Chemical Engineering Recognizes Outstanding High School Mentor

Stephen Ironside

Kyla Morris, 2023 Distinguished High School Mentor

The Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering is proud to recognize Kyla Morris of Bentonville West High School as the 2023 Distinguished High School Mentor.

The Distinguished High School Mentor honor allows chemical engineering students the opportunity to recognize outstanding high school mentors who consistently motivated them to strive for excellence and higher achievement, including high school teachers, counselors, principals, ministers, and others.

Morris was nominated by sophomore chemical engineering student Alfredo Carillo. She is a double graduate of the University of Arkansas, earning her Bachelor of Science in chemistry and Master of Science in biochemistry. When reflecting on teaching, Morris shared with the department that:

"Each day I am challenged to engage students to experience, appreciate, and understand chemistry while also making connections with them as a trusted adult in their lives. Teaching has been such an unexpectedly fulfilling and challenging career. Hearing from students in class or years down the road about their successes (or how much easier chemistry seems in college compared to AP Chemistry) is so rewarding."

It was as a teaching assistant at the university that Morris was drawn toward teaching. "Through my graduate research and teaching assistant duties, I felt a passion for teaching chemistry and connecting with students. After graduating, I obtained my teaching license through the APPEL program and have been teaching chemistry with Bentonville Schools for eight years."

Morris was formally recognized during the Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers annual banquet in April. The award also includes a donation to the mentor's high school by the academy. The Academy was established in 2006 to recognize outstanding chemical engineers and provide support for the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering.

More about Kyla Morris' career and the Distinguished High School Mentor honor can be found online. Nominations are accepted by the department's American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Student Chapter Council each year. Awardees are determined by the Department's AIChE Council.

About the Department of Chemical Engineering: Chemical engineering has been a part of the University of Arkansas curriculum since 1903. Today, the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering has an enrollment of over 300 students in its undergraduate and graduate degree programs and houses five endowed chairs and eight endowed professorships to support its faculty. Faculty expertise includes cellular engineering, chemical process safety, advanced materials, and membrane separations. A wide range of fundamental and applied research is conducted in the areas of energy, health, sustainability and computational chemical engineering. The department is also home to the Chemical Hazards Research Center and is one of three national sites for the Membrane Science, Engineering, & Technology (MAST) Center. The Department of Chemical Engineering is named for alumnus Ralph E. Martin (B.S.Ch.E.'58, M.S.Ch.E.'60) in recognition of his 2005 endowment gift.