Two Pennsylvania College of Technology chapters of honor societies including the charter members of an organization for business administration students held separate induction ceremonies Saturday in the college's Thompson Professional Development Center.
Alpha Chi At 1 p.m., 19 new members were welcomed into the Pennsylvania Xi Chapter of Alpha Chi, a national baccalaureate honor society.
Membership is open to bachelor-degree students from all academic disciplines and is limited to the top 10 percent of an institution's junior and senior classes.
The latest Alpha Chi inductees (11 of whom were on hand for the proceedings) are: Kelly T. Bidlespacher, Trout Run; Katherine J. Confer, Howard; Jason M. Crawford, Hanover; Ashley D. DelBianco, McDonald, 2009-10 president; Colby Dressler, McAlisterville; Kathryn A. Foster, Williamsport, incoming vice president; Gayle M. Kielwein, South Williamsport; Christine M. Kolanda, Harrisburg; Andrew N. Kroft, Dover; Jessica R. Larson, Montoursville; Brandon L. Mase, Liberty; Teresa A. McBreen, Malvern; Pamela A. Mix, South Williamsport; Michael M. Niedermyer, Williamsport; Eric S. Roman, Williamsport, next year's treasurer/secretary; Christopher J. Schaffer, DuBois; Matthew R. Scheid, Lititz; Gelnar Talj, Frederick, Md.; and Jonathan M. Zook, Williamsport.
Among participants were college President Davie Jane Gilmour; and faculty sponsor and chapter adviser Gerald D. "Chip" Baumgardner, associate professor of business administration.
Delta Mu Delta
Seven students (including three who also were part of the earlier event) were inducted shortly after 2 p.m. into the Lambda Nu Chapter of Delta Mu Delta, an international honor society for business students in the top 20 percent of their respective class and carrying grade-point averages at least .25 above a "B."
Penn College's high-achieving business students formerly were inducted into Sigma Beta Delta; the new affiliation is exclusive to the college's accreditation by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs.
The 2008-09 inductees (five of whom were present) are: Kielwein; Kroft; Larson, acting president for 2009-10; Micah A. Metzel, Dallastown; Anthony J. Peachey, Belleville; Joseph R. Raup, Trout Run; and Stephen M. Wertz, Williamsport.
Because this was the inaugural group of Penn College students inducted into Delta Mu Delta, the society's regional representative Marie Gould Harper from Peirce College in Philadelphia came to campus to deliver the charter and to induct faculty as honorary members: Terry A. Girdon, department head for business administration in the School of Business and Computer Technologies, and Ruth E. Hameetman, instructor of business administration/management.
Delta Mu Delta adviser Gerri F. Luke, associate professor of business administration/marketing, was instrumental in the chapter's formation but was unable to attend.
Tom Gregory, associate vice president for instruction, took part in both ceremonies, which were held in the PDC's Mountain Laurel Room.