UVa-Wise inducts 29 members to Omicron Delta Kappa

The Omicron Delta Kappa circle of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise added 29 new members during an April 10 induction ceremony.

Dubbed “The National Leadership Honor Society,” Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) recognizes students who exhibit superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. To be eligible for membership, students must show leadership in at least one of the following areas: scholarship, athletics, campus and community service, social and religious activities, campus government, journalism, speech, mass media, and creative and performing arts. In addition, students must be either juniors or seniors and must be in the upper 35 percent in scholarship at their college.

Student inductees for the 2004-2005 academic year include the following individuals:

Rachel Nicole Allen is a senior biology major from Jonesville who has earned a GPA of 3.712. She is a member of the Darden Society and the Sigma Zeta Math and Science Honor Society, and she has been involved in the Student Government Association.

Joshua Darin Belcher is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in chemistry from Pound who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.78. He has twice received a fellowship in the natural sciences to conduct summer research with science faculty. He has presented these findings at numerous meetings and hopes to soon bring his findings to publication. He will attend the Medical College of Virginia next year.

Christine Mary Bowen is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in computer information systems from Moseley who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.815. She is the captain of the UVa-Wise women’s basketball team and holds an athletic scholarship for women’s basketball and an AAC Academic Team membership. She is also the Sergeant-at-Arms of her sorority, Alpha Delta Chi.

Kellie Sue Burke is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in biology from Duffield who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.519. She is a member of Sigma Zeta and presented research findings at the 2004 Appalachian Research Forum held at ETSU. She has also participated in the annual Campus Clean-Up and is active in the Baptist student Union.

Chun Michael Chan is a member of the Class of 2005 with a double major in mathematics and computer information systems from Hong Kong who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.49. He serves as a resident advisor and has been a summer conference assistant at UVa-Wise. He is active in both the Baptist Student Union and the Glamorgan Chapel Youth Group in Wise. In the fall, he will begin graduate studies in statistics at the University of Kentucky, where he has been awarded a full assistantship.

Wendi Breanne Dotson is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in communication from Coeburn who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.501. She has participated in intramural sports and in the campus play “The Fantastics.” In addition, she is the Campus Life Editor of The Highland Cavalier and has been a member of the UVa-Wise Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.

Kristi Renee Foster is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in communication from Wise who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.359. Kristi has participated in many church- and sorority-related community service activities, including fundraisers for the National Kidney Foundation, the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Jacalyn Paige Gilbert is a junior biology major from Jewell Ridge who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.695. She has served as an Americorps Tutor at Mountain Empire Community College and has served as secretary of her sorority, Alpha Delta Chi. She is a UVa-Wise Ambassador and has been a volunteer for several civic groups, including the Good Samaritan Food Pantry of Richlands, and RAM and ARCHS of UVA-Wise.

Carla Deanne Glass is a junior biology major from Castlewood who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.615. She has been involved in the Student Government Association, is a member of the Xi Gamma Zeta sorority, and is an EMT and ambulance driver for the Dante Rescue Squad.

Tiffany Monique Hunter is a senior communication major from Norton and has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.56. Tiffany is active in Third Wave Student Ministries, Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and the Baptist Student Union. She is a member of the UVa-Wise Chamber Singers, is a member of two bands, and has been a featured soloist.

Sheena Lynn Jessee is a junior chemistry major from St. Paul who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.192. She participates in intramural sports, has served as an Honor Court representative, has been a member of the choir, and is active in the Baptist Student Union.

Joshua Vincent Justice is a senior history and political science major from Wise who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.98. He has participated in the Peake Honors Program, was a founding father of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society. Joshua is a peer tutor for the Tutor Connection and has served as an orientation leader and student mentor.

Chelsie Marie Lawson is a junior English literature major from Jonesville who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.792. She is a member of the UVa-Wise cheerleading squad, where she serves as the routine director for the squad and as a coordinator and instructor for the summer cheerleading camp. She is active in the Alpha Delta Chi sorority, where she has served as vice president, secretary, and webmaster.

Jessica Ellen Lewis is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in psychology from Clintwood who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.685. She is a member of the Psi Chi and Phi Theta Kappa honor societies. Jessica is a tutor for Student Support Services and was named Tutor of the Year in 2003. She served as a facilitator at the World Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. in 2004, has served as the president of the Baptist Student Union, and was a member of the Nicaraguan Mission Team for three years.

Cleopatra Robinette-Renee Lightfoot is a junior psychology major from Richmond who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.875. She is a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society and the Cavalettes dance team, where she serves as captain of the team. She is a resident advisor and serves as the director of the food drive for the Ronald McDonald House.

