Commuter Gets Dual Degrees with Honors

COMMUTING MOTHER RECEIVES DUAL DEGREES WITH HIGHEST HONORS

     COLUMBUS -- Overcoming obstacles is what Holly Bright 
Lavender of MANSFIELD does best. After six years of study, 
four of them spent commuting two-and-a-half-hours daily, 
this dedicated mother of two received a Bachelor of Science 
in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, summa 
cum laude, with honors and distinction on June 9 from The 
Ohio State University.

     "It made me feel as though my work counted, like the 
effort I made to get good grades was worth it," Lavender 
said.

     Lavender is the recipient of over a dozen academic 
honors, awards and scholarships, including a graduate 
fellowship from Ohio State's Department of Chemistry.  The 
fellowship, which has a renewable annual stipend of $18,000, 
will enable her to continue her studies toward a Ph.D.

     After leaving the workforce upon the birth of her 
daughter, Lavender spent six years as a stay-at-home mother.  
She began her college studies in part-time at Ohio State's 
Mansfield campus in 1989 when her younger child started 
school.  Originally an education major, Lavender switched to 
a double major in mathematics and chemistry when she "fell 
in love" with chemistry after her first science class.

     After two years at the Mansfield campus, Lavender 
transferred to full-time studies at the Columbus campus and 
she began making two-and-a-half-hour daily round-trip 
commutes from Mansfield.

     "It wasn't bad. I got used to it, but it did cut down 
on my study time," Lavender said.  She admits things were 
sometimes difficult: "There were times I had to be up very 
early in the morning and had late night exams.  Because I 
liked what I was doing, it never got bad enough that I 
wanted to quit."

     Lavender said her family played a major role in her 
academic success, although they were initially skeptical 
about her choice of study.

     "At first my family was a little apprehensive about it.  
They wondered why I chose chemistry and questioned what 
would I do with it.  It's not a typical field for a woman," 
she said.

     Her husband, Thomas, and children, Melissa, 12, and 
Dane, 10, are very supportive and were excited to see her 
graduate.

     "My son is very interested in science and thinks it is 
cool that Mom is a scientist," she said.

     Lavender will begin the Ph.D. program in chemistry at 
Ohio State in September.  Her interests are in research and 
development.  While an undergraduate, she participated in 
numerous research projects in nuclear physics, physical 
chemistry, Lie algebra.  Currently she is researching the 
photochemistry (light-induced chemistry) of dinuclear 
organometallic (those that contain a metal-carbon bond) 
complexes.

     "Holly is truly exceptional," said Alayne Parson, 
professor of mathematics.  "She is a wonderful role model 
for women interested in research careers in science."

     Bruce Bursten, professor of chemistry and Lavender's 
undergraduate research adviser, said, "I truly marvel at her 
ability to organize her life, get everything done, be a nice 
person, and carry a 3.86 cumulative grade average while 
achieving a double major in two of the hardest majors we 
have at Ohio State."

     In addition to her academic activities, Lavender is 
active with the Girl Scouts and the parents organization at 
Discovery School in Mansfield.  She is also a member of the 
American Chemical Society, Sigma Xi scientific research 
society, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, and the 
Golden Key National Honor Society.

                            #

Contact: Holly Bright Lavender, (419) 756-0333.
Written by: Tracy Turner, (614) 688-3682.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Tue, 25 Jul 1995 10:00:39 -0400]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.