William J. Schmitt S.J. Foundation
Background on Fr. Schmitt
The young novice of the New York province of the Jesuits came to the Philippines in 1950 to teach at the Ateneo high school. He stayed for two years, and then returned to the US to pursue his doctorate in Chemistry at Fordham University. After completing his PhD Chemistry in 1956, he then studied Theology. By 1961, he was back in the Philippines and in the Chemistry Department. He recruited brilliant scientists who would work together to give the Ateneo Chemistry Department the reputation it still enjoys. With his characteristic perseverance and single-mindedness, he oversaw the construction of the Chemistry Building in 1965. Under his leadership, the department took shape, working towards a common vision, improving its programs, and building up its reputation for excellence and attracting the best students to study chemistry.
Fr. Schmitt was one of the best teachers of the Ateneo. He was a thorough, exact and honest scientist and as a colleague, he was the role model for Jesuit-lay partnership. His high standard for Analytical Chemistry was also instrumental in the establishment of the Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC), of which he was a founding director.
Foundation Goals
Proceeds of donations the W.J. Schmitt Foundation Inc. after discussion with faculty are turned over to the Department of Chemistry, Ateneo de Manila University and are used primarily to:
1. Promote and encourage
research in the field of Chemistry and other related or allied sciences
at the Ateneo de Manila University's Chemistry Department, with the end
of realizing concrete and tangible results which help meet specific human
needs;
2. Conduct, sponsor and publish results of scientific and/or technical research
and development projects or studies, to benefit the public on a non-discriminatory
basis; establish set up, maintain scholarship or professorial chairs in
chemistry and other related or allied sciences; and
3. Provide financial support for the faculty of the Ateneo de Manila University's
Chemistry department conducting research in the field of Chemistry and other
related/allied sciences and/or for apprenticeship program of junior faculty/researcher
in areas of specialization of retiring faculty members and/or for retired
faculty members continuing to do research in the field of Chemistry and
other related/allied sciences
Financial Condition
Net Investment Base:
Php 371,024.82 (as of 31 July 2003)
Goal: Php 2 M
Amount to be raised: Php 1.63 M approximately
At 5% interest/annum: Php 100K can be used by the Department per
year
Background on Dr. Kapauan
Dr. Amando Kapauan graduated
from UP Diliman in 1952 with a BS Chemistry magna cum laude, and obtained
his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Southern California in 1959,
researching in homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation. Back in the Philippines,
he:
· continued to work in inorganic and physical chemistry (e.g. radioactive
bromine)
· initiated with other colleagues investigations in heavy metal analysis
(e.g. mercury) in our environment in the 70s and recognized early on the
environmental concerns, so that he linked with international groups, taught
one of the first environmental chemistry courses in the country, and involved
himself in policies on urban-rural planning
· used his knowledge of physical chemistry for analytical work such
as in electrochemistry and analysis of mercury (metal vapor)
· pioneered in the field of electronics and computers and applied
these to chemical instrumentation. His results were published in the Journal
of Chemical Education and Analytical Chemistry
· one of the founders of the Philippine Institute of Pure Applied
Chemistry (PIPAC)
· one of the architects of the PhD program of the UP-Ateneo-DLSU
Chemistry Consortium
· a teacher by action - his basic tenet is to "Do Science"
and got his works published in the Journal of Chemical Education
· started with other colleagues from Chemistry and Physics, the first
double degree program in the Philippines, CH:CE and PS:CE
The A.F. Kapauan Chair
The Amando F. Kapauan Chair
was established in 2000 with an initial donation of $10,000 from Prof Gen
Sato of Sophia University, Japan in recognition of Dr. Kapauan's genius.
The fund's purposes are:
1. for use for scholarships and research grants (e.g. for purchase of instruments,
reagents, materials, awards to Filipino individuals or institutions that
made distinguished contribution in analytical/instrumentation chemistry
or related fields, commemorative lectures and workshops)
2. applications to fund's scholarship, grants, awards, etc. shall be open
to any Filipino individuals, groups, or institutions.
Financial Condition
Current Amount: Php
496, 039.92
Goal: Php 2 M
Amount to be raised: Php 1.5 M approximately
At 5% interest/annum: Php 100K can be used per annum
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