FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Like many other married couples, Tonya Kaye and John Dalton "JD" Harris Jr. of Blytheville firmly believe in doing things together. They earned master of science degrees in operations management together and they participated in the 2003 University of Arkansas graduation ceremony in Fayetteville together.

The Harrises, members and lifetime alumni of the national honor society and service organization Gamma Beta Phi, are exemplary role models of its motto "Progressus per Eruditioneum" (progress through education.) They embody its watchwords—scholarship, service and character—by serving the organization on local, state and national levels.

Both completed their degrees at Arkansas Northeastern College, formerly the University Center at Mississippi County Community College, and both earned a 4.0 (straight A) grade point average.

Tonya, a 1984 graduate of Osceola High School, received two associate's degrees, one in business in 1993 and one in the arts in 1995, from Mississippi County Community College. In 1998, she earned a bachelor of science degree in human resource management from Arkansas State University.

J.D., a 1982 graduate of Warren Central High School in Vicksburg, Miss., earned an associate's degree in art from Mississippi County Community College in 1992, and an associate's degree in general studies in 1996. J.D. received a bachelor of science degree in technology management from Arkansas State University in 2001.

Tonya is the daughter of Jerry and Shirley Hauptman of Lake City, Ark., and J.D. is the son of John and Polly Harris of Vicksburg.