Moretti of Doylestown Awarded National Scholarship from American Chemical Society

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Alysha Moretti of Doylestown, Pa.

CHESTER, PA (07/12/2012)(readMedia)-- CHESTER, Pa.  – Alysha Moretti of Doylestown, Pa., a rising senior dual chemistry and biochemistry major at Widener University, has been awarded the Priscilla Carney Jones Scholarship from the American Chemical Society. She is the only 2012 recipient chosen from a national candidate pool.

According to the ACS, the Priscilla Carney Jones Scholarship was established by Paul R. Jones, in memory of his wife, to provide scholarships for female undergraduate majors in chemistry or related disciplines who are beginning their junior or senior years of study full time at an accredited institution. Recipients must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 and have completed research or plan to conduct research during their undergraduate years.

Moretti currently holds a 3.9 GPA at Widener. She has been recognized with several academic awards for her achievements and has been inducted into the Phi Lambda Upsilon and Beta Beta Beta honor societies. She is also a member of the American Chemical Society.

At Widener, Moretti has worked under the guidance of Dr. Loyd Bastin, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, over the past two years on projects in the field of biochemistry. Her main focus has been a project aimed at discovering a mechanism for the process by which zebra mussels form their shells through biomineralization. She has recently completed her senior thesis on this project and presented her research findings at the 2012 National ACS meeting in San Diego as well as at the Delaware Chapter of the ACS annual poster session, where she captured second place in the undergraduate division. Moretti has also received research scholarships for this work, including the Sebastian and Sharon Faro Research Award and the William R. Bailey Scholarship and Research Award.

As the recipient of the Priscilla Carney Jones Scholarship, Moretti will receive a one-time award in the minimum amount of $1,500.

Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, leadership development and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener is comprised of eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences and professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. The university's campuses in Chester, Exton, and Harrisburg, Pa., and Wilmington, Del., serve approximately 6,500 students. Visit the university's website, www.widener.edu, for more information.

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