CSCT Student Chapters' Merit Award Goes to SAIT.

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Student Chapter of the CSCT operates in conjunction with the SAIT Chemistry Club and is the predominant organization for students enrolled in the Chemical Technology program. The Club is guided by a small group of dedicated students who volunteer their time for the benefit of all students in the program. The goals of the Chapter include increasing awareness about chemistry, advancement of chemical technology, promoting employment and educational opportunities, fundraising, charity work and the promotion of social activities. It also gives the members opportunity to meet and work with chemical technologists from all over Canada. These goals led the Chapter to be the 2000 winners of the CSCT Student Chapters Merit Award.

Every fall, this CSCT Student Chapter looks forward to welcoming back returning students and the new first-year students. At this time the Chemistry Club embarks on a membership drive for the CIC/CSCT and also promotes National Chemistry Week (NCW) on campus. The SAIT Student Chapter managed to recruit the largest number of new student members in response to CIC promotion last fall. For the past two years CSCT and the Chemistry Club have met with great success with many individuals choosing to become involved. By involving as many students as possible the club promotes both the CSCT and raises awareness about the chemical field to both students and non-students alike.

The Chemistry Club, with the assistance of SAIT has helped to further the education and skills of our members by organizing an [H.sub.2]S alive program earlier this year. It is also proud to boast the success of their presentation 'Petrochemical Expansion at Joffre'. The speaker, Anita L. Arduini, MCIC, from NOVA Chemicals, gave an informative lecture to a large audience including faculty, staff and students from various programs of study. Arduini enhanced the usefulness of chemical field and technology content to industry and the students.

The CSCT Chemistry Club often combines fundraising activities with social events: All work and no play makes for a boring Chem Tech. For the past two years the club has run the popular and very successful semi-annual 'Chemical Dependency Night' at the campus pub to raise capital for our activities. This event allows the students and faculty to interact in a less formal setting and get to know each other while having fun.

Most recently, members of the group put a large effort into their role in the SAIT student association 'Spring Fling'. As food vendors they had been awarded the contract to keep several thousand hungry fans fed at a large end of class concert. They will apply part of the proceeds to the Mustard Seed Mission and other charities here at SAIT.

They also play a role in the day-to-day lives of the students, sponsoring Valentine's Day activities and initiating prize draws. They have also created T-shirts allowing students to show their pride in chemical technology.

Special thanks go to the current student CSCT/Chem Club president and vice-president, Lawrence Tulissi and Christine Orr, respectively, for their efforts.