ChemLuminary Awards

The ACS celebrates the achievements of local sections annually at the ChemLuminary Awards held during the fall ACS National Meeting & Exposition. The awards ceremony gives members the opportunity to recognize local sections, technical divisions, regional meetings, and international chemical sciences chapters for their tireless efforts and work in promoting chemistry and the chemical sciences during the previous year.

The Georgia Local Section has been an award finalist and recipient numerous times over the years, as indicated in the list below. Finalists and awards in a given year refer to events and activities of the previous year.

Award Year (# of Finalists) Award Finalists (Winners in Bold)
2023 (7)Best New Senior Chemists Activity within a Local Section
Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs
Chemists with Disabilities Inclusion Award
Fostering Interactions between Local Sections and Student Chapters
Outstanding Community Involvement in CCEW
Outstanding Ongoing CCEW Event
Outstanding Project SEED Program Award – Small Site
2022 (5)Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs
Fostering Interactions between Local Sections and Student Chapters
Most Creative & Innovative Use of the CCEW Theme
Outstanding American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) Support Award
Outstanding Women Chemists Local Section Event
2021 (6)Best New Public Relations Program of a Local Section
Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs
Local Section Partnership Award/Marinda Li Wu Award
Outstanding American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) Support Award
Outstanding Local Section Career Program Award
Best Continuing Senior Chemists Activity within a Local Section
2020 (7)ACS President’s Award for Local Section Government Affairs
Most Creative & Innovative Use of the CCEW Theme
Most Creative NCW Celebration Using the Yearly Theme
Outstanding Community Involvement in CCEW
Best Continuing Senior Chemists Activity within a Local Section
Outstanding High School Student Program Award
Outstanding U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad
2019 (14) Best NCW Event Organized by a Student Group
Most Creative & Innovative Use of the CCEW Theme
Outstanding Community Involvement in NCW
Outstanding Ongoing CCEW Event
Outstanding Ongoing NCW Event
Outstanding Public Outreach Event Organized by a Student Group
Outstanding Sustainability Activities
Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs
Best Ongoing Senior Activity in a Local Section that Benefits the Community, Local Schools, or Legislative Government
Fostering Interactions between Local Sections and Student Chapters
Outstanding High School Student Program Award
Outstanding Kids and Chemistry Award
Outstanding U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad
Outstanding or Creative Local Section Younger Chemists Committee Event
2018 (5) Outstanding On-going Chemists Celebrate Earth Day Event
Outstanding Public Outreach Event Organized by a Student Group
Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs
Outstanding U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad
Best Overall WCC Local Section
2017 (1) Outstanding Chemistry Olympiad Program
2016 (1) Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section
2015 (1) Outstanding Regional Meeting (SERMACS 2013 in Atlanta)
2014 (8) Outstanding Performance by a Local Section (Large Size)
Outstanding Local Section Industry Event (Chemical Business Symposium  at SERMACS)
Outstanding Collaboration – Local Section and Division (Chemical Business Symposium at SERMACS)
Most Innovative New Activity or Program (Chemical Business Symposium at SERMACS)
Outstanding Local Section Career Program (Large to Very Large)
Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Committee
Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program of a Local Section
ACS President’s Award for Local Section Government Affairs
2013 (11) Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section
Most Creative NCW Activity Using the Yearly Theme
Outstanding Community Activities in Chemists Celebrate Earth Day
Outstanding Local Section Industry Event
Outstanding Local Section Career Program
Best Program Stimulating Member Involvement
Best Local Section Partnership Award
Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program
Outstanding Project SEED Award
Outstanding Collaboration by Division and Local Section
Best Overall Local Section Minority Affairs Committee
2012 (5) Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section
Outstanding Local Section and Division Collaboration
Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program
Fostering Local Section and Student Chapters Interactions
Best Overall Minority Affairs Committee
2011 (6) Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section
Best Overall Minority Affairs Committee
Best NCW Student Chapter Event 
Outstanding Career Program  
Outstanding K-12 Teacher/Education Program
Best Program Stimulating Membership Involvement
2010 (3) Outstanding New or Innovative Single Event Promoting Women
Outstanding Community Involvement in NCW
Creative Younger Chemists Committee Event
2009 (4) Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section
Outstanding Career Program 
Best New Public Relations Program
Best NCW High School Event
2008 (6) Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section
Best Overall Minority Affairs Committee
Outstanding Continuing Public Relations Program
Outstanding Kids & Chemistry Education
Outstanding Outreach to Girls or Young Women
Outstanding Single Event Promoting Women
2007 (7) Outstanding Performance by a Large Local Section
Outstanding Single Event Promoting Women
Best New Public Relations Program 
Best PR Activity Stimulating Membership Involvement
Outstanding Outreach to Girls or Young Women
Outstanding Local Section and Division Interaction
Outstanding Kids & Chemistry Education
2006 (2) Outstanding Advocacy on Behalf of Women in the Chemical Sciences
Outstanding Kids and Chemistry Education
2004 (2) ACS Presidents Award for Government Affairs
Most Innovative New Section Activity
2003 (1) ACS Presidents Award for Government Affairs