RCGC Announces New Chemistry Scholarship

RCGC ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP FOR CHEMISTRY STUDENTS

Deptford Twp. - Non-traditional chemistry students attending Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) will have a positive reaction to a new scholarship opportunity, thanks to funding from the Dr. Mark M. Chamberlain Chemistry Scholarship Endowment.

The Dr. Mark M. Chamberlain Scholarship Endowment is made possible through a generous donation from Dr. Barbara Chamberlain, in memory of her husband. She thought the establishment of this scholarship to be a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his entire career to education. “Mark’s goal was to ensure that anyone who wanted to become a scientist should have that opportunity. He was particularly concerned that there were few women who went into the sciences; this scholarship is a small step towards that goal,” said Chamberlain of her husband, the former Glassboro State College President.

Both Mark and Barbara Chamberlain have a long history with RCGC. Barbara began her education at Gloucester County College (now RCGC) in the nursing program before continuing on to Glassboro State College for her bachelor’s degree in School Nursing, then obtained degrees from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (BSN), University of Pennsylvania (MSN), Widener University (Ph.D.) and finally Wilmington University (MBA).

“My degree from Gloucester County College was a big stepping stone for my career. I was a non-traditional student, so my husband and I were well-aquatinted with all the challenges that come along with that. Non-traditional students often have families, jobs and additional responsibilities that make pursuing their education a challenge,” said Chamberlain. “Many lack funding, as well.”

“In addition to my experience as a student at Gloucester County College, Mark was involved there from the very beginning,” she explained. Her husband had worked closely with GCC’s first president Dr. William Apetz to introduce him to the community and to help achieve many of the goals of the institution.

“We watched the college grow from three buildings to the Rowan College at Gloucester County we see now,” said Chamberlain. “Our involvement with the institution is a prime reason for this endowment.”

Dr. Mark Chamberlain majored in chemistry at Franklin and Marshall in Lancaster, Pa., and earned a doctorate of philosophy in inorganic chemistry from the University of Illinois. He began his career in education as a faculty member at Western Reserve University, where he worked for 13 years before becoming the fourth president of Glassboro State College. Dr. Chamberlain had the distinction of being the first president selected by a combination of both faculty and students, rather than having been appointed by the state. He saw the college through the turbulent Vietnam War era, numerous campus expansions and a doubling of enrollment, with a sizable increase of enrollment in both women and minority students. He stepped down as president in 1984, and continued to teach as a professor of chemistry until his retirement in 2000. The Chamberlain Student Center stands on Rowan University’s Glassboro campus, named in his honor.

Full-time RCGC students majoring in chemistry are eligible for the $500 scholarship as long as they maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher. Women and non-traditional students, as well as student members of the American Chemical Society, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Students are required to complete a 250-word essay and submit a note of recommendation from an RCGC faculty member or counselor, along with a copy of their unofficial transcripts.

For more information on student scholarships, visit: RCGC.edu/scholarships.

Rowan College at Gloucester County is located on a 250-acre campus on Tanyard Road, Deptford, just off Exit 56 of Route 55.

Photo: RCGC Administrators and Dr. Barbara Chamberlain met on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 to sign the endowment agreement. Left to right: Elizabeth Hall, Director of Financial Services; Dr. Frederick Keating, College President; Dr. Geraldine Martin, Foundation President; Dr. Brenden Rickards, STEM Dean; Dr. Barbara Chamberlain.