As the Spring 2018 semester is starting to wind down, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln chemistry department is reflecting on the success they’ve seen this year for test scores. Being among the highest test scores of recent memory, UNL’s chemistry department is moving up in the national rankings. However, going forward, the department will be without one of their key performers, as junior chemistry major Hunter Richardson suffered a semester-ending midterm score last week.

Richardson, who was averaging an 89% on his midterms for the semester, got a 34% on his latest Analytical Chemistry midterm, ultimately ending the second semester of his junior year. “I feel like I not only let myself down, but I let the entire department down,” said Richardson. “It’s never good to suffer a setback of this degree, but I’ll have the entire off-season to get back into shape and perform better on my midterms.”

Richardson’s academic advisor, Wesley Potter, commented on how the loss of Richardson for the remainder of the semester will impact the department as a whole. “You hate to lose a guy as talented as Richardson was,” said Potter. “He was always one of our higher-performing students and the rest of the chemistry majors are going to have to step up their game to fill the void left behind by Richardson.”

What’s next for Richardson? Only time will tell. Sources close to the chemistry department said he could seek a transfer for his senior year of eligibility. “I really hope he sticks around,” said chemistry professor Martin Schwartz. “He was a great guy in the classroom and outside. Overall, he was a great student to coach on chemistry subjects. He was usually the only one awake in our 8:30 a.m. class, so he really stood out to me.”

Rumors say among potential landing spots for Richardson are Iowa State, Colorado School of Mines, Lyme College of Fine Arts and Greendale Community College.