Angela Donielle McAmis is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in mathematics from Wise who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.92. She is a member of the Sigma Zeta Honor Society. She participated in the Appalachian Math Science Partnership Teacher Explorer Program, an initiative funded by the National Science Foundation, for two years. She is also active in the Mount Olive Freewill Baptist Church, where she has taught Sunday School for five years, and has served as the Recreational Director for Vacation Bible School for three years. She has accepted a mathematics teaching position with Scott County Schools.

Scott Cooper McDaniel is a junior history major from Wise who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.778. He is member of Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society. He is a resident director and a member of the Residence Hall Association.

Tailinett Olmedo is a junior education major from Waynesboro who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.529. She currently serves as the student member of the UVa-Wise Board and is a resident advisor and Peer Educator. She has presented at several annual conferences for the Virginia Association for College and University Housing Officers, where she has received a Top Ten Program Award. She is a member of the UVa-Wise Chamber Singers, the Concert Choir, and the Wesley Foundation.

Christopher Cole Osborne is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in communication from Castlewood who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.83. He is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, a communication honor society, where he serves as president. He has also served on the Elections Board and the Student Activities Board of the Student Government Association and currently serves as the Senior Senator for the SGA and as a justice for the UVa-Wise Judicial Board.

Carrie Grace Read is a junior chemistry major from Bristol who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.7. She has served on the Honor Court for three years and is a resident advisor. She is a member of the Baptist Student Union (BSU), where she has served locally as president and missions coordinator and holds an executive position with the BSU Council at the state level.

Diana Renee Sluss is a junior communication major from Coeburn who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.472. She served as the Freshman Senator of the Student Government Association and served as both the Commuter Justice and the Chief Justice for the Judicial Board. She is also a College Ambassador.

Kari Denise Sparks is a senior art major from Wise who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0. She was named to the volleyball squad’s 1st Team, All Region, for three years and the 2nd Team, All Region, for one year. She was also named to the 1st Team, All Conference, for three years. She was named player of the week for four consecutive weeks and was voted Defensive Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004. Kari was also named National Libero of the Week in 2004. She also serves as the vice president of the Art Guild.

Daniel Douglas Stanley is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in communication from Wise who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.4. He is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, a communication honor society, and of the acting troupe for the Appalachian Children’s Theater.

Nathaniel E. Swindall is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in chemistry from Wise who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.53. He participates in the intramural basketball program and is active in the Wise Baptist Church, where he has served as a volunteer radio technician for the Wise Baptist Radio Broadcast for 10 years. He is also a singer, guitarist, and leader for “Truth,” the Wise Baptist Praise Band.

Charles Jeffrey Wills is a member of the Class of 2005 with a major in psychology from Pocohontas who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.6. He is the president of Psi Chi, a psychology honor society. He will soon present his psychology research findings on “Cognitive Functioning of Athletes and Non-Athletes” at a conference in Los Angeles. He was a member of the UVa-Wise football team for three years, earning the varsity letter all three years.

Maggie Loraine Yost is a junior mathematics major from Cedar Bluff and has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.504. She participates in intramural basketball, volleyball, and flag football. She is the telecounseling supervisor for the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority and organizes and maintains her sorority’s Chapter Excellence Portfolio, which includes the sorority’s annual events and activities. She also volunteers with the Adopt-A-Street Christmas Child Program.

Faculty and staff inductees for the 2004-2005 academic year include the following individuals:

Gilmer Warren Blackburn is the current Provost and Senior Vice-Chancellor of UVa-Wise. He began teaching at Gardner-Webb College in 1968 as a professor of history and continued to serve the institution in a variety of administrative roles, including director of graduate studies, associate dean of academic affairs and vice president and dean of academic affairs. During his time at Gardner-Webb, Blackburn helped develop a new core curriculum, which was recognized as one of the most distinctive in the nation.

Elizabeth Jane Meade-Dean is the Director of College Relations at UVa-Wise. She graduated from UVa-Wise in 1989 with a degree in history. A former journalist, she received a Virginia Press Association Award in 1992, and has twice received awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the most recent for efforts relating to the College’s 50th anniversary.

Russell Dale Necessary is the Vice-Chancellor for Enrollment Management at UVa-Wise. He graduated from UVa-Wise in 1987 with a degree in history and earned a Master’s Degree in Education in the Social Foundations of Higher Education from the University of Virginia in 1999. He also currently serves as the president of the Southwest Counselors Association, a professional association of primary, middle, and high school guidance counselors, college counselors, and other professional counselors.

The only branch of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise is ranked among the nation's top public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. UVa-Wise is home to 1,800 students and offers undergraduate and professional programs in the liberal arts tradition of Thomas Jefferson.