Rubber Division elects officers.

Richard J. Hupp of EniChem Americas was voted chairman-elect for 2001 by the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society. Christopher G. Probasco, Flexsys America L.P., was voted vice-chairman.

Kurt Nygaard of Harwick Standard Distribution was elected to the position of treasurer for a two-year term (2001-2002). Paul Esposito was elected assistant treasurer for the two-year term.

John Long of DSM Copolymer was elected councilor for the Rubber Division for a three-year term (2001-2003). Krishna Baranwal was elected alternate councilor for the three-year term.

Area directors and alternate area directors for a three-year term (2001-2003) were also elected and are as follows: Blue Ridge - Robert Gaines; Central Illinois - Leonard Thomas and Carl Caputo (alternate); Chicago - Douglas C. Coulthard and Harold M. Whitacre, Jr. (alternate); Connecticut - Anthony Ferradino and Thomas L. Jablonowski (alternate); Fort Wayne - Michael S. Denford and Joan Treager (alternate); Ontario - Phil Bailet and John Reid (alternate); Southern - Paul H. McKinstry; Twin Cities - Dean A. Denny and Robert E. Eggers (alternate); West Michigan - Lance Marguglio and Greg Diederich (alternate); and Western New York - Jerry A. Fasolino and Jim V. Lipinski, Jr. (alternate).

At its 158th Fall Technical Meeting last month in Cincinnati, the Rubber Division, ACS, presented awards for best papers and symposia from its 157th Spring Technical meeting in Dallas last spring.

The Best Paper Award for an original contribution was presented to Jacques W.M. Noordermeer and H.J.H. Beelen of DSM Elastomers Europe BV for the paper "Understanding the influence of polymer and compounding variations on the extrusion behavior of EPDM compounds II: The effect of controlled long chain branching."

Honorable Mention was awarded to Walter H. Waddell, R.C. Napier and R.R. Poulter of ExxonMobil Chemical for the paper "Improved tread compound wet/winter traction using brominated isobutylene-co-para-methylstyrene."

The Best Paper Award in the review category was awarded to David E. Hall and J.C. Moreland of Michelin Americas Research for the paper "Fundamentals of rolling resistance.

The Best Paper Award for an educational contribution was awarded to Erich Bakuniec of Continental General Tire for the paper "Tire construction for normal non-speed-rated and high-speed-rated passenger car tires (OE, replacement, all season)."

The Best Symposium Award was presented to William Hopkins, Roger Jones, Joel Neilsen and Tony Niziolek of Bayer for the Educational Symposium on Basic Tire Technology: Passenger and Light Truck.

The Rubber Division, ACS, is now accepting nominations for scholarships for the 2000-2001 academic year. Three undergraduate scholarships will be awarded to incoming juniors or seniors enrolled in an accredited college or university in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or Colombia. Each winner will receive $5,000 to defray educational expenses billed by the respective institution, in addition to a plaque designating him/her as a Rubber Division, ACS, scholar.

Candidates must be majoring in a technical discipline relevant to the rubber industry with a B or better overall academic average. They must have a serious intent to pursue full-time professional employment in the rubber industry and show promise of a productive future as a technical professional.

These scholarships are not available to immediate family members of anyone involved in the selection of winners or the administration of the scholarships. For any given year, no educational institution may have more than one winner.

Applications must be completed and postmarked no later than March 16, 2001. To obtain nomination forms and guidelines governing these scholarships, contact Dr. Charles Rader, chairman of the scholarship committee, at [phone].

Further information on the Rubber Division, ACS, including information on upcoming technical meetings and educational courses, is available from the Rubber Division [phone].