Marsha Wisely, of St. Louis, a senior in chemical engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology is one of 15 students in the nation to receive the 2013 Donald R. and Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement and involvement in AIChE Student Chapter activities. Only one student can be nominated from a chapter each year.

Wisely has been involved in the Missouri S&T Chapter of AIChE since her sophomore year, when she was elected historian. She was elected president the following semester, making her one of the youngest presidents in the chapter’s history. Wisely served as president for two semesters and helped the group earn its third consecutive Outstanding Chapter Award.

“Within the chapter, Marsha focused on making it possible for the students in the chemical and biochemical engineering department to network,” says Dr. Daniel Forciniti, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at S&T and the university’s AIChE Chapter advisor. “She worked with potential recruiters to develop ‘corporate mixers’ and brought in outside speakers to the general meetings.”

Wisely plans to graduate in December 2014 and wants to pursue a career in process simulation. For more information about the award or AIChE, visit aiche.org.