1. Virginia Section
Outstanding Performance by a Local Section (Medium Large Size) .
Best Overall WCC Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Career Program Award
The women’s chemist committee has an enduring record of leadership and activity.  The WCC held 3 networking breakfast/lunch events.  Discussion topics focused on the need for recognition for women in technical awards and planning for other events.  Members gathered for a glass blowing demonstration at Research Glass in Richmond.  The presentation focused on the chemistry and process for making hand-blown glass Christmas tree ornaments and each attendee received an souvenir ornament. In previous years, the WCC sponsored a tour of a winery, a brewery, and, recently, the State Forensics lab.
The WCC sponsored its 8th annual Chemistry Career Discussion Panel at the University of Richmond. The meeting was co-sponsored by the Powell Lectureship Series, and the focus was on encouraging female minority students.  Panel members included Dr. Hilda Castillo, Research Operations Manager for the Harvard Program in Therapeutic Sciences (HiTS) at the Harvard Medical School and several other women speakers presented.
Outstanding Community
Involvement in NCW
Outstanding Leadership
Development Program Award
Science Career Development Workshop
The workshop featured a networking lunch, keynote speaker, breakout sessions, raffles and a career panel Q&A session.  The Keynote speaker was Dr. Aaron Pawlyk, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases with Career panelists John Connell, Ph.D., Advanced Materials and Processing Branch at the NASA Langley Research Center, Lisa El-Shall, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Daniel Cook, Ph.D., Postdoctoral fellow and Renata Spinks, US Treasury, Robert Pike, Ph.D., College of William and Mary,  Kathryn Deibler, Ph.D., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Wanida Lewis, Ph.D., Christopher Newport University.  The event was a collaborative event between the Virginia ACS YCC, the William and Mary Chemistry Club and Hampton Roads Section of the ACS.  Additional funding for this initiative provided by an ACS Bridging the Gap Mini Grant.
A Spooky Celebration- Great Periodic Pumpkins and Spooky Science Sunday- A week -long celebration of chemistry. Students from 6 high schools and 7 colleges throughout the VA Section carved elements of the periodic table into pumpkins.  The Great Pumpkin Periodic Tables were assembled and displayed in multiple locations including Bridgewater College, Science Museum and Children’s Museums of Virginia and Hollyfield Manor.  The Children’s Museum display was also combined with a Spooky Science hands on science event for elementary age children.  This event had widespread reach both geographically and across age groups.  Additional sponsorship for this event obtained from Walmart.
This was the Virginia Section’s first effort to develop a formal strategic plan.  15 members of the VA Section met to develop a Vision, and Mission Statement, created 4 long term goals and 12 short term objectives.  The members of the planning committee represented a cross section of members selected to reflect every aspect of diversity within the section (students, professionals, educators, gender, ethnicity, age).  Members of the planning committee each accepted the role of champion for a portion of the plan.  The plan was adopted by the VA Section in January of 2017 and is currently in the implementation phase. Additional funding for this event was provided through a ACS LS and IPG grants.
The members who gave up a Saturday and Sunday on Race Weekend in Richmond
Engagement in the process
Moderators hard at work