Phi Kappa Phi Presents Annual Awards, Inducts 61 New Members
May. 4, 2011
FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi national honors society recently recognized several members with special awards and inducted 61 new members from among the university student body, faculty, staff and alumni.
The annual Eleanor Gaunder Teaching Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Nicholas Mauriello, an assistant professor of English. The UNA chapter also nominated senior professional biology major Michelle Sheehy for the Phi Kappa Phi national fellowship award. Sheehy, of Harvest, will graduate next month with a 4.0 GPA and has been accepted to the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton, Mass. She was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi as a junior in 2009.
Fourteen students were recognized through the Phi Kappa Phi Student Scholars Forum Writing Competition, which included categories for graduate students, undergraduate single authors and undergraduate collaborative authors. The writing competition winners included:
GRADUATE
First place – Catherine James, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., for “Bogus or Bona Fide: The Legitimacy of the Tudor Dynasty at the Accession of Henry VIII,” sponsored by Dr. Jeffrey Bibbee
Second place – Kerrie Holloway, of Huntsville, for “Operation Babylift: Humanitarian Effort or Publicity Stunt?” sponsored by Dr. Christopher Maynard
UNDERGRADUATE
First place, single author – David MacMillan, of Florence, for “Determining Lasing Thresholds in Fluorescent Microspheres,” sponsored by Dr. Brian Thompson
Second place, single author – Lauren Schifano, of Florence, for “Paolo Farinati’s The Jewish Forces Vanquishing the Supporters of the Haman: An Allegory of Jesuit Pursuits,” sponsored by Dr. Lisa Kirch
First place, collaborative authors – Leslie Gaither, of Houston; Alisha Mitchell, of Ardmore; Callie Morris, of Florence; Anna Pierce, of Spruce Pine; and Ashton Puckett, of Iuka, Miss.; for “A Systemic Review of the Benefits of Self-Monitoring Compared to Clinic-Based Monitoring of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy (OAT),” sponsored by Dr. Alyce Brown
Second place, collaborative authors – Karen Billingham, of Russellville; Erin Dean, of Lester; Keesha Jones, of Red Bay; Suzanne King, of Jasper; and Candace Painter, of Union Grove; for “Hand Hygiene Compliance: Does Education Help?” sponsored by Dr. Alyce Brown
Sixty-one students, faculty, staff and alumni of UNA were inducted into Phi Kappa Phi. In accordance with national standards for membership in Phi Kappa Phi, student candidates must have completed 72 total semester hours, including at least 24 semester hours at UNA. To be eligible for membership, juniors must be in the upper 7.5 percent of their class. For juniors in the spring 2011 semester, that meant a GPA of at least 3.803 on a 4.0 scale. Seniors selected for membership must be in the top 10 percent of the senior class, which, in the spring 2011 semester, meant a GPA of at least 3.641 on a 4.0 scale. To be eligible as graduate students, candidates must have completed at least 18 semester hours of graduate work at UNA and be in the top 10 percent of all graduate students. In the spring 2011 semester, that meant having a 4.0 GPA. The following students met these requirements:
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Amber M. Bishop, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. – Secondary education/biology 6-12
Danyelle J. Brooks, of Florence – Community counseling
Julie Brannon Brown, of Elkmont – Nursing
Susan K. Browning, of Jena – Nursing
Jessica Ann Gamble, of Decatur – Collaborative special education
Martha Frances Graham, of Florence – Professional management
Corey M. Hatton, of Hatton – Management
K. Paige Hicks, of Athens – Secondary education/history
Brianna Lane Jeffrey, of Florence – Community counseling
Robert Andrew Jones, of Lexington – Secondary education/general science
Pamela Shae Kirby, of Athens – Business administration
Jo Anna Larson, of Florence – History
Nina Rae Long, of Haleyville – Elementary education
Wyndy Carlin Looney, of Tuscaloosa – Nursing
Stacey Kaye Nelson, of Iuka, Miss. – Elementary education
Leah Parker, of Russellville – Community counseling
Alicia Dawn Phillips, of Muscle Shoals – Elementary education
Stephanie Brooke Vickers, of Danville – Elementary special education
SENIORS
Brooke Compton, of Hamilton – Mathematics
Emily Dunlap, of Decatur – Elementary education
Mindy Brady Forsman, of Saltillo, Miss. – Nursing
Kelli A. Gray, of Florence – English
Addie Katherine Grissom, of Phil Campbell – Accounting
Mary Catherine Heflin, of Tuscumbia – Nursing
Andrea Kelli Holt, of Collinwood, Tenn. – Social work
Emily Lauren Payne, of Decatur – Exercise science
Nichola A. Pearson, of Florence – Nursing
Thomas Lance Smith Jr., of Tuscumbia – Communication arts
Cody Lee Taylor, of Pulaski, Tenn. – Physical education
Nicole A. Wilde, of Ann Arbor, Mich. – Nursing
JUNIORS
Daniel Hamilton Almon, of Florence – Biology
Christopher Edwin Balentine Jr., of Florence – Biology
Caleb Hugh Banks, of Florence – Entertainment industry
Rachel Ann Bates, of Tuscumbia – Communication arts
Dakota Anderson Bentley, of Killen – Elementary education
Rachel DeAnna Bond, of Madison – Social work
Charles Scott Boyer III, of Florence – Accounting
Joy Elaine Carbine, of Florence – Accounting
Christina Marie DeGrado, of Trussville – Merchandising
Kayla Danielle Dunham, of Harvest – Elementary education
Joseph Todd Elliott, of Sheffield – Secondary education/mathematics
Jessica Nicole Flanagan, of Tuscumbia – Social work
Whitney Nicole Hargett, of Killen – Elementary education
Jordan Lindsey Harless, of Gurley – Management
Melissa Lynn Howe, of Town Creek – Nursing
Jessica Leigh Johnston, of Red Bay – Accounting/economics
Jordan Daphne Ann Jones, of Athens – Social work
Sarah Ann Jones, of Florence – Elementary education
Hillary Paige King, of Florence – Criminal justice
Haley Miranda Medved, of Gardendale – Sociology
Keri D. Metcalf, of Tuscumbia – Biology
Kayla Marie Moore, of Decatur – Nursing
Taylor Pickens, of Florence – Biology
In addition to students, the UNA Phi Kappa Phi chapter elects a small number of outstanding faculty, professional staff and alumni each year. These individuals are chosen on the basis of academic record, professional achievements and service to higher education. They are nominated and elected by local chapter members. The following met these requirements:
ALUMNI
Dr. Jana Beaver, assistant professor of management at UNA
Dr. Melvin Davis, director of library services at UNA
Nancy Meeks Sanford, executive director of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library
FACULTY/STAFF
Dr. Gregory Carnes, professor of accounting
Louise H. Huddleston, archives technical assistant for the Collier Library
Dr. Donna Parker Jacobs, dean of the College of Education
Dr. Christopher Maynard, chair of the Department of History and Political Science
Dr. Michael Pretes, associate professor of geography