Greg Dallinger Redefines Excellence in Chemistry

WOOSTER, Ohio — As the son of a chemistry professor, Greg Dallinger's aptitude in the sciences came quite naturally...and so did his decision about where to attend college. "I chose Wooster because of its chemistry program," says Dallinger, whose father is on the faculty at Wabash College. "I was really impressed with the quality of the department and the opportunities for undergraduate research. "

Four years later, Dallinger has no regrets. "Wooster is very well known for its program in chemistry, more so than many people think," he says. "We get great speakers, a chance to do research with faculty, and, of course, I.S. (Independent Study), which provides excellent preparation for graduate school."

And speaking graduate schools, many of the nation's finest are lining up for a shot at the senior from Crawfordsville, Ind. He has been accepted at Caltech, Stanford, Berkeley, MIT, the University of Chicago, and Cornell, all of which makes his next decision much more difficult than his first. "I knew from the first time I set foot on campus that Wooster was the place for me," says Dallinger, who was also entertaining offers from Oberlin and Grinnell. "I'm still not sure about my plans for next year, but I'm leaning toward Caltech."

The primary reason for Dallinger's post-graduate appeal is his exemplary academic performance — both in and out of the sciences. Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, Dallinger has also won the American Chemical Society Award for excellence in analytical chemistry, the Cary R. Wagner Prize in Chemistry, and the John W. Chittum Prize in Chemistry. "I can't say enough good things about my academic experience at Wooster," he says. "From summer research to I.S. to having an opportunity to explore other disciplines, I have really benefited from the learning environment here."

Dallinger has also been a standout in the study of language, specifically Spanish. "I think the most impressive thing about Greg is that, as a chemistry major, he has become one of the best students in upper-level Spanish linguistics courses, even though he has been competing directly with Spanish majors," says Diane Ringer Uber, professor of Spanish at Wooster. "He is a very well-rounded individual who can carry on a conversation about a multitude of subjects."

Despite his focus on academics, Dallinger has managed to find time for several outside activities, including varsity tennis. "I'm not that good at it," he says, "but it's fun to get out there and hit the ball. It's a great way to relieve stress."

While Dallinger may not be a standout with the Scot tennis team, he does stand out as the only male in his other favorite extracurricular activity — Wooster's Personal Foul Dance Team, which entertains at halftime of many Scot basketball games. "I've been involved in dance since I was 10," says Dallinger, whose hometown dance team, the Crawfordsville High School Blue Illusions, were competitive at both the state and national levels. He also performed and toured with Ballet Internationale, the professional ballet company in Indianapolis. "I don't know what the female dancers thought when I first showed up for practice at Wooster, but they have really made me feel welcome."

In looking back over the past four years, Dallinger realizes that he got his money's worth. "There are tons of things to do here, and it's easy to get involved," he says. "I can do all the things I like to do here and not be cramped for time."

Of course, that's a little easier to do when your primary area of study is almost second nature. "Chemistry has always just clicked for me," says Dallinger. "Part of that might be because of my dad and part of it is probably because I had a very good high school chemistry teacher. Ask me to read something in philosophy, and I'm lost, but give me a chemistry text book, and I feel very comfortable."

Wingfield Glassey, Dallinger's advisor, would certainly agree. "It's clear that Greg has great aptitude for the subject," says Glassey, an assistant professor of chemistry at Wooster. "His ability to think critically and widely about scientific problems has made him very effective in classroom and research settings. I consider it my good fortune to have had the opportunity to work with, learn from, and get to know Greg as a person, during his time at Wooster. His considerable success is well-deserved, and I wish him well in his future studies."

Dallinger has been able to build on his science aptitude, he says, for two reasons: faculty direction and research opportunities. "I have been very impressed by the professors in the department, especially their accessibility and willingness to become involved with the students," says Dallinger. "The research opportunities also set Wooster apart. I have done summer research the last three years, and that, combined with my I.S. experience has really prepared me for the next step."