Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Nineteen top students from Mississippi State University's College of Arts and Sciences have been named to the fall 2010 Society of Scholars.
Modeled after Phi Beta Kappa national honor society, MSU's Society of Scholars each semester recognizes top students from all majors who have demonstrated the highest levels of academic excellence and possess a broad and rigorous exposure to courses in the arts, sciences, and humanities.
During the recent induction ceremony, MSU President Mark E. Keenum recognized the students' outstanding achievements.
"Those of you being inducted tonight are aware that Mississippi State has a long history of enrolling the state's top students, so you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you are among the best of the best," Keenum said. "Your achievements are contributing to a reputation for excellence that will pay dividends for all of our graduates throughout their careers."
Of approximately 2,700 undergraduate degree candidates each year, only about 50 of these students are inducted into the Society of Scholars, which was inspired by Dr. Ed McGlone. A former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, he saw a need within Arts and Sciences and the university for an organization that showcased excellent students.
The society began in 1981 with 21 charter members, and since that time there have been more than 400 students honored with membership.
The fall list of inductees include:
BILOXI--Deani Haggerty, a biological sciences major with an emphasis in pre-medicine;
COLLEGE STATION, Texas--Charles Runyan III, a chemistry major;
COLLIERVILLE, Tenn.--Michael Barton, an aerospace engineering major with an emphasis in astronautics;
CORINTH--Bailey Smith, a political science/communication major with an emphasis in pre-law/journalism;
COLUMBUS--Madeline Hardy, a communication/foreign languages major with an emphasis in journalism/French;
FLOWOOD--Megan Rose Wheat, a history major with a minor in foreign languages;
GERMANTOWN, Tenn.--Leslie Kilzer, an international business major with an emphasis in marketing/Spanish;
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--Alan Layfield, a computer science major with a minor in mathematics/foreign languages;
LELAND--Caroline Baker, an English major;
LEXINGTON, Ky.--Kaitlin Wheatley, a biological engineering major with a minor in foreign languages;
MADISON--Emily Pitman[correct spelling], a psychology major;
MADISON, Ala.--Meagan Mathews, a psychology major with an emphasis in child development and family studies;
NATCHEZ--William Brown, an agricultural engineering technology major with an emphasis in land surveying;
NEW ALBANY--Lianne Capaning, an accounting major;
OSWEGO, Ill.--Rachel Heintz, a biological sciences major with an emphasis in pre-veterinary;
QUITMAN--Kasey Mosley, a history major;
RIPLEY--Karen Rangel, a business administration/foreign languages major with an emphasis in international business/French;
SHERMAN--William Scott, a political science major;
THIBODAUX, Lou.--Joshua Stroud, a business administration/foreign languages major with an emphasis in international business/German.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.