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UT Tyler Alpha Chi Honor Society Chapter Recognized at National Convention

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April 16, 2015

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

April 16, 2015

The University of Texas at Tyler was recognized at the 2015 Alpha Chi National Honor Society’s annual convention in Chicago. The Texas Alpha Xi Chapter received a Star Chapter Award for the 2013-14 academic year, Suzanne Pundt, UT Tyler chapter sponsor, announced.

UT Tyler’s chapter was one of only 10 from Region II to have earned the society’s designation, which is given to Alpha Chi chapters across the nation that meet standards of outstanding achievement throughout the academic year. Region II includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and half of Texas.

In addition, C.J. Kornman of Longview received one of two Kathryn Hoyle Bradley Prizes in Health Sciences in the amount of $100 for his presentation, “Enhancement of Risk Prediction for Lumbar Spinal Fractures using Stochastic Assessment of Bone Mineral Density Distribution from DXA Images.” Only 29 students from among more than 260 who presented received awards for making the best scholarly, creative or artistic presentations in their respective fields. Kornman also was an alternate for the 2015-16 Region II Pryor Fellowship.

Other student presenters and their presentation titles were Donna Gatewood of Hideaway Lake – “Stories of Our Lives,” Seth Swinney of Whitehouse – “An Overview of Telomeres and Their Implications” and Joshua Smith of Tyler – “Mark Twain, the Music of the Spheres, and Reclaiming the Self in No. 44, ‘The Mysterious Stranger.’”

UT Tyler biology graduate student Michael Suarez of Tyler represented Region II at the annual meetings of the council. He played an important role in the governance of the national organization, and Alpha Chi is the only major honor society in which students and faculty have equal roles, Pundt said.

A senior lecturer in the UT Tyler biology department, Pundt currently serves as the Region II secretary/treasurer and member of the National Council of Alpha Chi. Dr. James Koukl, UT Tyler associate professor of biology, serves as assistant sponsor. Both sponsors served as session-presiders and student presentation judges. Koukl was also chair of the Region II Gaston Scholarship Committee, and Pundt also served on the national Gaston/Nolle Scholarship Committee.

Each year at the convention, the society concludes the yearlong emphasis on extending scholarship beyond the walls of the classroom, lab or studio. This year’s project, providing art supplies for Art Therapy Connection of Chicago and science supplies for public school classrooms, allowed convention-goers first-hand experience in making scholarship effective for good. UT Tyler’s Texas Alpha Xi Chapter raised $200 for the project.

The Alpha Chi Honor Society has some 300 chapters in 45 states and the District of Columbia. It is a coeducational society whose purpose is to promote academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students and to honor those who achieve such distinction. As a general honor society, Alpha Chi admits to membership students from all academic disciplines.

A member institution, which must be a regionally accredited, baccalaureate degree-granting college or university, may invite to membership no more than the top 10 percent of the junior, senior and graduate students.

For more information about UT Tyler’s chapter, contact Pundt, 903.566.7274 or spundt@uttyler.edu.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.