{"id":58838,"date":"2024-03-11T15:45:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T19:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=58838"},"modified":"2024-03-11T15:45:46","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T19:45:46","slug":"chemistry-and-community-at-the-wilson-college-of-textiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/03\/chemistry-and-community-at-the-wilson-college-of-textiles\/","title":{"rendered":"Chemistry and Community: Undergraduate Students Gain Experience with the American Society of Textile Chemists and Colorists\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Headquartered in the Research Triangle Park, the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) is a driving force of innovation, testing and education that connects all aspects of the textile and material industries. AATCC\u2019s NC State chapter, founded in 1930, has found a perfect home as a student organization at the Wilson College of Textiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Speckhart, a junior studying polymer and color chemistry<\/a> (PCC) with an American Chemical Society <\/a>(ACS Certified) concentration, is president of NC State\u2019s AATCC chapter. Originally interested in medical school, PCC appealed to him because of its highly interdisciplinary applications, and he now plans to pursue a career focused on dye and finish chemistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I found that I love it. Textiles and dyes and all the chemistry, I didn’t realize how complex it is but it’s really cool how all of it combines together,\u201d Speckhart says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As members, students can take advantage of a plethora of resources, including access to scholarships, one-on-one mentorship programs and the annual AATCC Textile Discovery Summit<\/a>, where Dean David Hinks recently presented as keynote speaker<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt’s very helpful meeting alumni that have followed the same path as you. That’s the main thing that has helped me professionally,\u201d Speckhart says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n