Student Awards for the
Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
The Science and Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP) of George Washington University places academically talented students in Department of Defense Laboratories for eight weeks each summer. There, the students work closely with scientists and engineers who act as their mentors. The Chemistry Division of the Naval Research Laboratory has been one of the laboratories that consistently provides an inspiring environment for the young apprentices. Every year the apprentices prepare papers and presentations based on their work. Some of the award-winning presentations from 2004 and 2005 are posted below.
Venezky Award for Chemistry Apprentices
In 1998, David Venezky, an active member of the Chemical Society of Washington (an Academy Affiilate), retired from the Naval Research Laboratory. Rather than receive a number of congratulatory plaques and certificates or participate in a series of farewell breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, Dr. Venezky instead requested that the funds that would normally be devoted to such activities instead be used as an Award fund to be housed at the Washington Academy of Sciences. The awards are given to the Chemistry Division apprentices making the best presentations.
SEAP 2004 at Naval Research Laboratory
The SEAP Chemistry Division Seminar at The Naval Research Laboratory on Wednesday August 11th 2004 was a very successful event, thanks to the efforts of Mary Phillips at GWU, Dr Jim Murday (Head of the NRL Chemistry Division), and many organizers and mentors at NRL.
Paul Hazan (Washington Academy of Sciences Vice President for the Junior Academy of Sciences) presented the WAS Venezky Chemistry Awards (JOINT first prizes) to the two student projects judged the best in an outstanding and very close competition — Daniel Neitzke of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and Ian Tendick of McLean High School. Two Honorable Mention Certificates were awarded to David Ramsey of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology and Rachel Miller, also of Thomas Jefferson. Dr. Sajjad Durrani, Dr. John Honig, and Paul Hazan were the WAS judges for the event.
Twelve of the SEAP student finalist presentations are listed below. Clicking on the name of the student will take you to the paper.
Chemistry Division Apprentices
Sarah Anderson
Bowie High School
Mentor: Kimberly Parker
TITLE: “Draeger CMS Validation”
John Brozena
The Calverton School
Mentor: Susan Rose-Pehrsson
TITLE: “Multi-Resolution Algorithm Development for Long Wavelength Video Based Fire Detection”
Kristen Mark
Gar-Field High School
Mentor: John Hoover
TITLE: “Application of XML to Data Acquisition”
Osila Medi
Fairfax High School
Mentor: Irwin Singer
TITLE: “Easy Release Coatings”
Rachel Miller (Honorable Mention)
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Mentor: Susan Rose-Pehrsson
TITLE: “Development of a MATLAB Application to Process GC-MS Data”
Robert Moffatt
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Mentor: James Fleming
TITLE: “Design and Construction of a Real-time Variable Gain Amplifier for Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy”
Daniel Neitzke (Joint 1st Prize)
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Mentor: Susan Rose-Pehrsson
TITLE: “Algorithm Development for Long Wavelength Video Based Fire Detection”
Erica Pehrsson
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Mentor: William Straubbe
TITLE: “Using Copper-Resistant Bacteria to Reduce Copper Toxicity in Shewanella Oneidensis Cr(VI) Reduction Studies”
David Ramsey (Honorable Mention)
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
Mentor: Gun Young Lee
TITLE: “The Mechanics of Spider Silk”
Ian Tendick (Joint 1st Prize)
McLean High School
Mentor: James Fleming
TITLE: “Computer Modeling of Fire-Suppression Agent Behavior for Simulated Engine Nacelle Environments”
Robert Thomas
Northern High School
Mentor: Ramagopal Ananth
TITLE: “The Effects of Turbulence on the Suppression of Navy Cable Fire”
Jeff Yang
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Mentor: David Kidwell
TITLE: “Refining Reference Capabilities in an Ion Selective Electrode”
SEAP 2005 at Naval Research Laboratory
The SEAP 2005 Chemistry Division Seminar at the Naval Research Laboratory on August 9th 2005 was a very successful event, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Jim Murday (Head of the NRL Chemistry Division), many organizers and mentors at NRL and Mary Phillips of George Washington University. The three Academy judges were: Jorome Gibbon, Sajjad Durrani, and Paul Hazan.
Paul Hazan (Vice President for Junior Academy Affairs) presented the WAS Venezky Chemistry Awards (two JOINT first prizes) and two Honorable Mention certificates to Projects judged the best in an outstanding and very close competition. The Seven finalist presentations are listed below. Clicking on the name of the student will take you to the paper.
Kathleen Fleming, [JOINT 1ST PRIZE]
Mentors: James Fleming/Bradley Williams
TITLE: Alternatives of Ozone depleting Solvents
Jason Kostelnik, [JOINT 1ST PRIZE]
Mentors: Wahl/Chromik
TITLE: Development of LabView Interface for CSEM POD Tribological Studies of AFRL Chameleon Coating
Marianne Kidwell [Honorable Mention]
Mentor: Susan Rose-Pehrsson/Kimberly Williams
TITLE: Developing a Method for Monoethanolamine (MEA) Detection
Ram Nayak & Dan Pak [Honorable Mention]
Mentor: David Kidwell
TITLE: Effects of Different Core Metals on the Performance of Ion Selective Electrodes
Jessica Ho (paper not available)
Mentors: Klug/Miller
TITLE: Functional Form of NMR and NQR Signals
Mary Santangelo
Mentors: Wynne/Snow
TITLE: Preventing the Spread of Hantavirus
Robert Thomas
Mentors: Ananth/Rouson
TITLE: Effects of Copper Mesh on the Suppression of Navy Cable Fires by Ultrasonic Water Mist