SIU System President Dan Mahony, second from left, and NAACP President Derrick Johnson were among those honored at the Phi Kappa Phi honor society ceremony on April 11. With Mahony and Johnson are LaShonda Stewart, the SIU Carbondale chapter president and a professor in the College of Business and Analytics, and Grey Dawg. (Photo by Brandon Macier)
April 15, 2022
SIU Carbondale inducts 38 students into Phi Kappa Phi honor society
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Thirty-eight Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduate and undergraduate students were inducted into the university’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society during a ceremony in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium on April 11.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson was presented with a lifetime membership. In addition, SIU System President Dan Mahony; Sheila Caldwell, chief diversity officer of the SIU System, and Randolph Burnside, director of the Medical Education Preparatory (MEDPREP) program with the SIU School of Medicine were inducted as members.
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10% of seniors and graduate students and 7.5% of juniors having at least 72 credit hours, along with graduate students in the top 10% of the number of candidates for graduate degrees. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved distinction also qualify.
LaShonda Stewart, the SIU Carbondale chapter president and a professor in the College of Business and Analytics, welcomed students and officiated the ceremony and Mahony addressed the inductees. Terry Mathias, who earned a master’s and doctoral degree from SIU Carbondale alumnus and was a 1975 chapter initiate, discussed the chapter’s history on campus.
“We recognize and award excellence,” Stewart said. “Mr. Johnson’s visit to Southern Illinois University was monumental because he could have visited any other university, but he chose to visit SIU and the Carbondale community to celebrate our high achieving students and distinguished professionals. This was a perfect occasion to highlight and reinforce SIU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Chartered in 1957, SIU Carbondale’s chapter was revitalized in 2021 and received a Circle of Excellence Silver Award.
Students inducted into the chapter for 2022, listed by hometown, year in school and field of study are:
ILLINOIS
Benton: Heather D. Rice, graduate student, physician assistant studies.
Carbondale: Miguel B. Abrao Da Silva Guterres, graduate student, health care administration.
Carbondale: Luanna Flagg, graduate student, health and human sciences.
Carbondale: Roshini S. Gallage, graduate student, mathematics.
Carbondale: Richy John, graduate student, finance.
Carbondale: Sandra Richy John, graduate student, electrical engineering and curriculum and instruction.
Carbondale: John David Kemp, graduate student, history.
Carbondale: Kimberly Oswald, graduate student, social work.
Carbondale: Ashani M. Thilakarathne, graduate student, agriculture.
Carmi: Katherine Hosick, senior, anthropology.
Carterville: Francesca Burkett, senior, geology and history.
Centralia: Erica L. Osborne, senior, English literature.
Chatham: Guenevere E. Rees, junior, psychology/criminology and criminal justice.
Chester: Zachary Zappa, senior, science.
Chicago: Chandler N. Carter, graduate student, health administration/health informatics.
Chicago: McKenzie Hoogerwerf, graduate student, health administration/health informatics.
Creal Springs: Trinka Pape, graduate student, education administration and higher education.
Effingham: Jarrett R. Jones, senior, political science specializing in pre-law.
Glenview: Giulia D. Mutul, graduate student, health administration.
Johnston City: Barilynn Shelby, senior, psychology/criminology and criminal justice.
Makanda: Ashley N. Mueth, senior, English literature; classics.
McLeansboro: Marcy Hood, graduate student, curriculum and instruction.
Metropolis: Courtney Y. Ledbetter, graduate student, physician assistant studies.
Mount Carmel: Madeline Goldman, junior, physiology.
Sauk Village: Mercedes Joi Gest, graduate student, health care management.
Springfield: Grace K. DuRocher, junior, biochemistry.
Springfield: Katherine Held, junior, finance and honors pre-law scholar.
Springfield: Dr. Shreepada Tripathy, graduate student, biochemistry.
Watseka: Haylee Ketchum, junior, interior design.
FLORIDA
North Port: Grace J. Lafo, graduate student, communication disorders and sciences; linguistics.
GEORGIA
Richmond Hill: Oluwole Awolusi, graduate student, mechanical engineering.
INDIANA
Burns Harbor: Nancy L. Smith, graduate student, radiologic sciences.
Francesville: Cassidy R. Tanner, graduate student, radiologic sciences.
NORTH CAROLINA
Washington: Agnes B. Delaney, graduate student, science.
OHIO
Rocky River: Alysse J. Boyd, graduate student, philosophy.
TENNESSEE
Memphis: Johnie Shipp, graduate student, health care administration.
VIRGINIA
Virginia Beach: Amy E. May, senior, workforce education and development.
WASHINGTON
Poulsbo: Britany Ashley, senior, workforce education and development.
Officers for the 2021-2022 academic year are:
Chapter president: LaShonda Stewart, director, Chancellor’s Scholar Program, professor, business.
Secretary: Scott Hamilton-Brehm, assistant professor, microbiology.
Treasurer: Elizabeth Donoghue, assistant director, University Honors Program.
Awards and grants coordinator: Jyotsna Kapur, director, University Honors Program, professor, cinema and photography.
Student vice president: Malissa Huddleston, senior, majoring in diagnostic medical sonography.