BETHANY, W.Va. (Nov. 12, 2025) — Bethany College is proud to announce that its American Chemical Society (ACS) student chapter has been awarded the Outstanding ACS Student Communities Award for the 2024–2025 academic year — the highest national honor granted by the ACS Undergraduate Office. Bethany is one of just 90 chapters nationwide to receive this distinction, and the smallest institution represented among this elite group.
“At a small school like Bethany, where students have so many opportunities to engage through athletics, Greek life, and clubs or honor societies, it is always amazing for me to see what the students are able to organize and accomplish within their professional organizations like the American Chemical Society Bethany Affiliate Chapter,” said Dr. Scott Brothers, assistant professor of chemistry and the chapter advisor. “With our small student population, the clubs may not be extremely large, but their impact always is.”
“To be recognized as Outstanding, the top award from the ACS Undergraduate Office, with only a fraction of the majors and members of much larger institutions, is truly a testament to the dedication of these STEM students and their passion for outreach and professional development,” Brothers continued. “These are high-achieving and distinctive students who give up their time not for their own acclaim but for a true desire to spread the knowledge and understanding of science to the Northern Panhandle and beyond.”
The announcement came as Bethany students celebrated National Chemistry Week (Oct. 20–26) by hosting a full slate of events designed to make chemistry engaging, accessible, and fun. Students began the week by volunteering at the Carnegie Science Center, followed by a “Science of Spices” QR code scavenger hunt across campus. The week continued with a mac and cheese fundraiser bake sale, engaging ACS trivia events exploring the “science of science,” and a special Mole Day trivia celebration honoring LGBTQ+ scientists. The celebration concluded with a spirited STEM picnic, where the chemistry community was joined by members of the Bethany men’s volleyball team in a campus-wide show of science, connection, and school pride. 
“The fact that we’ve been able to make an impact on the college and community as well as to travel to and to present at national conferences sets these students apart for their future goals and careers and, most importantly, betters our department and brings well-deserved recognition to our college,” Brothers added. “They are well on their way to perhaps even exceeding the impact of last year’s by hosting a very successful National Chemistry Week series of outreach events in October 2025.”
The chapter continued celebrating student achievement at the Kalon Pinning Ceremony in the Academic Parlour, honoring excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.
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