Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s Alpha Chi chapter, Texas Beta Alpha, has been awarded the prestigious title of 2015-2016 Star Chapter in recognition of outstanding organizational achievements.
Only 46 of the more than 300 chapters nationwide met the criteria for Star Chapter this year.
“The chapter is still very young,” said Dr. Douglas Julien, chapter adviser. “This is only the fourth year the chapter has been in existence and eligible for the award, but it is the third year in a row that the Texas Beta Alpha chapter has been so honored.”
Criteria for earning the award include inducting new members locally, sending at least one faculty sponsor and one student member to the annual convention, having at least one presentation on the conference program and nominating at least one student for a national Alpha Chi fellowship or scholarship.
During the past year, A&M-Texarkana sent two graduate and two undergraduate students to present at the national conference in Washington, D.C.
Esther Pippins presented “Adult Literacy: Seeking Motivation for the Low-Literate Adult,” Nicholas Wiltshire presented “Key Factors that Influenced the Roman Empire’s Transition into the Medieval Era,” Alana Briley presented “Exploring the Negro Family: An Analytical Essay on Patrick Moynihan’s The Negro Family: A Case for National Action,” and Garrett Griffin presented “The Dangers of Status Quo: The Impact of Societal Filters and the Resulting Importance of Subjective over Objective Thinking.”
Dr. Julien was asked by the national committee to speak and direct a chapter strengthening session.
“While all of the presentations were excellent, special mention goes to Alana Briley,” said Dr. Julien. “Over 300 students presented at the conference, and Alana was one of 28 student scholars to be recognized for her paper and presentation. Alana’s presentation was deemed the best in the category of American History and she was awarded the Walden S. Freeman Prize in American History and received a cash prize.”
Alpha Chi is a national college honor society that admits students from all academic disciplines. Membership is limited to the top 10 percent of an institution’s juniors, seniors and graduate students. Invitation to membership comes only through an institutional chapter.
A college seeking a chapter must grant baccalaureate degrees and be regionally accredited. Some 300 chapters, located in almost every state, induct approximately 12,000 members annually. The Texas Beta Alpha chapter inducts new members in the fall and spring semester.
The chapter is currently in the process of inviting new members to join Alpha Chi and will have an induction ceremony on the campus of Texas A&M University-Texarkana on Dec. 8.
