Contact: Sammy McDavid
Six recent graduates of Mississippi State are among a group of 11 being recognized for achievements in scientific investigation at the university.
Recently inducted into associate membership of the campus chapter of Sigma Xi, the national research honor society, are Jeremy Alley of Starkville; Gwendolyn Carroll of Augusta, Ga.; Neil T. Eggleston of Christchurch, New Zealand; Magan P. Green of Sturgis; Melanie S. Jones of Purvis; Robin F. Kuntz and Karen E. Taquino of Long Beach; John W. McCombs of Traverse City, Mich.; Mary Margaret Wade of Aberdeen; and Brad W. Young of Cleveland.
Jones also was named as the chapter's 2001 Outstanding Graduate Student. She, along with Alley, Eggleston, Green, Kuntz, and Taquino, graduated May 12. [See following page for additional information on the new associate members.]
Additionally, Todd French of Greenville is being promoted from associate to full chapter member. French, a December doctoral graduate in biological sciences, is continuing his education at MSU as a postdoctoral research assistant.
Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi includes nearly 75,000 scientists and engineers elected on the basis of their research achievements or potential. The MSU chapter first was organized in 1939 as the Sigma Xi Club.
Inclusion as an associate member requires the nominations of two active society members who can verify a nominee's quality of scientific research and expected future qualification for full membership in the professional organization. Generally, associate members are undergraduate or graduate students involved in directed investigations that will be published in professional journals or qualified reports.
Full Sigma Xi membership requires noteworthy achievement as an original investigator in a field of pure or applied science.
Additional information on the new associate members . . .
Jeremy Alley, who received a master's degree in biological sciences, is a 1996 MSU graduate and the son of Dr. and Mrs. Earl Alley. He is a 1991 Starkville High School graduate.
Gwendolyn Carroll is a graduate student in forestry. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Carroll and a 1987 Academy of Richmond County graduate. She also is a 1998 graduate of Augusta State University.
Neil Eggleston, who received a master's degree in forestry, is the son of Stewart Eggleston and Dorothy Woodward. He is a 1976 graduate of Cashmere High School and a 1982 graduate of the University of Canterbury, both in Christchurch.
Magan Green, who received a bachelor's degree in microbiology, is a 1995 Ponchatoula (La.) High School graduate and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parrish.
Melanie Jones, who received a master's degree in poultry science, is a 1998 MSU animal science graduate and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Smith. She graduated from Purvis High School in 1994.
Robin Kuntz, who received a master's degree in biological sciences, is a 1997 MSU graduate and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Felder. She graduated from Long Beach High School in 1993.
John McCombs, a doctoral student in forestry, is a 1989 graduate of Travers City Senior High School and the son of John McCombs and Cherie Erickson. He received a bachelor's degree in fisheries and wildlife from Michigan State University in 1994 and a master's in wildlife management from Virginia Tech University in 1997. He currently is working as a research assistant in MSU's College of Forest Resources.
Karen Taquino, who received a master's degree in biological sciences, is a 1999 MSU graduate and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Taquino. She graduated from Long Beach High School in 1996.
Mary Margaret Wade, a graduate student in biological sciences formerly from Nettleton, is a 1997 University of Mississippi graduate. [No other information available.]
Brad Young, a graduate student in forestry, is a 1993 graduate of Cleveland High School and a 1998 MSU wildlife sciences graduate. He is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gene Young.