by Amber Allen
Managing Editor
The National Honor Society of Alpha Chi held its third annual induction ceremony last week in support of academic excellence.
The formal candlelight ceremony inducted junior and senior students ranking in the top 10 percent of their class, a requirement to be an honor society member.
Dr. Andrea Labinger, professor of Spanish, is the chapter sponsor as well as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
According to Dr. Labinger, Alpha Chi was chosen as the honor society for the ULV campus because the students needed recognition for their academic achievements.
“We are really good on this campus at recognizing social and athletic prowess. These things are valuable but we are an academic institution and it seems we could recognize that,” said Dr. Labinger.
Michael Matthews, chapter president of Alpha Chi, said, “Being in the society has given me leadership experience and recognition for having done well in school. I think it is a beneficial honor.”
Dr. Labinger was made aware of the Alpha Chi program through another colleague on campus. When she contacted the honor society they were enthusiastic about granting the school a charter. On May 18, 1993 ULV received the charter.
The purpose of Alpha Chi is to honor those who achieve academic excellence and provide opportunity for continued growth and service. The name “Alpha Chi” derives from the Greek, meaning “truth” and “character.”
There are 289 local chapters of Alpha Chi in the nation. Any four-year college or university is eligible for a local chapter. Once a year the campus chapter inducts junior and senior students as active members for life. The initial $35 induction fee is the only fee required to be a member.
The annual Alpha Chi convention this year is being held in April in Atlanta, Ga. One student is elected to attend this conference where the focus is on student presentations, scholarly papers and performances by student members. To Dr. Labinger’s disappointment, there are no ULV students attending this year’s conference.
“Many students are not able to attend because they have conflicts or they’re too busy,” said Dr. Labinger.
Matthews admits that the reason he is not attending is because he is does not feel he has written a paper of high enough quality to present at the conference.
According to Dr. Labinger, the conference gives students an opportunity to perform on a professional academic level, something few undergraduate students at La Verne have the opportunity to do.
“We should have more than just officers go to conferences. We can’t do it all and it would be nice to see other people compete,” said Matthews.
“It is great to be able to say to your potential employer that you presented at the National Alpha Chi conference. It gives them that competitive edge,” said Dr. Labinger.
Additional benefits of membership include eligibility for graduate school scholarships, such as the Benedict and Nolle scholarships. Both scholarships are highly competitive, but highly beneficial financially to the student.
According to Dr. Labinger, many of the scholarships are never applied for because an original project must be submitted along with the application and this tends to discourage students.
“I think anyone who is thinking of pursuing graduate school should use this. Fifteen hundred dollars is a lot of money. I don’t understand why students don’t apply when they say they need the money.”
Matthews, a criminology major graduating this spring, intends to apply for the scholarships even though he admits that is not why he became an Alpha Chi member.
Future plans for the society involve expanding it to ULV’s Athens campus so students there can have the same opportunities and privileges as students at the main campus.
1995 Alpha Chi Inductees
William O. Assibey
Ronald L. Baez
Lynda K. Becker
Frances E. Boaman
Riki L. Campbell
Jamie Cappelli
Shirley A. Carter
Mark Dorn
Wendy M. Falzone
Evangelia Frangeas
Sheryl Fuller
Julia G. Garnant
Jennifer Hall
Tiffany Hall
Suzanne P. Hamlin
Cynthia Hansen
John L. Harman
Shannon Hensley
Dimitra Kamboukos
Judith Kolanek
Jake McDonald
Vilma R. Olivas
Wendy Rockenbaugh
Mary Skelton
Rose Spellman
Charlotte Spencer
Susan L. Stefanotty
Darin Storkson
Wendy Weeks-Galindo
Partricia A. Weimer
Kathleen D. Wellbrock
Jason Wenrick
Ronald West
Curt B. Williams
Mostsenigos S. Xenofon
