Spring has been a busy season for Rogers State University’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, which recently received three national honors, inducted several students for the spring 2004 semester and named its professor of the year.
Phi Theta Kappa is an international academic honor society for students enrolled in associate’s degree programs. Phi Theta Kappa has recognized academic excellence at community colleges since 1918 and has become one of the largest and most prestigious honor societies in higher education. More than 1.2 million members have been inducted in 1,200 institutions around the world. Membership is based primarily on academic achievement.
During its annual dinner on May 2, the honor society named Dr. Leon Lundie, assistant professor in the Department of Math and Sciences, as professor of the year. Lundie received doctoral and master’s degrees in biology from the University of Mississippi and a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Michigan – Flint. He has written many articles on bacteria in scholarly journals and has given presentations across the nation. His research interests are environmental microbiology and the physiology and molecular biology of bacteria. Lundie joined the RSU faculty in 2001.
In April, the national PTK organization recognized RSU’s chapter with a national Hallmark award for being among the top 25 chapters in supporting the organization’s international service program and a Pinnacle award for having increased its membership. Christine Anne Keeter of Claremore, the local PTK president, was honored as being among the top 25 chapter presidents in the nation.
During the banquet, the organization installed its officers for the 2004-05 academic year: Keeter, president; Emily Fay Thomas, presidential advisor; Lisa Lauderdale of Claremore, Claremore vice president; Rita Susanne Steinhart of Bartlesville, Bartlesville vice president; Christy Ann Peters of Pryor, Pryor vice president; Mary Margaret Ross of Skiatook, vice president of leadership; Cherokee Nichole Moore of Claremore, vice president of scholarship; Island Spotted Bear of Claremore, secretary; Jaime Lynn Epperson of Langley, Okla., historian; and Helen C. Horton of Hominy and Kara Andrews of Catoosa, Student Government Association representatives.
The group also inducted its new members, listed below by their hometowns:
- Bartlesville: Aaron Johnson, Amy Neff;
- Chelsea: Falon Jane Grimes;
- Collinsville: Heather McDaris;
- Claremore: Susanne Marie Forler; Kristin Littlefield, Holly Hargrave, Lyndi Elizabeth Hudson, Christy Hunt, Tifanie Lyn, Connie Ryan, Jesse Schmidt, Claudia M. Trout;
- Inola: Shauna Alves;
- Locust Grove: Heather Collins, Christopher Garner;
- Pawhuska: Mackenzie Chesbro;
- Pryor: Ashley Bell, Nicholas A. Berkeley, Natalee Caley, Adam Due, Leslie Elkins, Rachel D. Free, Jonna Grossman, Tonya Lee Mitchell, Lori Northcutt, Sharon Snell, Nicholas Watts;
- Salina: Crystal Leach;
- Tulsa: Steve Archer, Kimberly Davidson; and
- Vinita: Athena Jane Grimes.