The Seemon Pines Award is sponsored by the late Dr. Seemon Pines, alumnus of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois who went on to establish an illustrious career at Merck after receiving his PhD with Prof. Nelson Leonard. At Merck he helped develop a large number of life-enhancing therapeutic drugs, such as cortisone, easing the suffering of millions. He served as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Process R&D and was awarded Merck's highest scientific honor, the Director's Scientific Award. Dr. Pines used this cash prize to establish the Seemon Pines Award and the Pines Travel Award to foster student development at the University of Illinois. The Seemon Pines award is granted each year for the most outstanding research presentation at the Annual Beak-Pines Organic Area Allerton Conference. Recipients in recent years:
| 2022 |
Marya Ornelas (Mehta) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | no conference this year |
| 2020 | no conference this year |
| 2019 | Chris Huck (Sarlah) |
| 2018 | Soumitra Athavale (Denmark) |
| 2017 | Kenton Hetrick (van der Donk) |
| 2016 | Lucas Hernandez (Sarlah) |
| 2015 | Michelle Richter (Hergenrother) |
| 2014 | Anthony Grillo (Burke) |
| 2013 | Spencer Peck (van der Donk) |
| 2012 | Kyle Dunbar (Mitchell) |
| 2011 | Joseph Bair (Hergenrother) |
| 2010 | Eric Woerly (Burke) |
| 2009 | Diana West (Hergenrother) |
| 2008 | John Whitteck (van der Donk) |
| 2007 | Douglas Davis (Moore) |
| 2006 | Kenneth Fraunhoffer (White) |
| 2005 | Benjamin Leslie (Hergenrother) |
| 2004 | Rebecca Coppins (Silverman) |
| 2003 | Joseph Rule (Moore) |
| 2002 | Gregory Beutner (Denmark) |
| 2001 | Anobel Tamrazi (Katzenellenbogen) |
| 2000 | Matthew Epperson (D. Gin) |