Twenty-seven Educational Opportunity Fund students were inducted into Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society Thursday, October 4.
The students, advisors and university officials gathered in McGill Commons Club rooms for the induction of honor students with GPA’s of 3.0 or higher for two consecutive semesters.
The ceremony started with a reading of statistics and history of Chi Alpha Epsilon. According to Lupita Yonker, EOF Assistant Director/Counselor, “Chi Alpha Epsilon was founded to recognize the academic achievements of students in support programs like EOF and Federal Trio programs across the nation.”
The organization has been around since 1990; it has been at the University for five years. There are 78 chapters across the country.
After brief descriptions of the organization, the students were shown the honor material and its emblem, then they signed the ledger.
University officials, including Provost Thomas Pearson, Dean of the Center for Student Success Dr. Mercy Azeke, Associate Director of Residential Life, Mark Holfelder, and with the EOF staff Program Director Colleen Johnson, Assistant Director/Counselor Lupita Yonker, Freshman Coordinator/Counselor Nicole Martinez, Sophomore Counselor Tyrone Smith and Math Tutor Al Fure were all present.
According to Yonker, Pearson “praised the students being inducted and their commitment to academic excellence.”
Other elements of the ceremony included a candle lightening ceremony, which, according to Yonker, “symbolized the enlightenment which enables the students to help one another.” Also, the students were given blue and white honor cords to symbolize their academic achievements, and a pin that finalized their membership.
Tyrone Smith, sophomore counselor with EOF, says that there are a couple of elements that he sees in each student, such as “self determination and the students’ ability to thrive without assistance from outside groups,” he said. “It takes little to get these students going.”
Smith also said that this organization is built on a connection, it encourages students to be and stay involved. He said he would love to see more and more students enter the Honor Society in the future.
Smith praised the students, “I think they already know we’re very proud.”
Smith said that there are about 140-150 students in the EOF program at the University and there is a 70% success rate of sophomore students inducted into the Honor Society.
The group of students that were inducted into Chi Alpha Epsilon are: Akil Billy, Amanda Barnum, Amanda Romeo, Ambar Leonardo, Andrew Mendez, Audra Spero, Christopher Pittman, Drew Corrigan, Gina Gilanyi, Jahmer Bunch, Jason Caianiello, John Peterolff, Katelyn Agabiti, Kimberly Soloway, Kristine Gunningham, Maham Ayub, Melina Morel, Michael Acosta, Monik Suit, Natali Greco, Nicole Gafanha, Nohely D’Oleo, Antonia Popo, Rozalyn Morrow, Sana Rashid, Vincent Shockley and Zarrin Rahman.
According to the University website, “EOF is a state-funded scholarship program providing access to higher education for students with a genuine desire to learn but who are economically disadvantaged and could also benefit from academic support.”
To enter the program, incoming freshman endure an interview process. While in school, they must uphold their scholarship and maintain a respectable GPA.