Tennessee Tech student wins national chemistry award
Tennessee Tech chemistry student Sydney Decatur is pictured at the 2025 ACS Leadership
Institute in Houston, Texas earlier this year.
A student in Tennessee Tech University’s Department of Chemistry was among just 15
recipients of a prestigious award from the American Chemical Society.
Sydney Decatur, a junior chemistry major with minors in math and musical performance
from Maryville, Tenn., was part of an elite group selected for the 2025 ACS Student
Leadership Award. Decatur was chosen from a pool of more than 200 applicants from
across the world and received an all-expenses-paid trip to the ACS Leadership Institute,
an invitation-only conference held this year in Houston, Texas.
“I honestly was not really expecting it,” Decatur said of the award. “I was speechless,
truly, opening that email and seeing I had gotten it. It was such an amazing opportunity
and something I’ll never forget. It really impacted me and helped me with my confidence
in where I was at that point.”
Decatur called her trip to the ACS Leadership Institute a valuable learning and networking
opportunity.
“That was something that got me out of my comfort zone,” she explained. “I do consider
myself more of an introvert. But I got to meet a lot of great people, and I was inspired
by so many people’s stories and how they got to where they are. It solidified my interest
in staying with ACS and being involved. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about
different paths in careers in chemistry.”
Decatur chalks up her passion for chemistry to the influence of her mother – who also
studied chemistry before going on to a successful career as a regulatory analyst –
as well as a childhood fascination with “learning about the way the world works.”
“Sometimes with chemistry, it’s like a mystery you’re trying to solve,” Decatur added.
At Tech, Decatur says her academic pursuits have been supported by caring faculty
like Amanda Carroll, master lecturer and director of advising and student success
in the Department of Chemistry.
“I’ve known Dr. Carroll since SOAR [freshman orientation]. She’s incredibly supportive.
She even comes to my musical performances,” said Decatur. “I know she’s a person I
could always come to with questions or concerns. I think that’s part of the reason
why our ACS student chapter is so successful. She’s a great mentor to all of us.”
Outside of Carroll, Decatur has found a sense of welcome and belonging from the broader
university community, too.
“When I first visited Tech, I really noticed how large the chemistry department was.
The new Lab Science Commons building had just opened. It was all very exciting. I
could tell the chemistry program was cared about and was strong,” Decatur reflected.
“I absolutely love it here. I’ve learned so much. I’ve been able to do research since
my freshman year. I feel very supported by the program and all the professors really
care about their students.”
Following her expected graduation from Tech next year, Decatur plans to continue her
studies at graduate school and is considering future paths working at a national laboratory
or teaching at the collegiate level.
“I’m open to whatever opportunities lie ahead,” she concluded.
Decatur’s ACS Student Leadership Award win marks the eighth straight year that a Tech
student was selected for the coveted honor. In 2022, Tech’s ACS student chapter was
ranked among the top 10 across all university campuses.
Learn more about Tech’s Department of Chemistry at www.tntech.edu/chemistry.