Two Shorter University students take first-place wins in Super-Regional Alpha Chi Convention; Shorter’s Alpha Chi named Star Chapter for second straight year

April 4, 2012 - Two Shorter University students won first place for their work presented during the 2012 Super-Regional Alpha Chi Convention in Baltimore, Md. Alpha Chi is a prestigious national honor society open to the top 10 percent of juniors and seniors academically.

Senior Megan Seddon from Calhoun, Ga., won first place for her presentation titled “The Trend in Mean Total Cholesterol in Gordon County Over a 25-year Span.” Jake Kirkpatrick, also a senior, won first place for his presentation titled “The Analysis of Organic Decomposition Rates in Limestone Caves in the Southeastern United States.” Both Seddon and Kirkpatrick received a $100 prize.

Seddon organized cholesterol data previously collected by her father, a Calhoun pharmacist, and compared it with current data collected during a recent free cholesterol screening. The freescreening was organized by Seddon. High levels of total cholesterol have been linked with increased incidence of coronary heart disease — the current leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, explained Seddon. Her research determined whether the average total cholesterol value of Gordon County had increased, decreased, or remained the same since 1987. According to her data, the value has significantly decreased. A biology major and chemistry minor, Seddon will graduate from Shorter in May and will continue her education at the University of Georgia’s College of Pharmacy.

Megan Seddon and Jake Kirkpatrick

Kirkpatrick worked with Shorter science faculty to collect data regarding the decomposition rate ofleaves located in limestone caves in Southeastern Georgia. His research led him to several caves in the region where data was collected and studied. Kirkpatrick said that it is important to study and analyze decomposition rates because it offers an indication of the overall health of the ecosystem. He will graduate from Shorter in May with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. After graduation, Kirkpatrick plans to attend medical school in Georgia.

Also presenting during the conference were Shorter students Nugroho Nugroho, with a presentation titled “RFID-enabled Devices: Trends, Future Use, and Threat"; Jocelyn Tow, with a presentation titled “Gender Differences in the Classroom: Do Single-sex Classrooms Have Increased Test Scores and Fewer Discipline Problems?”; and Laura Watson, with a presentation titled “Hope in Bangladesh.”

 “I am extremely proud of our students,” said Dr. Kathi Vosevich, chair of liberal arts, assistant professor of English and faculty advisor for Alpha Chi. “This shows that our students compete and succeed nationally. Moreover, Alpha Chi is not just about academics, but it is also about character and service.”

Shorter University’s Alpha Chi Chapter was also named a Star Chapter Award winner for the second year in a row. Shorter’s Alpha Chi chapter was one of 25 chapters selected for this honor nationwide. There are 300 chapters of Alpha Chi in the United States. Chapters earn a Star Award by meeting several criteria, including having a faculty sponsor and a student member at the annual national or regional convention,having a student presenter on the convention program, having a national scholarship or fellowship nominee, sponsoring a campus program with an academic emphasis, registering new members, and filing the annual chapter report.

Since 1922, Alpha Chi has been promoting academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students—and honoring those who achieve such distinction. As a national honor society, Alpha Chi provides many opportunities for leadership, as well as undergraduate and graduate scholarships. Alpha Chi typically awards $60,000 a year in 26 scholarships and fellowships to individual members.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and the Master of Arts in Leadership. General education and calculus courses are offered in an online format, andShorter recently launched online programs that lead toward the Associate ofScience, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Master of Accountancy degrees. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.

###