Alpha Chi Honors Faculty Members

Managing Editor

   Alpha Chi held its Spring Fling Recognition Banquet Monday, April 14 to honor faculty, graduating seniors and members of Alpha Chi.

   The national college honor scholarship society annually recognizes faculty and staff members for their hard work and achievements. This year’s award winners comprise:

• Staff Person of the Year:
• Winner - Kenny Hudgens, Skilled Trades Supervisor
  
• Runner-up - Janelle Martin, University Center Administrative Assistant II
• Rookie of the Year:
• Winner - Jeff Taylor, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Runner-up - Becky Phillips, Instructor in the School of Business
• Teacher of the Year:
• Winner - Chris Sims, Assistant Professor of Biology
• Runner-up - Steven Trana, Professor of Music
• Administrator of the Year:
• Winner - Morris Bramlett, Dean of the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
• Runner-up (tie) - Trey Berry, Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Lou James, Dean of the School of Business
  

   Chancellor Jack Lassiter told the faculty members they are all winners and he appreciates everything they do.

   “There is no greater honor than being recognized by students,” Lassiter said.

   Taylor said he felt happy to win Teacher of the Year.

   “I’m pleased. It looks like the sciences won most of the awards again,” Taylor said.

   Kate Stewart, honor sponsor for Alpha Chi, presented seniors with medallions to wear at graduation that graduated in December 2007 and will graduate in May 2008 and December 2008.

   Graduation seniors comprise:

   Stewart recognized other Alpha Chi members by presenting them with Alpha Chi stoles to wear at graduation. Winners comprise:

• Chancellor Leadership Award:
  
• Maranda Henley
• Vice-Chancellor Academic Awards:
  
• Stephen Cagle
• Nicole Coffel
• Martin Maxwell
• Heather Raley
  

   Alpha Chi President Maranda Henley presented the Alpha Chi Service Award to Trana.

   “This individual promotes the ideals of Alpha Chi and society and carries them out,” Henley said.

   Lassiter talked about spring being a bittersweet time of year because of students graduating and faculty retiring. He recognized the following retiring faculty members:

• Joe Guenter, Director of the Pomeroy Planetarium
• David Koskoski, Assistant Professor of Music
• Russell Nordeen, Professor of Biology
• Boris Zeide, Professor of Forest Biometrics and Growth and Yield 

Photo by Latoya Shelton

Award-Winning - Kate Stewart watches as Lauren Brooks receives her medal from Christine Bryant. Faculty and students were honored in a banquet hosted by Alpha Chi, an honorary fraternity.

   Stewart recognized Guenter in honor of his retirement and for being a long-time sponsor of Alpha Chi with a paperweight and plant.

   “I appreciate the foundation Joe (Guenter) built for Alpha Chi,” Stewart said.

   Lassiter received the “We Have Your Back Award” from Alpha Chi for providing funds for the organization to attend regional and national conferences. The members gave him a can of reflective spray that alters photographs of reflective objects such as license plates.

   The award came from an experience some of the members had while attending a conference. The members accidentally drove through a tollbooth without paying.

   Lassiter laughingly accepted the award and said it would come in handy when he went to Texas Wednesday, April 16 to meet a new grandchild.

   The members of Alpha Chi presented Stewart with a Weevil Walk brick that says “Alpha Chi - In Honor of Kate Stewart.”

   “I’ve gotten wonderful things over the years and this brick means a lot - more than anything the chapter could have ever done,” Stewart said.

   Stewart announced two important upcoming dates for Alpha Chi: initiation Nov. 11 and the spring recognition banquet April 13, 2009. The spring banquet will be a centennial year celebration for Alpha Chi.

   Provost David Ray closed the banquet by saluting the members of Alpha Chi for making the most of their educational opportunities.

   “Alpha Chi is an organization of students that really make things happen,” Ray said.

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