Henrique Schembry and Kyle Skalenko, received ACS Project SEED grants to do summer research. Kyle, an entering freshman at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, was selected to carry out "green chemistry" research this past summer as part of a new summer research internship program at Monmouth University. He worked under the direction of Dr. Carolyn Supplee, who is investigating the metal-mediated greener oxidation of polyol aldehydes. This is the second summer Skalenko worked with researchers at Monmouth University; previously, he worked with Monmouth University professors Peter Wepplo and Danuta Szwajkajzer on projects in synthetic and environmental chemistry. Henrique , a senior at High Technology High School, Lincroft, New Jersey, also worked under the direction of Dr. Supplee.
The American Chemical Society's (ACS) Project SEED Summer I program provides an opportunity to an economically disadvantaged student to participate in summer research at an academic, government, or industrial laboratory. In addition, the U.S. Army and the Academy of Applied Science sponsor fellowships for economically and socially disadvantaged high school students to pursue careers in math, science and technology by offering a hands-on experience in research and development to those who desire to continue their education in these fields through its Research in Engineering and Allied Professions (REAP) program. An important feature of the Project REAP/ SEED program at Monmouth University is its emphasis on career development and its motivation of students to pursue higher education in the natural sciences. The program is jointly coordinated by Dr. Supplee and Dr. Robert Topper, Chair of the Department of Chemistry, Medical Technology and Physics at Monmouth University, and was co-sponsored by the Monmouth County section of the ACS.
This is Dr. Carolyn Supplee's first year serving as a mentor for Project REAP / SEED, and she welcomed the opportunity to work with high school students. "Not only do I benefit from having extra hands in the laboratory, but the REAP / SEED students receive full training and get to experience research first-hand," said Dr. Supplee. "These high school students have a huge advantage going into college, as they have learned and experienced what many college science students are not exposed to until later in their academic career." Schembry was nominated to do research with Project SEED by Lois Lyons, a chemistry teacher at High Technology High School. Joann Valpone, a guidance counselor at the high school, helped to coordinate the process. Skalenko, also the recipient of a 2006-2007 ACS Project SEED college scholarship, was nominated to do research with Project REAP/SEED by Christine Clark, at Freehold Township High School.