On Friday, February 26, the student chapter of the American Chemical Society (SCACS) and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry presented the James H. Crowdle Award for Distinction in Chemistry to David Nalewajek ’74, PhD. The Crowdle Award was presented to Dr. Nalewajek at a dinner in Grupp Fireside Lounge that was attended by more than 50 students, alumni and faculty.
The Crowdle Award is the highest honor the department bestows on it alumni. Dr. Nalewajek was recognized for his exceptional research accomplishments in the field of fluorine chemistry, in particular his development of new molecules to replace ozone depleting and global warming contributing chlorfluorocarbons, as well as his extensive volunteer work sharing his excitement for science with students in Buffalo area schools.
Dr. Nalewajek earned his PhD in chemistry from the University at Buffalo in 1978. He is currently a Research Fellow in the Buffalo Research Laboratory at Honeywell International Inc. He is the holder of 80 U.S. patents and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Schoellkopf Medal from the Western New York section of the American Chemical Society (2003) and the Canisius College Distinguished Alumni Award (2009). He was elected a fellow of the American Chemical Society in 2015.
More information about the Crowdle Award can be found at http://www.canisius.edu/chemistry/alumni/crowdle-award/.
Pictured above, Dr. Nalewajek and current students at the Crowdle Award dinner.
Submitted by: Phillip Sheridan, PhD, associate professor, chemistry and biochemistry
