Press Release

For Immediate Release

Date­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________

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_______, Iota Sigma Pi member (officer), presents a copy of the recently published The Centennial History of Iota Sigma Pi – National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry, Founded 1902 to ____________ of _______ Library (School).  The Centennial History of Iota Sigma Pi records the activities and awards of the National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry since its founding in 1902.  Each page also includes quotations from modern women chemists and others, relating to the role of women.  Dr. Anne Sherren, Professor Emeritus, North Central College, Naperville, IL, National Historian and Sharon Vercellotti, President, V-LABS, INC., Covington LA , Centennial Editor, edited the book. Vercellotti applied for and received a grant for $20,000 from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences to aid in the publication and dissemination of this history.

Iota Sigma Pi was founded at the University of California at Berkeley in 1902 and organized nationally in 1916.  Iota Sigma Pi promotes professional development and personal growth of women in chemistry and related fields through recognition, public outreach and the formation of supportive networks.  Activities to achieve these objectives include granting recognition to women who have demonstrated scholastic achievement and/or professional competence by election into Iota Sigma Pi.  Annual and triennial professional and student awards are presented to outstanding women in chemistry and allied fields through funded endowments. 

The centennial celebration of Iota Sigma Pi was held at Berkeley in June 2002.  More than 12,000 women have been initiated into the society since its origin. There are currently about 1200 active members. Outstanding current members include Helen Free and Mary Good, both former presidents of the American Chemical Society; earlier awardees include Nobel Prize winners Gerti Cori and Marie Curie.  Membership is quite diverse, consisting of both academic and professional women chemists, as well as graduate and undergraduate chemistry students.  Members are located throughout the country and are involved in many other professional organizations.

The donor ____________ is a faculty member (student) at ___________.  Add something about yourself.

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