For Salutatorian Selvan Ramsamy, Chemistry is Catalyst for Inspiration and Discovery

Selvan Ramsamy was drawn to the kitchen at a young age, but not to be a chef. He wanted to tinker, to merge flavors, colors and materials and find a unique combination.

That curiosity spawned a love for chemistry, which was nourished by his family with supportive praise and detailed books on the subject and drove him to want to learn as much as he could.

“I love chemistry, but I also want to dive deeper into math and the social sciences, especially economics,” said Ramsamy, a South Brunswick resident. “I care a lot about how science impacts society and how society in turn impacts science.”

With his Associate of Science degree from Middlesex College, Ramsamy will attend Rutgers University and perform STEM research while he plans what to create next.

“It feels great [to be Salutatorian],” said Ramsamy. “I couldn’t have done it, of course, without my excellent professors, the supportive staff, my family and classmates, all of whom made these two years a really meaningful and memorable experience for me.”

Ramsamy was homeschooled for most of his educational career and, in 2019, his family was hit with adversity when a health crisis arose, and a close family member needed a kidney.

Then Covid happened and things became even harder as the world struggled to right itself.

Ramsamy had to add caretaker role to his already many responsibilities, but he said his family and their plight became his inspiration.

“I realized that dedicating myself to academics could be my way of drawing hope from their courage and emulating their daily fight,” said Ramsamy. “I was inspired during medical visits, and I began to see my studies as a salute to those heroes.”

With its excellent course offerings and flexible schedule, Middlesex College became the place where Ramsamy could prosper in a welcoming environment.

“Enrolling at Middlesex [College] was perhaps the best thing I did for myself,” Ramsamy said.

“This college became an intellectual and emotional home for me throughout the pandemic and afterwards, a place where I could regroup, explore science, and figure out the next steps toward my future.”

Ramsamy made the Dean’s List and received multiple scholarships at Middlesex College, including the Neuwiesinger Foundation Scholarship and Chambers Award for Academic Achievement. He was also inducted into Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.

Ramsamy is also a certified Master Gardener, finding satisfaction in working with plants. It’s a hobby he intends to keep, just like studying, learning and mixing things together to find something wonderful.

“Middlesex College was vital to my academic success,” Ramsamy said. “I especially appreciated how structured the curriculum was for my major, chemistry. It gave me the flexibility I needed to explore my interests, but also focus and plan for my Associate degree.”

To learn more about science and mathematics degree programs at Middlesex College, visit middlesexcollege.edu/academics/science-mathematics.