NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTORS
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Bethany C. Rees

A junior majoring in biochemistry with a minor in international business at Ithaca College of New York, Bethany Rees also attended Alfred University in the same state where she studied in the environmental science department. There Bethany worked with water and soil samples; she was also a lab assistant at the Biology Preparatory Laboratory of Ithaca College where she helped with courses like “Principles and Fundamentals of Biology.” Bethany worked at Ceralink, Inc. in Alfred, New York doing Internet and laboratory research. A member of the American Red Cross and the President’s Host Committee on campus, Bethany did volunteer work at Community Plunge and with INVOLVED (Intelligently Advocating Volunteer Opportunities and Leadership Values for the Educationally Determined). She studied French as well as Italian and traveled to France, Switzerland, Italy, and Haiti. Bethany requested an internship in science, research, and/or pharmaceuticals when she applied to the Washington Internship Program on March 4. Six weeks later, WIP placed her in a paid internship at the Chemical Education Foundation within the National Association of Chemical Distributors (one among forty prime placements WIP suggested to Bethany). She earned $10 an hour from the start of her internship on June first through mid August while living at WIP’s International House in Northwest Washington. Following is Bethany’s description of her position:   

“I spent the summer of 2006 as an intern at the Chemical Educational Foundation in Arlington, Virginia where I had a great work experience. Over the course of about two months I learned so much. I designed a Solutions Bulletin on Earth Day and drafted a proposal for revision to solicit aid and coordinate a national academic challenge in connection with curriculum development for CEF’s You Be the Chemist kit. I had the exciting opportunity of traveling to Pennsylvania with CEF to demonstrate chemistry experiments at a cub-scout camp in Philadelphia. I conducted research on ways to advertise and publicize CEF’s Community Awards for Chemical Safety and explored possibilities for working with Local Emergency Planning Committees. I found new avenues for fundraising and outlets for purchasing CEF materials. Overall, I really enjoyed my internship. I even got to go on a cruise to Annapolis, Maryland with the company. We ate at a wonderful crab restaurant right on the water, and I enjoyed this chance to network with other people at the National Association of Chemical Distributors with whom I hadn’t had time to work closely during the internship.”

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