2008 Woodie Awards
New honors society inducts 176 students
Induction ceremony held in Pike Auditorium Thursday
Alyson Browning
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News
Although several honor societies to recognize top scholars exist on campus, an 84-year-old freshman honor society recently made its way to Southwest Baptist University. SBU's new chapter of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society inducted 176 students in its first ceremony Thursday, April 26.
"The primary purpose of [Phi Eta Sigma] is to recognize academic achievement," said Allison Langford, University Honors Program director and instructor in the University Success Center. "First and foremost, it is an honor to be invited to join, and membership is lifetime."
The chapter's goal is to increase intellectual discourse on campus. The leaders of the chapter would like to see academics as a part of the overall common culture of the campus and not just a classroom effort. The chapter hopes to host academic forums on campus to encourage intellectual discussion among students.
Members of the University Honors Program are responsible for bringing Phi Eta Sigma to SBU.
"One of the goals of the University Honors Program [was] to establish a freshman honor society," said Langford. "SBU has an honor society for upperclassmen (Alpha Chi), but we also want to recognize the academic achievement of first-year students."
According to Langford, full-time freshman who earn a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA for any academic cycle during their freshman year are invited to join.
Because this was Phi Eta Sigma's inaugural year at SBU, all students currently enrolled at the University of any class standing that met the requirements their freshman year were invited to join.
Dr. John Sagabiel, the Grand Secretary-Treasurer of the national Phi Eta Sigma organization, delivered the keynote address at the induction ceremony. Sagabiel has been affiliated with Phi Eta Sigma for several years. He took great joy in speaking at the first induction of the [354th] chapter of Phi Eta Sigma.
After the keynote address the officers of SBU's Phi Eta Sigma, sophomores President David Kellogg, Vice President Kristin Edwards, Secretary Chris Dodson and Treasurer Elizabeth Lackey, explained the different expectations of members of the society. The expectations included a strong mind, a healthy body and a good character.
The students to be inducted accepted the terms, and they proceeded to walk across the stage and were recognized individually. Before leaving the stage, each student signed the Phi Eta Sigma membership book and received a certificate and a key. The members inherited the opportunity to compete for national scholarships, attend a national convention and advance the goals of the SBU chapter.
"The primary purpose of [Phi Eta Sigma] is to recognize academic achievement," said Allison Langford, University Honors Program director and instructor in the University Success Center. "First and foremost, it is an honor to be invited to join, and membership is lifetime."
The chapter's goal is to increase intellectual discourse on campus. The leaders of the chapter would like to see academics as a part of the overall common culture of the campus and not just a classroom effort. The chapter hopes to host academic forums on campus to encourage intellectual discussion among students.
Members of the University Honors Program are responsible for bringing Phi Eta Sigma to SBU.
"One of the goals of the University Honors Program [was] to establish a freshman honor society," said Langford. "SBU has an honor society for upperclassmen (Alpha Chi), but we also want to recognize the academic achievement of first-year students."
According to Langford, full-time freshman who earn a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA for any academic cycle during their freshman year are invited to join.
Because this was Phi Eta Sigma's inaugural year at SBU, all students currently enrolled at the University of any class standing that met the requirements their freshman year were invited to join.
Dr. John Sagabiel, the Grand Secretary-Treasurer of the national Phi Eta Sigma organization, delivered the keynote address at the induction ceremony. Sagabiel has been affiliated with Phi Eta Sigma for several years. He took great joy in speaking at the first induction of the [354th] chapter of Phi Eta Sigma.
After the keynote address the officers of SBU's Phi Eta Sigma, sophomores President David Kellogg, Vice President Kristin Edwards, Secretary Chris Dodson and Treasurer Elizabeth Lackey, explained the different expectations of members of the society. The expectations included a strong mind, a healthy body and a good character.
The students to be inducted accepted the terms, and they proceeded to walk across the stage and were recognized individually. Before leaving the stage, each student signed the Phi Eta Sigma membership book and received a certificate and a key. The members inherited the opportunity to compete for national scholarships, attend a national convention and advance the goals of the SBU chapter.
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