Honorary Society Inducts Community Health Promotion Students

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R. Michael Stephens, from left, Nathanael Irons, Lindsey Butler, Jessica Harris, Caitlin Kelley, Sandra Ellis, Ashley Manchamee, Lauren Ibekwe, Ariana Baker and Bart Hammig

The University of Arkansas’ Beta Tau chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, a national honorary society for students studying community health promotion, inducted new members at a ceremony April 25.

Bart Hammig, an associate professor of community health promotion, serves as faculty adviser for the group. He advised another Eta Sigma Gamma chapter when he taught at Southern Illinois University.

The chapter was originally established several years ago and reactivated last year. Eligibility criteria include a 2.75 grade-point average and a major in health promotion or health education. Students are involved in community health-based promotional efforts such as the Relay for Life event held by the American Cancer Society.

Jessica Harris, secretary/treasurer of the chapter, said society membership also gives students the opportunity to network with their peers at other institutions. Members can also submit research for publication in a research magazine published by Eta Sigma Gamma, Harris said.

The students inducted April 25:

• Ariana Baker of Palatine, Ill., an undergraduate student.
• Lindsey Butler of Flippin, an undergraduate student.
• Lauren Ibekwe of Little Rock, an undergraduate student. She plans to go to graduate school.
• Caitlin Kelley of Arlington, Texas, an undergraduate student. She is also a member of Alpha Delta Pi and the Kinesiology Club. She plans to work as a physical therapist.
• R. Michael Stephens of Lowell, a graduate student. He has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Arkansas.

Chapter officers who took part in the initiation ceremony:

• Sandra Ellis of Cheney, Kan., an undergraduate student who is vice president of the chapter. She is also a member of Sigma Delta Pi and Gamma Beta Phi and the National Society of Leadership and is a tutor at Lifesource. She plans to enter physical therapy school after graduation.
• Jessica Harris of Windham, Maine, a master’s student who is secretary/treasurer of the chapter. She is a graduate assistant for the community health promotion program and has done an internship with the Schmieding Center in Springdale. She plans to pursue a doctorate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in community health education from the University of Maine at Farmington.
• Nathanael Irons of Conway, a graduate student who is president of the chapter. He is a graduate assistant for the Pat Walker Health Center and supervisor of the Student Health Advisory Committee. He was captain of the Relay for Life team and will begin an internship this summer for the Arkansas Department of Health in public health initiatives and health policy. He plans to work in health-care administration at a clinic or hospital. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas.
• Ashley Manchamee of Springdale, an undergraduate student who is the chapter’s historian and editor. She has also been involved with the Full Circle Food Pantry and the International Conversation Club. She plans to enter dental school after graduation.