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First McCord Scholar Earns Ph.D.
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Dr. Derek Thurman (BS Chemistry, 1999), the inaugural recipient of the Tommy McCord Research Scholarship, completed his Ph.D. from Caltech in chemical engineering in 2005. Dr. Thurman's work at Caltech concerned flow-induced crystallization of polypropylene. He is now employed by ExxonMobil. Dr. McCord was present at a special banquet in his honor in 1998 when the inaugural scholarship was presented to Dr. Thurman, a senior at that time. Since then, there have been 10 McCord Scholars who have all been heavily involved in undergraduate chemical or biochemical research, as required by the scholarship charter. Six of them are currently enrolled or accepted into Ph.D. programs around the country. The Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty are proud of all of these recipients and the way in which they have honored Dr. McCord's legacy of dedication to and enjoyment of chemical research. Dr. Thurman is the 101st chemistry/biochemistry alumnus to earn a Ph.D.
Anyone interested in contributing to the Tommy McCord Endowed Research Scholarship fund can send a check payable to:
ACU Chemistry & Biochemistry
Attn: Tommy McCord Research Scholarship
ACU Box 28132
Abilene, TX 79699-8132