Twenty-two Tusculum College students were inducted into one of the most prestigious organizations on campus, the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, during a ceremony before family and friends Saturday (November 13) in the Chalmers Conference Center on campus.
To be eligible to join Alpha Chi, students must be either juniors and seniors who rank in the top 10 percent of their classes academically. Members are admitted to the honor society from all academic disciplines. The invitation to join the honor society, extended by the college’s faculty, recognizes previous accomplishments and provides opportunity for continued growth and service.
Inducted were:
- Kelly Dixon, a junior from Chuckey, Tenn., majoring in elementary education.
- Kirstie Gust, a junior from Hartford, Tenn., majoring in accounting and business management. Gust is president and founder of the Pioneer Green Team, vice president of the Business Club, a Bonner Leader and SOS (Service on Saturday) coordinator. She has been nominated for membership in the Professional Women of America. She is a volunteer at the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance, at which she served in an internship last summer, and multiple community programs. Gust is also active in campus ministries.
- Michelle Hoover, a junior from Murfreesboro, Tenn., who is majoring in English.
- J. D. Howard, a junior from Perry, Ga., majoring in accounting. Howard, who is a member of the baseball team, also serves as a campus ambassador as a member of the President’s Society.
- Katie Kelley, a junior from Tellico Plains, Tenn., who is majoring in biology and pre-medicine and balancing her school work with her work at a local pharmacy.
- Elizabeth McConnell, a junior from Memphis, Tenn., majoring in English
writing. McConnell recently was honored with the Meacham Writers’ Conference Nonfiction Award for one of her essays.
- Marci Moore, a senior from Parrottsville, Tenn., majoring in business and business education. Moore is a member of the Tusculum Cheerleading Squad.
- Kaitlyn Morgan, a junior from Hartford, Tenn., who is majoring in mathematics education.
- Derek Murrell, a junior from Bulls Gap, Tenn., who is majoring in biology and pre-medicine. Murrell has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while at Tusculum and serves as a tutor in chemistry and biology on campus as well as playing rugby.
- Quyen Nguyen, a junior from Greenbrier, Tenn., who is majoring in biology and
pre-medicine. Nguyen serves as a resident assistant and is a member of the Student Activity Board.
- Erica Pomana, a junior from Pauline, S.C., who is majoring in athletic training.
- Taylor Rakes, a junior from Norcross, Ga., majoring in international business. Rakes has been very active in community service with the Tusculum baseball team and has been named to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Athletic Director’s Honors Roll.
- Jordan Reams, a junior from Hampton, Tenn., majoring in education.
- David Roncskevitz, a senior from Franklin, Tenn., majoring in English writing. Roncskevitz is a two-time winner of the Curtis Owens Literary Prize at Tusculum College. His play, “The House of Autumn Fire,” was published in October 2010 by Connotation Press.
• Lucas Shipley, a senior from Greeneville, Tenn., majoring in mathematics education.
- Alex Smith, a senior from Greeneville, Tenn., majoring history. Smith was scheduled to graduate in spring of 2010, but was called to by the U.S. Army to active duty overseas. He served in Iraq and Kuwait and has been nominated for the Purple Heart award. He has served in Tusculum’s Student Government Association as a senator and chief justice.
• Jessimine Strauss, a junior from Walterboro, S.C., majoring in psychology. Strauss is a member of the Psychology Club. A research study, “Predicting the Quality of Romantic Relationships,” which Strauss completed with two other Tusculum students was presented at the general session of the Southeastern Psychology Association Convention in Chattanooga in March 2010.
- Katy Stuckwish, a junior from Friendsville, Tenn., who is majoring in biology and pre-medicine. Stuckwish is a member of the softball team.
- David Terrell, a junior from Saltillo, Tenn., majoring in biology and pre-medicine.
- Storm Vance, a junior from Elizabethton, Tenn., majoring in accounting.
- Priscilla Wampler, a junior from Greeneville, Tenn., majoring in mathematics education, and
- Kayla Watts, a junior from Greeneville, Tenn., majoring in elementary education.
Tusculum College President Dr. Nancy B. Moody congratulated the new Alpha Chi inductees on their achievement. “Alpha Chi Honor Society shares many of the core values that we value and display at Tusculum – personal integrity, civic responsibility and commitment to continual improvement as a life-long enterprise,” she said. “It is the highest academic honor that Tusculum College offers its students. … Your successes are many and tonight Tusculum College is proud to recognize your hard work, efforts and commitment to excellence.”
Troy Goodale, faculty sponsor for Tusculum’s Alpha Chi chapter, presented the candidates and welcomed them into the organization. Goodale is an assistant professor of political science at the college.
Jason Seaton of Midway, president of Tusculum’s Alpha Chi chapter; shared history and information about the honor society. Alpha Chi has been a respected college honor society since its beginning in 1922 and is an active member of the Association of College Honor Societies. The society’s purpose is to promote academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students and to honor those who achieve such distinction. Its name is derived from the first letter of the Greek words meaning truth and character, and its motto is “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” taken from John 8:32 in the Bible. Tusculum’s chapter was the first one established in the state.
Participating in the induction ceremony were Danielle Armstrong of Blountville, vice president of the Tusculum chapter; Brandon Gann of Newport, the chapter’s secretary/treasurer, and Dr. Kim Estep, Tusculum provost and academic vice president.
