Contact: Maridith Geuder
Building on five consecutive top-10 finishes, Mississippi State's student chapter of a national business education honor society is moving to third place nationally.
The university's chapter of Pi Omega Pi recently reached its new level during competition at the organization's biennial convention held jointly with the National Business Education Association.
Chapter co-presidents Jackie L. Martin of Brookhaven and Steve Barrington of Brandon, along with vice president Shaundria R. Ashford of Macon, traveled to Dallas, Texas, to accept the honor. All three are seniors and, like other chapter members, are majoring in technology teacher education.
Founded in 1923 at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, Pi Omega Pi promotes scholarship and service in business teacher education. The organization is a member of the National Association of College Honor Societies.
Chartered in 1939, MSU's chapter is among the oldest honor societies on campus. Membership requires at least a 3.0 grade-point average [on a 4.0 scale] and a ranking in the top 35 percent of the students' respective classes.
Both of the top officers also made presentations at the conference. Martin's report, titled "Thank Goodness It's Fun (TGIF)," outlined a series of innovative teaching techniques. Barrington, in "Going Beyond Debits and Credits," provided a game format that helps students better understand business fraud and internal fiscal controls.
Adviser Connie M. Forde, a professor of instructional systems, leadership and workforce development, said chapter members continued to work hard after MSU finished in fourth place in 2001.
"These students have committed themselves to develop professional skills while they still are in school," Forde said. "That's why they have excelled in competition with other universities."
Other members of the winning MSU chapter include [by hometown]:
AMORY--Junior Elizabeth C. Field.
BRANDON--Seniors Julie V. Eastland and Amy C. Winstead.
GREENVILLE--Senior Tiffany L. Jones.
LAUREL--Senior Akiah Y. Jones.
STARKVILLE--Senior Amy B. Ivy.