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Jackson State University’s Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society Kappa Phi Chapter inducted 62 members from various majors during an induction ceremony Monday evening inside the Terry L. Woodard Ballroom.
Alpha Kappa Mu was founded in 1937 at Tennessee State University and is the first established HBCU honor society. Open to juniors, seniors and graduate students, the JSU chapter was formed in 1949.
Dr. Loria Brown, associate dean of the Du Bois-Harvey Honors College, congratulated each of the newly minted members on their scholarship, knowledge and service.
“We are looking forward to you going out in the community, the industry and other institutions to share all that you are as an Alpha Kappa Mu because you will represent us from now till the end of time,” Brown Gordon told the inductees. “So make sure you’re representing in a way that makes other young people want to inspire knowledge and power.”
The group is the second class since 2017. Graduate students must be in the top 10 percentile of their class and undergraduate students must have a 3.7 GPA or higher to be considered for membership. Students must also meet service requirements.
After the ceremony, Jaylen Henry, a communicative disorder major, shared her elation over her accomplishment. “I am so excited all my hard work is paying off,” said the senior. “I always wanted to be a part of Alpha Kappa Mu. My major is hard and this is something that uplifts me.”
Henry said she plans to be a speech pathologist working in the neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital one day. Her parents, Lorraine and Dwayne Henry, were in attendance and both wore looks of admiration as Henry recited the oath.
“I’m proud of my daughter. She is my only daughter and I’m very excited about her goals,” said Lorraine Henry.
Kafond Wilder, a doctoral student, expressed that it felt amazing to be recognized. The public policy major said that the late nights he spent on homework and papers were paying off. “All that effort did not go to waste.”
Wilder, who serves as an academic advisor in JSU’s Department of Undergraduate Studies, will graduate in December.
Toni Holloway, a senior psychology major, explained that she joined the honor society because it embodies service, which she enjoys. “I also love that this program is a historically black honor society and that sold it for me as well.”
Holloway’s mother, Minnie Holloway, a JSU music graduate, accompanied her daughter to the event. “Whatever my baby wants to do pertaining to excellence, I’m right in there with her. I thank the Lord,” she said.