara Magee
Erika Milczek
Natalie Myers
Darshan Naik
Jennifer Pavetto
Charles Sisson
Courtney Swafford

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry
(Outstanding student in Analytical Chemistry)
Nathanael Kokes

Undergraduate Award in Organic and Polymer Chemistry
(Outstanding student in Organic Chemistry)
Katherine Ziegler

Hypercube Scholar
(Outstanding student in Computational Chemistry)
Francis (Bud) Lamonica III

American Institute of Chemists Award
(Outstanding senior with industrial interest)
Laura Palmiero

American Chemical Society Award
(Outstanding senior)
Chanda Price

Higdon Textbook Awards
Maikel Botros
Claire Brown
Jane Dickerson

Student Affiliates Service Award
Rajan Kshatri

Swan Awards
(Outstanding freshmen)
Maikel Botros
Lauren DeLoach
Kevin Terry

Edwards Awards
(Outstanding juniors and sophomore)
Weinan Chen (soph)
Vanessa Janeksela (jr)
Ken Patel (jr)

Gross Award
(Outstanding senior)
Gregory Helton