Chemistry student heads to California
Sophomore Krystin Stiefel does an experiment with methane gas in Chemistry class. Stiefel is attending San Jose State University in California this summer for a summer school program. (Photo Courtesy www.facebook.com)
From June 13 to July 24, sophomore Krystin Stiefel is going to San Jose State University in CA for the ACS Nuclear and Radiochemistry undergraduate summer school. Stiefel was one of twelve students picked for this six week program.
There are two sites for the Chemistry program, one in San Jose, the other in Brookhaven National Laboratory, NY.
“They went through selection processes and narrowed it down to 24 students,” Stiefel said. “They got over 140 applications.”
According to Stiefel, students from all over the U.S. are picked to attend the summer schools and receive college credit for participating in the program.
At the program, Stiefel said she will be doing a lot of class work, labs and attending seminars every Friday.
“I’m curious to see how they’re going to do labs,” she said.
Stiefel said she first became interested in nuclear power because her mother works at a nuclear power plant.
“I grew up around it,” she said.
Michael Claus, professor of Chemistry, told Stiefel about the summer school.
“It is a very elite program,” Claus said.
According to Claus, he knew of the program because his wife was a graduate of the program a while back and Dr. Paul Mantica, professor at Michigan State University, gave a seminar last year at AC for the Chemistry department and sent out an email about the program.
The summer program is sponsored by the Department of Energy and Claus said that those involved get to work with environmental nuclear physics, medicine, extra solar research and energy.
“[Krystin] gets to do hands on activities with nuclear science,” he said. “And [she] gets paid to do it too.”
Claus would encourage students to get involved with summer programs that pertain to their potential future career for various reasons.
“I would love it if every one of our students would do this,” he said.
According to Claus, at the institute he used to work for they sent many kids to these type of programs and the students would come back either really passionate about their field of study or completely turned off.
Claus also said that it helps prepare students for graduate school by giving them a taste of what it might be like. He said that this program will help Stiefel decide whether or not nuclear science is what she really wants to do, and could encourage her to excel even further with her educational career.
Stiefel is the first student from Adrian College attending the summer Chemistry program.
“I think it’s amazing,” Claus said.
Claus believes the acceptance into the program emphasized Stiefel’s ability and passion for nuclear science. He said that it spoke highly of AC too, and showed the teachers’ ability to prepare their students well.
Paul Rupert, professor of Chemistry, has had Stiefel in two of his college courses.
“I think this is an amazing opportunity for her,” Rupert said about Stiefel’s acceptance. “It really is quite an accomplishment.”
Rupert said that it was especially impressive that Stiefel was accepted into the program, even though she is a sophomore.
“It helps to show what our students can do in competition with other colleges and universities,” he said.
Rupert wrote a letter of recommendation to the summer program on behalf of Stiefel.
“I was delighted [to write the letter],” Rupert said. “This [program] is something that will provide her with knowledge and exposure on a nuclear level.”
Rupert also said that it is important not to over sell students when writing recommendation letters because students might not live up to the standards set for them. Students represent the college and build credibility where they go.
“I can’t think of many people who would be better to establish that credibility [for AC],” Rupert said about Stiefel.
Rupert said that it is a great opportunity for her because, not only will Stiefel be able to learn from world class experts in the program, but she will learn from her peers as well.
“It’s a cultural broadening experience for her,” he said.
Stiefel will also have access to equipment and research materials that has not been available to her before.
“I’m very honored,” Stiefel said about being able to attend the program. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’m very glad to have been chosen.”