Spring 2014 Newsletter
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ALPHA Spring 2014 The CHI Newsletter Alpha Chi—The National College Honor Society for All Fields—www.AlphaChiHonor.org Our Own Arch of Triumph: St. Louis Convention Highlights Within sight of St. Louis’ iconic Gate- way Arch, this year’s annual convention delegates gathered at the historic Union Station Hotel for three days of presenta- tions, workshops, addresses, and network- ing. The opening ceremonies Thursday evening welcomed the 485 students, fac- ulty, and their guests representing close to one hundred chapters. One brief item of business involved a constitutional vote af- fecting the national student representatives; the assembled delegates overwhelmingly approved the motion so that student reps’ two-year terms are now staggered, allow- Photo by Bill Clemente. ing increased mentoring and consistency Gardner-Webb University's prize winning Collaborative Research Project team members, among the student leadership. Carson Shoupe, Brooke Rampy, Joshua Johnson, Kristina Grayson, and Kevin Mills. Dr. Dennis Richardson provided the with plans for campus-based projects for ect prize. Five campuses participated in keynote address Thursday evening. His talk next year. the eight-month project, tailoring the main underscored the convention theme, The Fu- A dynamic poster forum inaugurated the topic, The Future of Water, to their cam- ture of Water, by introducing the delegates student presentations Thursday evening, pus research teams. Outside evaluators Dr. to high-impact health initiatives in Bawa, with delegates enjoying coffee and dessert Richardson and Dr. Wasit Wulamu from St. Cameroon. His descriptions of his first-hand as they mingled in the Midway among the Louis University judged the papers, post- involve- dozens of researched and creative ers, and oral presentations of these five ment with arts posters. The intensity of stu- groups, and the team from Gardner-Webb the Bawa dent presentations continued Fri- University, with a project on “Water, Eco- Health Ini- day and Saturday morning, nearly nomics, Ethics, and Fracking: A Cost-Ben- tiative, il- 300 students presentations total, efit Analysis of Hydraulic Fracturing” took lustrating with one new element this year: home the $5,000 prize. his schol- the Collaborative Research Proj- (continued on page two) arship as a parasi- tologist as Dr. Dennis Richardson well as his humanitarian determination to improve world conditions, motivated and inspired all listeners. Dr. Richardson was a popular and high-profile member of the convention, leading with Dr. Bill Clemente, National Council vice president, the Walk for Wa- ter fundraiser Friday afternoon, when con- vention delegates walked toward the Mis- sissippi down the streets of St. Louis. All told, delegates contributed $5,600 toward the BHI’s drive to install wells and latrines Photo by Bill Clemente. in Bawa this year, and many chapters left Convention delegates just prior to the Walk for Water fundraiser for Bawa Health Initiative. PAGE TWO Alpha Chi Newsletter SPRING 2014 Our Own Arch... (continued from page one) If Tennyson was right, and “all experi- ence is an arch,” then the chapter-strength- ening sessions which punctuated the Friday morning agenda, building on the campus experience of the seasoned presenters, of- fered a new vista for all the delegates. These sessions, generally in workshop for- mat, have been distilled for wide distribu- tion and will be made available on the Al- pha Chi website under the chapters tab. A highlight of any convention is hear- ing from the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, and General Tommy Franks provided no exception. Inducted into the Texas Alpha Theta chapter at the University of Texas at Arlington in 1971, he completed Photo by Bill Clemente. a nearly four-decade career in the United The recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award, General Tommy Franks. States Army as a four-star general, most visibly serving as the Commander-in-Chief The closing ceremonies Saturday morn- of the United States Central Command in ing culminated with cheer after cheer: Council Gains the days after 9/11 during the wars in Af- farewells to retiring Georgia Nu sponsor New Members ghanistan and Iraq. The recipient of three Dr. Mark Stevens and National Council Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, four member Dr. Paul Michelson, introductions From Region I, delegates re-elected Distinguished Service Medals, The Medal of new Council members and thanks to out- Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Karl Havlak, of Freedom, and the Order of the British going student reps, announcement of the professor of mathematics at Angelo Empire among many, many other military national scholarship recipients and the 28 State University, and