University College Hosts Phi Eta Sigma’s Annual Initiation Ceremony for Freshmen Scholastic Achievers, Honors L. B. Lucky Award and Senior Award Recipients

Baton Rouge native Catherine Pearson receives L. B. Lucky Award and Lake Charles native Andrew Ammons receives Outstanding Senior Award

04/27/2018
BATON ROUGE – LSU University College hosted its annual Phi Eta Sigma Initiation Ceremony on Thursday, April 18, at LSU Union Royal Cotillion Ballroom. University College’s Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma inducted 86 freshmen scholastic achievers and presented the L. B. Lucky Award and Senior Award.

Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society rewarding first-collegiate-year scholarship.  Since 1928, the LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma has inducted more than 10,828 students. The goal of the society is to encourage and reward academic excellence among full-time, freshmen students in institutions of higher learning, who have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average.  Inductees receive national recognition, membership, and undergraduate and graduate scholarship opportunities of approximately $300,000.

“It has been a pleasure for me to advise the LSU Chapter of the nation’s oldest and largest honor society this past year,” said Allison Hargrave, faculty advisor of Phi ETA Sigma and academic counselor in LSU Center for Freshman Year. “Our officers have been doing an amazing job bringing in new ideas and leadership into our chapter, and I look forward to new opportunities the future will bring to our organization”

The oldest and largest first-year honor society, Phi Eta Sigma was founded at the University of Illinois on March 22, 1923. Since its founding, more than 1,100,000 scholars have been inducted into Phi Eta Sigma, and more than 378 collegiate chapters have been established throughout the United States.

This year’s presiding officers are Russell Wilder, president, native of Knoxville, Tenn.; Gabrielle Stuart, vice president, native of Walker, La.; Kelly Cohen, secretary, native of Metairie, La.; Devin Barnes, historian, native of Baton Rouge, La.; and Allison Hargrave, faculty advisor.

“It was an honor for me to be able to recognize all the hard-working students here at LSU who were inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma LSU Chapter for their scholastic excellence in our Spring Induction Ceremony.,” Hargrave said.  “TAs a society that gives back to the community, it is wonderful when our chapter can award students with our local scholarships for their outstanding academic accomplishments.

L. B. Lucky Award
Catherine Pearson, of Baton Rouge, La.

Established in 1959, the L.B. Lucky Award recognizes a Phi Eta Sigma sophomore who achieved the best overall academic performance during the first three semesters of work taken at LSU.

Pearson received LSU University College’s Phi Eta Sigma L.B. Lucky Award.  Pearson is pursuing his Bachelor of Arts degree in history, with a current 4.23 GPA. She was on the LSU President’s List twice in 2017, was awarded the LSU President & Mrs. M.D. Wooding-Dearing Scholarship in 2017 and the LSU History Department’s Harold and Gay Meaker Scholarship in 2018.

Besides being a member of Phi Eta Sigma, she is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and Gamma Beta Phi honor societies. She is also the future vice president of the Society for Student Historians. She plans to graduate in 2020 and pursue a career in education programming for a museum or working for the state or federal archives.

Outstanding Senior Award
Andrew Ammons, of Lake Charles, La.

Established in 1992, the Senior Award recognizes a Phi Eta Sigma member who is a graduating LSU senior and has maintained the best cumulative grade point average and overall academic record at LSU.

Ammons received LSU University College’s Phi Eta Sigma Senior Award. Ammons is pursuing dual degrees in biological sciences and Spanish with a minor in psychology. He currently has a GPA over 4.0.

He received a scholarship his freshman year which allowed him to study abroad for a summer in Spain. Since his sophomore year, he has worked in the Shell Tutorial Center on campus as a biology, chemistry, physics and Spanish tutor. In addition to being a member of Phi Eta Sigma, he is a member of Tri-Beta Biological Society and has played on both the club soccer and club tennis teams. After graduating in May, he plans to attend LSU Medical School in New Orleans this fall and pursue a career in medicine, possibly in Latin America.

LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma Fall 2017 – Spring 2018 Inductees

Ashley Barber, Maurepas, La.
Jalyn Barnes, Westwego, La.                                     
Caitlin Barra, Dallas, Ga.
Rachel Blanchard, Cedar Park, Texas
Adam Bobbs, Lafayette, La.
Abigail Boggs, Benton, La.
Morgan Bolinger, Lafayette, La.
Hawkins Boyer, Monroe, La.
Halie Braud, Baton Rouge, La.
Jenna Breaux, Mount Hermon, La.
Margaret Broussard, Carencro, La.
Lucy Brown, Eunice, La.
Miranda Calongne, Slidell, La.
Timothy Cannon, Lacombe, La.
Amanda Casiday, Lake Charles, La.
Madeline Clouatre, Mandeville, La.
Cameron Christian, Alexandria, La.
Anna Colson, Biloxi, Miss.
Hannah Cuneo, Houma, La.
Margaret Deshotel, Boyce, La.
Collin DeVillier, Brusly, La.
Kendall Duncan, Mandeville, La.
Matthew Freeburgh, Prairieville, La.
Madison Gaines, Prairieville, La.
Kaitlyn Gandy, Mandeville, La.
Bridget Gaudin, Baton Rouge, La.
Ashley Hassenboehler, Baton Rouge, La.
Victoria Hebert, Baton Rouge, La.
Alyssa Helak, Williamsville, N.Y.
Michaela Hicks, Bastrop, La.
David Hochkeppel, Youngsville, La.
Michelle Howington, Tallulah, La.
Anna Huthnance, Houston, Texas
Sydney Huthnance, Houston, Texas
Matthew Ieyoub, Baton Rouge, La.
Blayton, Jackson, Stonewall, La.
Logan Jordan, Mandeville, La.
Georgiy Khvan, Oblastj, Kazakhstan
Mallory Laborde, Denham Springs, La.
Joesph Lahaye, Ville Platte, La.
Ali Laiche, Mandeville, La.
Jeanne Lassere, Belle Chasse, La.
Chase LeMaire, Mandeville, La.
Aaron Mall, Baton Rouge, La.
Samantha Lombardo, Ballwin, Mo.
Allyson Lutgring, Baton Rouge, La.
Timothy McDonald, Covington, La.
Robert McDuff, Baton Rouge, La.
Mary Melancon, Berwick, La.
Ethan Michler, St. Rose, La.
Amber Miller, Sulphur, La. 
Brittany Morrison, Denham Springs, La.
Hieu Nguyen, Addis, La.
Madison Ott, Metairie, La.
Mason Ray, Slidell, La.
Jonathan Rizzo, Houma, La.
Lilith Reid, New Orleans, La.
Donald Roberts, Independence, La.
Nathan Roberts, Slidell, La.
Stephen Robinson, Mandeville, La.
Elizabeth Saab, Birmingham, Ala.
Bernadette Saizan, Mandeville, La.
Simone Sale, Metairie, La.
Alvin Satches, Mandeville, La.
Kaitlyn Scheurich, Mandeville, La.
Zachary Scheurich, Mandeville, La.
Sommer Seitz, Prairieville, La.
Macie Serio, Baton Rouge, La.
Codi Setters, Shreveport, La.
Emily Slade, Urbandale, Iowa
Sara Smith, Alexandria, La.
Elise St Pe, Lafayette, La.
Jack Thibodeaux, Baton Rouge, La.
Mary Thomas, Baton Rouge, La.
Maria Velasquez, Baton Rouge, La.
Zoe Venezia, Covington, La.
Jordan Vivien, Slidell, La.
John Waldvogel, Metairie, La.
Rachel Welch, Baton Rouge, La.
Dana Wempe, Houston, Texas
Madelyn Wadkins, New Orleans, La.
Courtney Walker, West Monroe, La.
Margaret Westbrook, Baton Rouge, La.
Jacob Whitlow, Metairie, La.
Mary Williams, Baton Rouge, La.
Julia Wood, Houma, La.

 

Since 1933, LSU University College has served as the portal of entry for students enrolled at LSU.  Academic and personal success is the hallmark of a well-rounded student, and University College provides a foundation of support services for students beginning their academic careers at LSU. University College has two enrollment divisions: The Center for Freshman Year and The Center for Advising and Counseling. Additionally, University College offers retention-specific programs: Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair Research Scholars, and Summer Scholars, and hosts Phi Eta Sigma, a national honor society rewarding first-collegiate-year scholarship.  These academic support programs focus on particular student populations and are a significant part of the role and mission of University College.

For more information on LSU University College, visit www.uc.lsu.edu or follow the conversation at www.facebook.com/LSU.UniversityCollege.

 

 

 

Contact Troy Robertson
University College
225-578-2844
trober5@lsu.edu 

or

Ernie Ballard
LSU Media Relations              
225-578-5685
eballa1@lsu.edu