PLAINVIEW, TX — Ten Wayland Baptist University honor societies inducted 60 students Thursday night, April 25, during the university’s inaugural Celebration of Excellence induction ceremony.
During the celebration at the Trinity Building on the Plainview campus, the societies also bestowed honor cords on 30 senior level members. A reception followed the ceremony, which drew approximately 100 people.
“Tonight’s gathering is our first Celebration of Excellence in which we recognize our honor societies, celebrate current society members and faculty sponsors, and introduce our newest inductees and their academic achievements,” said Jeffrey Vera, Director of Alumni Relations and Career Services. In previous years, each honor society conducted their own induction ceremonies. The Celebration of Excellence: WBU Honor Society Induction Ceremony is expected to become a Wayland tradition.
Dr. Cindy McClenagan, Vice President of Academic Affairs, gave the invocation, while Dr. Bobby Hall, President, offered the benediction. Family, friends, faculty, and administrators joined members of Wayland’s Board of Trustees for the ceremony, which concluded with a time of commitment for the students.
“We gather not only to celebrate academic excellence but also to honor our students who have come to embody our university’s core values of integrity, scholarship, and service,” Vera said before offering explanations of the pins and certificates inductees would receive, as well as the cords placed upon graduating seniors.
Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, which promotes scholarly achievement and character on campus, inducted six junior or senior students ranked in the top 10 percent of their classes. Those inducted include Maddison Casanova, Ali Conely, Joniesha Kennedy, Taylor Ramage, Addy Rich, and Josh Tucker. Alpha Chi seniors receiving emerald green and sapphire blue honor chords include Sadie Argueta, Reagan Cordell, Ryan Davis, Manuella Donmeza Nanmetio, Kaitlyn Jerden, Jesus Soto, and Elizabeth Wirth. Dr. Rebekah Crowe, Dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Professor of History, serves as Alpha Chi’s faculty sponsor.
The Beta Beta chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma, which honors students for outstanding achievement during their foreign language study in college, inducted Madison Casanova, Tate House, and Brandon Williams III. The gold cords of Alpha Mu Gamma were presented to seniors Reagan Cordell, Jesus Soto, and Perla Trujillo. Dr. Joshua Mora, Professor of Spanish, serves as faculty sponsor of the Beta Beta chapter Alpha Mu Gamma
Alpha Phi Sigma, a criminal justice honor society, which honors and promotes academic excellence, community service, educational leadership, and unity, inducted 16 students. Students inducted include Randall Burnett, Christian Moyers, Tulili Lavasii, Lyle Maiava, Christine Villarreal, Lindsey Laupola, Aubrey Jaramillo, Jan Mossman, Brandon New, George Zodiacal, Sheila Guajardo, Stacy Byk, Jeremy Wells, Dulce Teniente, Pila Patu, and Heather Palmatier. Jaramillo, a senior, received blue and gold honor cords. Dr. Justin Lawrence, Associate Dean, Professor of Criminal Justice and Public Administration, serves as Alpha Phi Sigma’s faculty sponsor.
Kappa Delta Pi, which fosters the high ideals of the education profession by promoting education as a vital societal force that encourages universal welfare and individual progress, inducted Adrian Lara, Jenna Sepeda, and Codi Wiley. Receiving Kappa Delta Pi’s purple and jade green cords were seniors Reagan Cordell, Ryan Davis, Dylan Jerden, and Perla Trujillo. Dr. Doug Warren, Assistant Professor of Education, serves as Kappa Delta Pi’s faculty sponsor.
Phi Alpha Theta, which promotes the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians, inducted Reagan Cordell, Samantha Louth, and Megan Perez. The red and blue cords of Phi Alpha Theta were presented to Ryan Davis, Cordell, and Louth. Dr. Autumn Lass, Associate Professor of History, serves as Phi Alpha Theta’s faculty sponsor.
Psi Chi, whose purpose is to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship in all fields and particularly in psychology while advancing the science of psychology, inducted four students. They include Marchelle Bowden, Gabreya Garcia, Sloane Light, and Jamie Rinquest. Seniors Sadie Argueta and Bowden were presented with the platinum and dark blue cords of Psi Chi. Dr. Peter Bowen serves at faculty sponsor for Psi Chi.
Sigma Beta Delta, the national honor society for business, management, and administration, inducted 14 students. The students include Joseph Colina Rodriguez, Hingis Moremi, Gabriel Paglioni, Monet Parker, Brayden Peyton, Amber Poorbaugh, Rennan Sousa, Alyssa Vasquez, Edwin Wiesner Talero, Jamol Williams, Victoria Vazquez, Erlee Rodriguez, Michael Diehl, and Kali Garza. Seniors Gabriel Paglioni and Monet Parker received the hunter green and gold cords of Sigma Beta Delta. Dr. Kasandra Lane, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs for the School of Business, and Dr. Jason Geesey, Associate Dean of Master’s Programs for the School of Business, serve as the faculty sponsors of Sigma Beta Delta.
Sigma Tau Delta, which honors high achievement in the study of English literature and writing while advocating for literacy and literacy education and promoting good character, inducted five students. They include Trinity Conard, Abbie Drake, Marques Hall, Faderera Ogunbade, and Ashley Ortiz. Cardinal red and black cord were issued to Drake, as well as fellow seniors Amanda Eddingfield, Sean Edlin, Lillian Jolly, and Matthew Race. Dr. Karen Beth Strovas, Associate Dean of the School of Languages and Literature, serves as Sigma Tau Delta’s faculty sponsor.
Sigma Theta Tau, which honors baccalaureate and graduate nursing students maintaining an overall 3.0 average while demonstrating leadership, inducted seniors Clarissa Guerra and Patricia Hough, who also received the society’s orchid and fuchsia cords. Jeanene Burns, Assistant Professor in the Mieth School of Nursing, serves as faculty sponsor of Sigma Theta Tau.
Theta Alpha Kappa, which encourages, recognizes, and promotes student excellence in the academic study of religion and theology, inducted four students. They include Chris Chadwick, Michael Davis, Abbie Drake, and Raylee Parker. Theta Alpha Kappa’s scarlet cords were presented to Chadwick. Dr. Randy Rogers, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, serves as the faculty sponsor for Theta Alpha Kappa.
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