Funded by the National Science Foundation, the summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program at Texas A&M University-Commerce was a unique and rewarding research training opportunity for community college students interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).††Seventeen students from community colleges in Northeastern Texas and Southwestern Arkansas were selected for the 2014 joint program in chemistry, physics and astronomy.††Each participant worked directly under a faculty mentor on a collaborative research project that matched the specific interests of the participant.
On August 6, the following Northeast Texas Community College Presidential Honor Students presented their respective results and findings at the REU Symposium:
Matthew Jordan, ?Development of Carbohydrate-based Heterogeneous Solid Acid Catalyst for Biodiese?
Stephen Milburn, ?The effect of labs that address real world beliefs on physics identity?
Kayleah Cumpian, ?The pH Dependent Zn(II) Binding Behavior of an Analog Methanobactin Peptide?
Ricky Huitema, ?Supported Cu-Pd catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene?
Jordan and Huitema have both transferred to Texas Tech University to continue pursuing an undergraduate degree in petroleum engineering. Milburn has transferred to Texas A&M†University-College Station to major in physics. Kayleah Cumpian is a sophomore at NTCC majoring in biomedical science.
