The Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation has launched a Tampa Bay chapter, making it the 17th charter chapter for this organization. The ARCS Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in Los Angeles in 1955. This volunteer women's organization is committed to providing scholarships to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying science, medicine and engineering. The ARCS Foundation-Tampa Bay launched its chapter with an inaugural luncheon and fundraiser event called, "Fashion and Fun Down to a Science." The March 12 event was held at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club. The goal was to raise funds to support two $15,000 scholarships that will be awarded to USF graduate students in the Colleges of Marine Science and Cancer Biology. USF will select the scholarship award recipients, says Karen Krymski, president for ARCS Tampa Bay and executive managing director for eWomen Network. ARCS Tampa Bay will serve as a recruitment tool attracting the best and brightest to the Tampa Bay region. "That's really what ARCS is really all about, the recruitment of the best and brightest students," says Krymski. "Scholarships are awarded to both men and women." Krymski advises that the formation of ARCS Foundation-Tampa Bay was a collaborative community effort. In addition to Krymski, founding officers include: Linda Seefeldt, president of AIM Above and vice president and president-elect for ARCS Tampa Bay; Janet Dickinson, CPA, financial systems consultant at Mills & Murphy Software Systems, Inc. and treasurer for ARCS Tampa Bay, and Elaine Bispo Smalling, vice president of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and secretary of ARCS Tampa Bay. Also instrumental in bringing the organization to Tampa Bay were USF President Judy Genshaft, Peter Betzer, president and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, Dr. Mya Breitbart of USF's College of Marine Sciences and Dr. Pamela Miller. ARCS Tampa Bay will be working on more initiatives and will introduce the community to more activities and events in the fall. "We really want to encourage like-minded women to be involved in ARCS," says Krymski. "We're looking for members, people for our steering committees and for corporations that have an interest in furthering science." For more information about ARCS Tampa Bay, contact Krymski at wizkk2@earthlink.net or 727-322-9596. Writer: Nancy Vaughn Source: Karen Krymski, ARCS Foundation-Tampa Bay
