That the inaugural induction ceremony Tuesday of the Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Association of Jackson State University was a “historic day” was no cause for astonishment, but two of its first inductees were certainly surprised.
Just before the pinning/induction of membership, Dr. Priscilla Slade, special assistant to the provost for community colleges and international programs, surprised everyone by announcing that among the honorees were JSU President Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers and Dr. James C. Renick, provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs.
They were given awards as honorary Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Association members and also given honor cords that Slade said she hoped they would wear during JSU graduation ceremonies to show they were members of the new alumni chapter.
Both were delighted and seemed caught by surprise. Renick said afterward that he “loved” the honor and wore his cord during and after the ceremonies.
Onjalai Flake, associate director for regional and chapter development of the national honor society for two-year colleges, called the ceremonies a “historic” day. She said of the 34-student class that “this is the inaugural charter on this day and your names are on this charter.” She urged them to wear their pins proudly and that their very presence on the campus would have a positive effect towards scholarship.
Among those in attendance were members of the president’s cabinet, including Renick; Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Evelyn J. Leggette; Interim Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dr. Mary White; Vice President for Research and Federal Relations Dr. Loretta Moore; and general counsel Matthew Taylor.
Membership in Phi Theta Kappa is highly prized by students and schools, requiring at least a 3.5 grade point average. Headquartered at the Universities Center in Jackson, the society has more than 2 million members in more than 1,250 chapters nationwide.
Only the highest achieving community college students are members of the honor society, the equivalent of the Phi Beta Kappa society for four-year schools. It is recognized as the official honor society for community colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges.
Jackson State is no stranger to the program. Last month, JSU hosted the two-day Mississippi/Louisiana Phi Theta Kappa 2014 Fall Regional Conference.
Slade said then that JSU hosted the event in hopes of attracting academically talented students to the university from the two-year college system.