The Seemon Pines Award is sponsored by the late Dr. Seemon Pines, Ph.D. alumnus of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois with Prof. Nelson Leonard, who went on to an illustrious career at Merck, where 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 awarded each year for the most outstanding research presentation at the annual Beak-Pines Organic Area Allerton Conference.