Colorado-based Hach Scientific Foundation supports future chemistry teachers at OSU

Foundation awards two annual scholarships to OSU students

The Hach Scientific Foundation, based in Fort Collins, Colo., is helping future chemistry teachers fund their education at Oklahoma State University.

By providing scholarships to future chemistry teachers, as well as financial support throughout their careers, the foundation is focused on fostering and supporting science and science education.

Bryce Hach, the science foundation’s executive director, is leading efforts to partner with every land-grant university in the U.S. to award two $6,000 scholarships to chemistry majors pursuing careers in education.

“More than 90 percent of the scholarship recipients I talked to said their number one influence in the field of chemistry was a really good high school chemistry teacher,” Hach said. “What an incredibly influential role they play in this industry.”

While the foundation wants to create a pipeline of incoming chemistry teachers, it also wants to ensure those entering the profession receive the highest quality education, which is why the scholarships are awarded through land-grant universities.

“Land-grants really have a good background in research and the hard sciences,” Hach said. “We wanted to tap into that knowledge pool, get hard science majors to consider teaching and create from that environment.”

“I decided to become a chemistry teacher because I know our country is lacking in science teachers, and because I love chemistry so much; I want to help,” said Miller, an Edmond, Okla., native. “I’ve always been a teacher at heart, helping my fellow classmates and younger sisters whenever they need it.  With this scholarship, I will finish my degree and go on to help as many students as I can, hopefully sparking a passion for teaching in some of them.” “This scholarship program is the backbone of the foundation,” Hach said. “We want to provide support to future chemistry teachers and outreach programs to every chemistry teacher across the country.”

Senior OSU chemistry major Amanda Miller is in her second year of receiving the generous scholarship.

The Hach Scientific Foundation was established in 1982 by Clifford and Kitty Hach and operated through their company, the Hach Company, until Clifford’s death in 1990 and the sale of the Hach Company in 1999 in which the proceeds went to the Hach Scientific Foundation.  

The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach.  OSU has more than 32,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations.  Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world. 

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