American Chemical Society wins $10,000 Kluck Service Enrichment Grant
April 28, 2025
- Matthew CheathamOuachita Baptist University’s chapter of the American Chemical Society was awarded a $10,000 service grant by the Elrod Center for Family & Community as they celebrated 25 years of Kluck Service Enrichment Grants this past fall. ACS will use the grant this spring to invest in local schools by upgrading chemistry lab kits.
“This project is meant to help high school students gain a positive appreciation of chemistry through active participation and problem-solving,” said Maryann Rettig, ACS president and senior biology and chemistry double major from Poyen, Ark. “The goal is to enhance their chemistry education by increasing laboratory exposure. We’re excited to expand our chemistry outreach to high schools around the Arkadelphia area with the help of the Kluck grant.”
Established by Dr. Wesley Kluck, university physician, the grants have supported student-led service initiatives across campus and the community every fall and spring semester. The Kluck grants provide financial support for students taking initiative to serve in the community, with the typical grant amount being between $300 and $500.
“My calling is to support college students in many ways,” said Kluck. “When the service opportunities came up, we wanted to allow people to be creative to do service projects, and I wanted to be a part of that. It fits with my calling, equipping college students so they can minister to other people.”
On March 1, 1997, a tornado came through Arkadelphia, destroying homes and businesses as well as taking several lives. The recently founded Elrod Center was already planning its first Tiger Serve Day and adjusted to serve the Arkadelphia community in the wake of the disaster. Building upon the spirited camaraderie and service mindset after the tragedy, Kluck established the grants, which have since seen an estimated $115,000 awarded in total.
“Because of Dr. Kluck’s generosity, our campus and community have been impacted in a significant way,” said Judy Duvall, director of the Elrod Center. “For 50 semesters and 25 years, Ouachita students have been awarded funds to think creatively about how they can use their gifts and talents to serve others.”
On May 6, Ouachita’s ACS chapter will hold a chemistry kit training session for local teachers in Arkadelphia. These kits will then be distributed to the schools, ready for their use in the advancement of science education.
For more information about the Elrod Center or Kluck Service Enrichment Grants, contact Judy Duvall at [email protected] or (870) 245-5320.
Lead photo: A student in Ouachita's Patterson School of Natural Sciences works in a lab in the Harvey & Bernice Jones Science Center.
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