Sophomore Jared Gohl holds the Grenade Award after Hillsdale’s chapter of the American Chemical Society received the Most Spirited Award Jan. 29 in the Battle of the Chemistry Clubs at Michigan State University.
Hillsdale American Chemical Society | Courtesy
Thirteen Hillsdale College chemistry and biology majors brought home the Most Spirited Award while rooting for their clubmates in Battle of the Chemistry Clubs Jan. 29 at Michigan State University.
The daylong event, a competition testing the chemistry smarts of American Chemical Society student chapters, attracted roughly 200 undergraduates from surrounding Michigan colleges. Students answered questions on topics of analytical, organic, physical, and general chemistry.
“It was an awesome experience for us because we were there to do well but also to have fun,” said senior Zoe Norr, president of Hillsdale’s ACS chapter. “Our team was cheering constantly even though no one else was cheering.”
Norr credits the leadership of Hillsdale athletes for keeping the enthusiasm at a high level.
“At one time, a lady asked us to be quiet because she couldn’t hear the instructions over our cheers,” Norr said.
Football player freshman Jared Gohl attended Battle of the Chem Clubs for the first time this year and noticed, of the colleges in attendance, Hillsdale brought the most athletes.
“We’re used to being really loud, and once the athletes heard that the Most Spirited Award used to be called the Grenade Award, we wanted it,” Gohl said. “It was totally in our league.”
Softball player junior Cassie Asselta said the laboratory obstacle course was a particularly challenging contest. Students tried to beat the clock as they carried lab equipment across a floor scattered with boxes.
“At the end of the contest, the program coordinator said to us, ‘Thank you guys for making this so fun!” Asselta said.
Proud to represent their science department at the event, Hillsdale students “got their nerd on,” Asselta said.
