Katy Gilbertson
Jamie Chin, who majored in both chemistry and French, was named the recipient of the Cecil F. Cheverton Award for 2025.
The Cheverton Award is the oldest and highest undergraduate student honor, awarded by a vote of the full Chapman faculty. A gift of the class of 1929, the original bronze Cheverton Award cup remains on exhibit in Argyros Forum along with its successor, a silver bowl. These trophies are engraved with the names of all Cheverton awardees since 1929.
“I am incredibly grateful and honored. This award means a lot to me, and it could not have been possible with everyone who has supported me,” said Chin.
Chin will pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Texas Austin this fall.
“I am grateful to Dr. Owens, my very first research mentor, who kicked off my journey towards being a scientist,” said Chin. “I would also like to thank Dr. Wang and Dr. Kim for guiding and supporting me through the graduate school application process.”
Chin is graduating with a wide array of research experiences behind her. As a Stauffer Fletcher Jones Fellow, under the mentorship of Dr. Cedric Owens, Chin researched the efficacy of esterase on chlorogenic acid, exploring its applications in food science. Her project, for which she co-authored a research paper in the Journal of Food Science, examined the upcycling of sunflower flour in baked goods. Sunflower flour is a nutritious alternative to wheat flour, but it produces an unpleasant green color due to chlorogenic acid. To resolve this problem, Chin added an esterase enzyme to the mixture to break down the chlorogenic acid, eliminating the green hue.
“Participating in scientific research has taught me valuable skills and allowed me to cultivate novel scientific knowledge that can be shared with the world,” said Chin.
At the Schmid College of Science and Technology Awards Night, Chin was named the Outstanding Chemistry Major.
“Jamie has distinguished herself in the lab, the classroom, and across our academic community,” said Dr. Elaine Schwartz, Associate Dean for External Relations and Student Advancement. “Her record speaks to a rare combination of discipline and curiosity. As she heads to the University of Texas for her Ph.D., we can say with confidence that the future of science is in very good hands.”
Outside of the lab, Chin competes on the Women’s Water Polo team. Her first year, Chin set the second-highest single-season shooting percentage, and she served as a starter for the next three years. In the 2023-2024 season, Chin helped her team reach the post-season tournament for the first time in program history.
“I am so grateful to have been supported by a group of strong, loving, and amazing women,” said Chin. “They all taught me to push myself to the limit and believe in myself.”
Additionally, Chin is president of Chapman’s chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
“I never knew what being a club president was like until I became one,” said Chin. “I am naturally more hands-off, so I have often felt uncomfortable taking the lead. However, as president I had to learn to communicate effectively with my executive board to complete our tasks.”
Chin put on ACS’ first fundraising initiative (a popular “pie your professor” event) and coordinated outreach activities with the local community.
“My most memorable outreach event was at the Santa Ana Zoo, where we conducted a hidden-messages experiment with colored lenses,” Chin said. “I felt incredibly fulfilled to foster a sense of excitement for the sciences in these young children.”
Chin said that her experiences at Chapman helped her transform from a shy, hesitant student into a confident leader, a determined athlete and a dedicated researcher.
“I am so excited to see what is next,” Chin said. “I will carry my Chapman community with me all the way to Texas.”
