Photo by S,lomon Pine<la ~Honors organizations seek students with li7centiIPe to sLlcceed PSI CHI STIMULATES QUALITY IN FUTURE PSYCHOLOGISTS Most departments on campus, including psychology, have special programs and incentives to encourage their students to strive to succeed. Psi Chi , an honor society for psychology majors and minors, recogni zed and honored those students who achieve a 3.0 GPA in the department, as well as in their general educati on courses. Although it was an honor to be selected into Psi Chi, that was not the main objective of th e organization. Dr. Glen Adams, faculty sponsor, said that the purpose was to encourage, stimu late and maintain excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology. Psi Chi strove to reach its goals in several ways . First of all, professionals were often brought in to speak to the students during the meetings. Duringone meeting this year a graduate professor from Abilene Christian University came and provided a description ofwhat students could expect at graduate school. He also explained what he personally looked for in applicants. Students were given the opportunity to ask various faculty members questions about their backgrounds, career choices and changes they might make now. Graduate student Brianna Valentine said that the information she learned at the meetings definitely help ed her in the graduate app li cation proces's . "There are several papers you turn in with each school 's application. What the professors said gave me direction as to what schools were looking for ," Valentine said. Senior Dizzy Dean said the meetings provided him with insight on everything from what classes to take at graduate school to how to manage his case load. "The club has helped me to plan my future," Dean said. Psi Chi offered other advantages to its participants. The organization also participated in regional and national conventions and research competitions. There was a newsletter, Eye on Psi Chi, that offered students the chance to share their work wi th other students. Dean said he was hoping to publish a paper that he wrote in hi s advanced research class and that the newsletter provided him with the forum. Although the club focused on helping students prepare for the future, they did not ignore the needs of the community surrounding th em. Thi s group participated in a service project to help bring Christmas to thevictims in Searcy's battered women's shelter . Members of the group contributed money and ornaments and then went out and decorated the shelter. Like many organizations at Harding, Psi Chi taught its members th e importance of maintaining a Christian perspective in theworld ofpsychology. While meetings often stressed how to further students' education and careers, living for Christ superseded those concerns. Adams said that Psi Chi helped prepare students to be ethical Christian psychologists through service projects and speakers. "We encourage stud ents to be the highest quality professionals they can be," he said. - Yavonda Fletcher Photo by Satomon Pine<la j Anna Sanders, Dr. Belly Watson and Cyndi Connell discuss the spring initiation for Kappa - Delta Pi. Kappa Delta Pi honored outstanding education majors. I Matt Bishop and Jon Carroll enjoy each other's company during a Sigma Theta Tau 1; banquet. Sigma Theta Tau offered nursing students the opportunity to explore their field ~ and network with professionals. HONORS 275 •
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