ALLIANCE — In order to enhance the science experience of local students and provide access to the campus’s lab spaces, the University of Mount Union’s chemistry program hosted 23 students from Marlington Middle School (MMS) for hands-on activities and experiments in May.

The program has been led by Drs. Sheryl and Scott Mason, professors of chemistry and biochemistry, respectively, for more than 15 years. The day consisted of rotating the students through different activities that utilize unique equipment found in Mount Union’s Bracy and Gallaher Halls.

The 2026 edition of the event provided MMS students with access to several aspects of science at Mount Union:

• Dr. Ryan Dwyer, associate professor of chemistry, and Ally Metzger ‘28, biology major, led the students through a catalyzed chemical reaction.
• Elizabeth ’27, biochemistyr major, and Sheryl Mason had students participate in an experiment to collect and measure properties of a hydrogen gas sample that was created by a chemical reaction
• Scott Mason guided students around highlights of Bracy Hall that included telescopes, the instrumentation lab and other items often not found in a middle school classroom.
• MMS students toured Gallaher Hall facilities, including the nursing skills and simulation labs led by accelerated nursing student Mary Mason ’25, ’26, and the motion lab, where Dr. Tomás Barrett, associate professor of exercise science, led a demonstration.

The MMS Enriched Science course is designed to challenge the students with an advanced, hands-on curriculum that features interactive experiments and real-world data collection as student scientists. The partnership between MMS and Mount Union has aimed to expose students to new experiences and future paths of study since its inception. 

Learn more about the chemistry degree at Mount Union by visiting mountunion.edu/chemistry.