student repre- and civilian awards, he spoke in a down- convention prize winners, the highly-antic- sentative Colton McCoy from Abilene home and direct manner to the delegates ipated tradition of the convention highlights Christian University. Region II del- about the difference between their IQ, AQ reel, a tribute to Lara Noah, director of op- egates elected two from the University (awareness quotient) and WQ (willingness erations, on her twenty-year anniversary of Texas at Tyler: Professor Suzanne quotient), assuring them that “having it” with Alpha Chi, and the announcement of Pundt, biology, was re-elected Region and “doing something with it” were two the March 19-21 convention in Chicago in II Secretary-Treasurer, and Michael Su- different things. After a standing ovation, 2015. With generous research scholarships arez will serve as the student represen- he answered questions from the students available to support chapter travel, next tative. and reiterated that receiving his award filled year’s convention can be on every chap- Joshua Johnson, a student at Gard- him with pride, since his academic journey ter’s agenda. ner-Webb University, will represent had been filled with second chances. the members of Region III. Samantha Macht, Columbia College, will serve as the student representative from Region IV. Region V delegates chose Dr. Craig Rogers, professor of psychology at Campbellsville University, as their new secretary-treasurer, and also elected Bronwen Fetters, from Huntington Uni- versity, as their student representative. Kathryn Herbert, Marist College, will represent the students of Region VI for the next two years, and Joshua Blagaila, alumnus of Fresno Pacific University, will serve an additional year as student Photo by Bill Clemente. Newly elected Alpha Chi National Council regional student representatives: Joshua Johnson, representative from Region VII. Dr. Pa- Gardner-Webb University, Region III; Samantha Macht, Columbia College, Region IV; Kathryn mela Johnston, assistant professor of Herbert, Marist College, Region VI; Bronwen Fetters, Huntington University, Region V; Colton history, Fresno Pacific University, will McCoy, Abilene Christian University, Region I; and Michael Suarez, University of Texas at Tyler, complete the remaining two years of the Region II. Joshua Blagaila (not pictured), Fresno Pacific University, continues to serve as the open secretary-treasurer’s term. Region VII student representative through next year. PAGE THREE Alpha Chi Newsletter SPRING 2014 A Stellar Award Star Chapters for the Last fall, when forty-three Star Chapter awards were announced, Anderson University, East Central University, Huntington University, and Carson- Academic Year 2012-13 Newman University again made the list. Since the first awards in 1996, these chapters have consistently met the criteria. The chapter sponsors of those Abilene Christian University, Texas Psi schools respond here to three questions from Dr. Trisha Yarbrough, executive Anderson University, Indiana Alpha director, regarding some of their best practices for encouraging successful Angelo State University, Texas Alpha Iota chapter life. Bluefield College, Virginia Kappa How does convention attendance work into your chapter life? Brescia University, Kentucky Delta California Baptist University, California Beta Dr. Christine Pappas, East Central University: California State University, Bakersfield, As a firm believer in undergraduate research, I want students to have California Iota the experience of a low-pressure conference, and I also like to expose them Campbellsville University, Kentucky Lambda to new cities and sights. My top budget priority for the year is conference Carson-Newman University, Tennessee Delta attendance. My only other expense is honor cords for graduation. Catawba College, North Carolina Omicron Students are made aware of convention opportunities throughout their membership, and I put a note about conventions in the induction program. In Chowan University, North Carolina Phi the spring, the induction speakers are actually students Christian Brothers University, Tennessee Theta presenting at the conference. I also solicit interest Clearwater Christian College, Florida Theta through emails with the chapter. My own personal East Central University, Oklahoma Gamma rule is that students can’t attend the convention unless Erskine College, South Carolina Iota they present their research. Students may be hesitant Evangel University, Missouri Rho to present a paper, but usually when they learn that Fresno Pacific University, California Zeta they can create a poster instead they are eager. If the students have very little Gardner-Webb University, North Carolina Zeta experience with presentations, I also hold a prep session during which each Goldey-Beacom College, Delaware Beta student