Alpha Chi inducts 17 new members at Lyon

October 3, 2005

\Seventeen new members entered Lyon College’s chapter of the Alpha Chi National Collegiate Scholarship Honor Society in an induction ceremony held Sept. 24. Alpha Chi is a national college scholarship honor society with over 300 chapters in 45 states and Puerto Rico and some 300,000 members.  The society admits juniors and seniors of good character who are in the top 10 percent of their classes.

Area residents joining the honor society include Allyn Dodd of Bald Knob, daughter of William and Melinda Dodd and a junior biology major; Debra Finch of Newport, a junior political science major; Keith Harmon, son of Marsha Pound and Ron Harmon of Searcy, a junior English and history major; Trey Holt, son of Nannette Holt of Melbourne, a junior biology major; Amanda Pickett, daughter of Frieda Pickett of Batesville, a senior music major; and Nadine Sullinger, a junior accounting major and daughter of Beth Sullinger of Batesville and Tom Sullinger of Danville.

Others include Robert Bailey, son of Brent and Karen Bailey of Ward, a junior music and French major; Danielle Bell, daughter of Johnny and Kim Mitchell of Cabot, a junior biology major; John Boling, son of Larry and Carolyn Boling of Jonesboro, a junior biology major; Laura McWilliams, daughter of John and Diana McWilliams, a junior chemistry major; Rachel Miesner, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Miesner of Booneville, a junior biology major; Holly Morrison, daughter of Marshall and Kathy Morrison of Harrisburg, a senior history major; Erin Moss, daughter of Ernie and Kathy Moss of Fayetteville, a junior French major; Haley Skinner, daughter of Mark and Carolyn Skinner of Jonesboro, a junior psychology major; and Sarah Sweatt, daughter of John and Deby Sweat of Hot Springs and a junior English major.

The induction ceremony was followed by a banquet in the Bevens Music Room with some 60 attending, including inductees and their families, current members, and faculty advisers. Highlights of the evening included a welcome from Dr. Terrell Tebbetts, a member of the Alpha Chi National Council; music provided by senior Alpha Chi member and president Skye Hart; and a keynote address from Lyon’s 2004-2005 Alpha Chi Professor of the Year, Dr. Ronald Boling, who spoke about the many interpretations of Shakespeare’s most well known work, the “To be or not to be” soliloquy from Hamlet. 

The chapter meets every Monday for programs by both students and faculty.  Members also travel to regional and national conventions to present research and creative work and to compete for scholarships and fellowships. Lyon’s award-winning chapter has won about $13,000 in the last nine years and has seen five members publish their award-winning work in Alpha Chi’s nationally circulated journal, The Recorder.

Officers for 2005-2005 are Skye Hart of Mountain Home as president, Elaine Slayton of Fairfield Bay as secretary, and newly inducted Haley Skinner of Jonesboro serving as vice president.