Family and friends gathered at Lander University recently to witness the spring induction of 64 students into Lander's chapter of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society.
Dr. John Moore, associate professor of philosophy and the chapter coordinator, said the inductees are juniors or seniors in the top 10 percent of their class.
Lander President Dr. Daniel Ball told the assembled students and guests, "As the newest members of Alpha Chi, you represent the best and the brightest of our students."
When it was chartered in 1957, Lander's Alpha Chi was the first chapter established in South Carolina. Nationwide, nearly 400,000 members have been inducted into the honor society since its beginning in 1922.
At the ceremony, each student signed a registry and was presented an Alpha Chi medallion by deans or other representatives of Lander's four colleges.
The 2012 inductees and their majors are:
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES---Eliza Adusumilli, of Brazil, a major in English and Spanish; Lanesha Campbell-Alston, of North Charleston, mass communication and business administration; Sarah Dean, of Greenwood, music education; Caitlin Fell, of Australia, mass communication; Tesla Kanning, of Greenwood, history; Emily Knott, of Boiling Springs, history; Elizabeth Massey, of Saluda, history; James Neff, of Boiling Springs, visual arts; Sena Rose Nickles, of Columbia (29210), mass communication; Kelsey Risher, of Birmingham, Ala., mass communication; Stephen Sanders, of Greenwood, English; and Haley Wilson, of Liberty, English and Spanish.
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS---Kimberly Conner, of Greenwood, business administration; Jessica Dawkins, of Gaffney, business administration; Lindsey Fox, of Greenwood, business administration; Lauren Macdonald, of Davie, Fla., business administration; Shawaunna Middleton, of Johns Island, business administration; Caitlynn Packard, of Pendleton, business administration; Julia Lane Riley, of Hodges, sociology and Spanish; Ansley Ripka, of Lake Wylie, business administration; Joseph Sagara, of Simpsonville, business administration; Rhett Sapough, of Clarkesville, Ga., business administration; Jessica Schmitt, of Chapin, business administration; James Smith, of Ware Shoals, business administration; Michael White, of Greenwood, business administration; and Brandy Willis, of Greenwood, business administration.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION---Mackenzie Areheart, of West Columbia, early childhood education; Summer Hope Bruce, of Landrum, elementary education; Jean Coen, of Simpsonville, psychology; Charlotte Gibson, of Belton, psychology; Jennifer Harrelson, of Moncks Corner, elementary education; Chelsie Hastings, of Greenwood, elementary education and Spanish; Rachel Kingen, of Saluda, psychology and sociology; Martha Leopard, of Ninety Six, early childhood education; Justin Magnuson, of Swansea, exercise science; Stephanie Maxey, of Seneca, psychology; Meaghan Wideman McGaha, of Abbeville, elementary education; Marina Miller, of Prosperity, exercise science; Courtney Moon, of Ninety Six, elementary education; Joyce Mullet, of Greenwood, early childhood education; Katie Quarles, of Pendleton, elementary education; Stephanie Savageau, of Easley, elementary education; Samantha Vickers, of Irmo, early childhood education; and Ginna Weatherford, of Troy, early childhood education.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS---Ashley Bartley, of Greenwood, nursing; Anna Baughman, of Abbeville, nursing; Amanda Belcher, of Spartanburg, nursing; Jordan Bennett, of Clover, nursing; Sydney Broussard, of Greenville, nursing; Ian Cain, of Greenwood, math and engineering; Valerie Chapman, of Abbeville, nursing; Rhiannon Deasy, of Greenwood, nursing; Precious Elkins, of Conyers, Ga., biology; Courtney Garrett, of Belton, biology; LeAnna Jordan, of Greenwood, nursing; Elliot Justice, of Greenwood, computer information systems; Jason Magnuson, of Swansea, biology; Rade Musulin, of Hilton Head, math-secondary certification; Brandon Patterson, of Taylors, math-secondary certification; Ellison Poston, of Hodges, nursing; Jonathan Smith, of Greenwood, math-secondary certification; Mac Stewart, of Simpsonville, nursing; Erik Stoddard, of Simpsonville, computer information systems; and Russell Turner, of Ware Shoals, computer information systems.
The induction ceremony ended with a group recitation of the Alpha Chi motto, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."