Student, Faculty Honored with Awards at American Chemical Society banquet

A student and two faculty members, all involved in chemistry, were honored with awards at the annual banquet of the American Chemical Society, Orlando section on Dec. 2.

Matthew Pensenstadler, an undergraduate chemistry major in faculty member Alan Brown’s lab, was named Outstanding Undergraduate at a Primary Research Institution. (Brown himself was named Outstanding Four-year College Teacher in 1993.) Criteria for the student award include excellent performance in chemistry courses, leadership in chemistry extracurricular activities and involvement in non-chemistry extracurricular endeavors.

Pavithra Pathirathna, assistant professor of chemistry and secretary for the Orlando ACS section since 2021, was named Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Research Institution. Criteria for this award touch on many facets of education, including offering effective and exciting teaching, mentoring students and colleagues, developing novel ideas and managing them to publication, contributing to department leadership and strengthening the public’s understanding of chemistry.

Chemistry professor Nasri Nesnas was named Outstanding Chemist. Criteria for this award include strong research, department and university leadership, mentoring colleagues, public outreach and furthering chemistry with publications, peer recognition and more.

Award nominees must live, work or study in the seven-county region of the Orlando Section comprised of Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties.

The ACS Orlando Section awards program began in 1991 with Florida Tech’s John Trefry, now professor emeritus, winning the Outstanding Chemist award. Assistant professor Stephen L. Smith is chair of the Orlando Section for 2024.