Kelly Kolson Receives the Grace A. Banks Memorial Award in Natural Sciences from Chestnut Hill College

PHILADELPHIA, PA (06/20/2011)(readMedia)-- Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, Ph.D, president of Chestnut Hill College, awarded senior Kelly Kolson, a psychology major from Bel Air, Md. with the Grace A. Banks Memorial Award in Natural Sciences at Honors Convocation in May.

The Grace A. Banks Memorial Award in Natural Sciences is named in honor of Grace A. Banks, Ph.D., professor emeritus of chemistry, who was a member of the Chestnut Hill College faculty for almost 30 years. The award is initiated and funded by Grace's family, friends and faculty colleagues. It is presented to a graduating senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Science students who meet the criteria are invited to submit an essay on a topic identified by the members of the chemistry and biology departments. The essays were judged by the department chairs.

Kelly, a double major in psychology and biology, is graduating with a G.P.A of 3.5. She was also one of five undergraduates to receive an excellence in research award at Sigma Xi Student Research Day at Thomas Jefferson University in April. Kelly was one of five award recipients, along with other students from Princeton University, Ursinus College, Haverford College and Cedar Crest.

Kelly is currently applying for Ph.D. programs for Fall 2012 and is interested in studying ocean geology or environmental toxicology.

About Chestnut Hill College

Chestnut Hill College, a four-year coed Catholic college in the Ignatian tradition, offers a traditional liberal arts undergraduate program as well as accelerated undergraduate degrees, master's and doctoral programs. The College has been rated by US News & World Report as among the best master's universities in the North, as among the best Northeastern colleges by The Princeton Review, and has been classified as selective by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Since its inception, the College has offered a rigorous curriculum that provides students with a broad background in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The goal of Chestnut Hill College has been to prepare students for life's challenges by helping them to grow intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and socially.