Union College Inducts First Members of New Honor Society, Psi Chi

Union's first Psi Chi President, Amy Jo Killion, introduces the honor society members to the crowd.

Union College added a chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, to the list of honor societies available to students and alumni. The society inducted the chapter's first members at a ceremony held on campus on December 4, 1004. Dr. Thomas J. McFarland, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, served as the Installation Officer, officially approving and establishing the collegiate chapter at Union College.

"Having this honor society available to our students is a great achievement for Union College and for the Psychology program at Union College, said Dr. Joni Caldwell, faculty advisor and professor at Union.

The idea of having a chapter of Psi Chi Honor Society was first introduced by the collaborative efforts of Dr. Amy Lindsey, a former member of Union's faculty, and current Psychology Professor Dr. Caldwell. The two began the process of applying for acceptance a year ago and Dr. Caldwell continued the process after Dr. Lindsey accepted a position at Syracuse University in New York.

In addition to inducting the society's charter members, guests at the event were addressed by Dr. Barbara Belew, current Past-President of the Kentucky Psychology Association. Dr. Belew spoke of the significance of a national honor society of this caliber being available to the students and alumni of Union College.

This national honor society was founded in 1929 during the Ninth International Congress of Psychology held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Psi Chi's stated purpose is to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship, and to advance the science of psychology. Many of the society's members have gone on the distinguished careers in psychology, including several presidents of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Psychological Society (APS), numerous national and international award winners, and various other renowned research psychologists, authors, professors, and practitioners.

Inducted as the society's charter members were: Student Membership Officer Rebekkah Burkett, London, Ky.; Psychology Professor and faculty advisor Joni Caldwell, Barbourville, Ky; Student Secretary Kristina Cobb, Detroit, Mi.; Student Karisha Couch, Booneville, Ky.; Student Lisa Fugate, Barbourville, Ky.; Student Vice President Tiffany Hall, Manchester, Ky.; Student Charles Jones, Owenton, Ky.; Student Vickie Jones, Middlesboro, Ky.; Student President Amy Jo Killion, Barbourville, Ky.; Student Treasurer Amy Luttrell, Harlan, Ky.; Student Historian Kim Miracle, Cannon, Ky.; Student Kari Sams, Manchester, Ky.; Student Tara Smith, Barbourville, Ky.

February 2, 2005

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