The UMPI chapter of Phi Eta Sigma inducted 22 students into its national honor society on October 20, 2012. The induction ceremony lasted only 45 minutes, but provided students with a prestigious honor.

According to Cole Dumonthier, an inducted student, “The ceremony was very nice. It was good to see all the family members and friends coming out to support the inductees. It really is an honor to be inducted; the fact that all of our hard work and determination was recognized is a great thing.”

According to Cole Dumonthier, an inducted student, “The ceremony was very nice. It was good to see all the family members and friends coming out to support the inductees. It really is an honor to be inducted; the fact that all of our hard work and determination was recognized is a great thing.”

Inductees received some special item that will be worn when they graduate. Among those items are cords and a medallion, which signify them as members of the honor society.

Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society for college students. Its goal is to encourage and reward academic excellence among college students. The society gives more than $285,000 in scholarships annually, according to the website. It is the oldest and largest freshmen honor society; it was founded at the University of Illinois on March 22, 1923. There are now more than 350 chapters throughout the United States, and more than 1 million inducted members.

Including the new inductees of this year’s class, a total of 182 scholars have been inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society at the University since it was rechartered on October 7, 2005.

“This year’s class of 22 students is a great addition to Phi Eta Sigma. As members, they will perform service to UMPI and the community as well as maintain their high scholastic achievement. It is great to have such strong leaders interested in joining our group,” Jim Stepp, Dean of Students and Interim Vice President of Student Affairs, said when speaking about the national honor society.

New inductees include: Hallie Lynne Bartlett, Eric P. Brown, Michelle Jo Bucci, Kenneth Denison Conley Jr., Cole Devin Dumonthier, Sara Louise Gendreau, Skylah Lindsay Gendreau, Kyle Daniel Gilson, Cassandra Lynn Green, Robert Michael Head, Melinda Jean Hitchcock, Andrew Kyle Hunt, Rachel Lyn Jordan, Logan Isaiah Lockhart, Dylan Shayne Markie, Traci Lynn Martin, Shelley Jean Murchie, Sara Ruth Robins, Amy Elizabeth Schnoor, Susan E. Sewell, Lanette Ann Virtanen, and Christina Rae Wall.

This year’s executive committee includes: Sarah Jean McGlinn as President, Mika Lindsey Ouellette as Vice President, Rebecca Marie Stepp as Treasurer and Secretary, Sarah Abigail Pickering-Ames as Historian, and Advisor James Daniel Stepp.