Rome, Ga. – Sixteen Shorter University students were inducted into the university’s chapter of the Alpha Chi national honor society during the fall semester. All of the inductees ranked within the top 10 percent of the junior and senior classes.

See a gallery of photos from the event.

Inductees were: Taylor Britt, Cameron Deary, Jaden Elrod, Sara Harper, Jamie Heyward, Tiffany Holland, Madelyn Hunt, Gretchen Melton, Madison Morlock, Allie Perry, Katie Ross, Whitney-Faith Smith, Amanda Tolbert, Kensley Turner, Alayna Welker, and Remel Williams.

Also recognized during the ceremony were the spring 2017 inductees: Rebekah Blanton, Mary Jane Caum, Max Deiters, Rebecca Fowler, Kimberly Gallentine, Gracie Grant, Madison Hunt, Jessica Lee, McKenna Massengale, Jordan McCarver, Sydney Sumners, David Thompson, Kaitlin Tidmore, Kristin Towe, Jesse Wheeler, and Andrew Wilfong.

Dr. Angie O’Neal, the Joan Alden Speidel Chair in English at Shorter, who also serves as associate professor of English and chair of the Department of English, Modern Languages and Liberal Arts, was the keynote speaker. She spoke on the topic, “Elijah and the Juniper Tree; Cultivating Heavenly-minded Success.”

Dr. Kathi Vosevich, Shorter’s dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate provost, who also serves as vice president of the National Council of Alpha Chi, presided over the ceremony. Dr. Barsha Pickell, Alpha Chi sponsor and associate professor of political science, led the students in the Alpha Chi oath. Mary Jayne Caum, president of Shorter’s Alpha Chi chapter, gave an address to the new inductees, highlighting the work they may do in their future careers; her remarks were personalized for the specific majors that were represented in the class of inductees.

Alpha Chi chapter officers President Caum; Vice President Hannah Cauthen; Secretary Kayla Killingsworth; and Treasurer Hannah Lambert led the induction portion of the event. As student-selected faculty member presented each student with his or her cords and Alpha Chi pin, a brief letter from the inductee was read highlighting the faculty sponsor’s impact on the student’s academic career at Shorter.

Alpha Chi, whose national motto is “making scholarship effective for good,” combines high achievement in academics, good character, good models of citizenship and leadership. It is open to only top 10 percent of juniors and seniors academically. As members, students have access to scholarships and the opportunity to present at the Alpha Chi national conference.

Shorter’s Alpha Chi chapter has been recognized as a Star Chapter for eight consecutive years and had more than 25 student presentations at national conventions, five national presentation winners, four national scholarship winners, and two students elected to the executive office in the last nine years alone. Shorter also has a regional vice president and executive council member serving the national organization.

News release by Student Writer Joshua Fenner

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christ-centered, four-year liberal arts university committed to excellence in education. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its list of best Southeastern Colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 40 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, and master’s programs.