University College Hosts Phi Eta Sigma’s Annual Initiation Ceremony

Freshman scholastic achievers honored, L. B. Lucky Award and Senior Award recipients recognized

05/01/2017
BATON ROUGE – LSU University College hosted its annual Phi Eta Sigma Initiation Ceremony in April at LSU Union Royal Cotillion Ballroom. University College’s Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma inducted 222 freshman scholastic achievers, and presented the L. B. Lucky Award and Senior Award.

Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society rewarding first-collegiate-year scholarship.  Since 1928, the LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma has inducted more than 10,828 students. The goal of the society is to encourage and reward academic excellence among full-time, freshmen students in institutions of higher learning, who have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average. Inductees receive national recognition, membership and undergraduate and graduate scholarship opportunities of over $300,000.

“Phi Eta Sigma is a well-respected honor society of which I am pleased to be the advisor for the LSU Chapter,” said R. Paul Ivey, executive director of LSU University College. “Our LSU chapter is one of several programs that University College integrates into our retention efforts as a means to recognize the academic excellence of our freshmen students.”

The oldest and largest first-year honor society, Phi Eta Sigma was founded at the University of Illinois on March 22, 1923. Since its founding, more than 1.1 million scholars have been inducted into Phi Eta Sigma, and more than 378 collegiate chapters have been established throughout the United States.

“Phi Eta Sigma is pleased to recognize our outstanding sophomore and graduating senior members for their academic achievement,” Ivey said. “These annual awards are an important part of our Spring Induction Ceremonies and hopefully provide our newest members with inspiration to continue their academic excellence.”

L. B. Lucky Award
Alarii Lopez, an engineering major from Canton, Ga.

Established in 1959, the L.B. Lucky Award recognizes a Phi Eta Sigma member who achieved the best overall academic performance during the first three semesters of work taken at LSU.

Alarii Lopez received LSU University College’s Phi Eta Sigma L.B. Lucky Award. Lopez is pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering, while maintaining a perfect grade point average. He concluded his second season as an LSU varsity swimmer, and seeks to qualify for the Mexican National swimming team to compete at the world championships in Budapest. Lopez is the son of Netza Lopez (Oaxaca, Mexico) and Maria Levreault (Boston, Mass.).

“After visiting LSU, seeing the campus, experiencing a game, getting to speak with multiple engineering professors, and bonding incredibly well with the swimming team, LSU was the clear choice for me,” said Lopez. “I heavily considered which university could offer me the best combination of academics and athletics.”

Senior Award
Nikka Khorsandi, a biological sciences major from Carencro, La.

Established in 1992, the Senior Award recognizes a Phi Eta Sigma member who is a graduating LSU senior and has maintained the best cumulative grade point average and overall academic record at LSU.

Nikka Khorsandi received LSU University College’s Phi Eta Sigma Senior Award. To his outstanding academic merits, Khorsandi received the L. B. Lucky Award in 2015.

Khorsandi is pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences with minors in business administration and leadership development. He is currently conducting research with Evanna Gleason in neurobiology with a focus on the retinal cell types of alligators and chickens with his research thesis titled, “Immunohistochemical Comparison of Retinal Cell Populations in an Aquatic Predator Species and a Terrestrial Prey Species that share a Common Evolutionary Ancestor.”

Khorsandi serves as president of Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honors Society, president of LSU’s National Society of Leadership and Success and special events director for Dance Marathon at LSU. Upon graduation, Khorsandi seeks to pursue a dual medical degree and Master of Public Health with a concentration in health policy and systems management at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.

LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma Fall 2016 Inductees (listed by hometown):

Baton Rouge, La.

Jacey Armand, Morgan Farrell, Peyton Gutierrez, Jack Hopper, Alex Landry, Emily Langlinais, Katie LeCoq

Covington, La.

Stephen Satterlee

Kenner, La.

Sarah Uzee

Lafayette, La.

Jared Molaison, Caroline Piccione

Luling, La.

Harrison Daste

Mandeville, La.

Kelly Geno, Amir Najdi, Madison Power, Trevor Welch

Metairie, La.

Robert Burgess, Grant Butler

New Orleans, La.

Cierra Clark

Prairieville, La.

Casey West

Shreveport, La.

William Slocum IV

Slidell, La.

Austin Dixon, Lexy Pearson

St. Francisville, La.

Mary Louviere, Averi Young

West Monroe, La.

Jeffrey Sanders

Out of State:

Arizona:
Phoenix, Az.

Forrest Wiegand (Phoenix, AR)

Florida:
Sarasota, Fla.

Ashley Allmer

Georgia:
Canton, Ga.

Alarri-Leverault-Lopez

Mississippi:
Greenwood, Miss.

Kathleen Gallagher

Texas:
Houston, Texas

Isabelle Geiger

The Colony, Texas

Tyrun Scott

LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma Spring 2017 Inductees (listed by hometown):

Abita Springs, La.

Madeleine Gill

Alexandria, La.

Anna-Elyse Karam, Kelly Robertson

Amite, La.

Clayton Terrebonne

Baton Rouge, La.

Allison Adler, Sammy Asbahi, Devin Barnes, Caroline Bergeron, Grace Bienvenu, Susanna Bilbao, Clayton Black, Abigayle Castine, Madison Catalanotto, Annaliesa Fanguy, Jane Gregoire, Melanie Holeman, Michael Hubbell, Isaac Hulsey, Evan Jackson, Chandler Kelleher, Cayley LeBlanc, Conner LeBlanc, Samuel Lovretich, My-Chae' May, Philip Morley, Catherine Pearson, Emma Pittman, Karla Rendon, Gladys Reyes, Colin Shortess, Jonathan Thomas, Hope Troxclair, Devin Tullier, Elizabeth Upp, Madeline Van Pelt, Summer West       

Bridge City, La.

Jose' Bran

Breaux Bridge, La.

Mari-Catherine Guidry

Broussard, La.

Andrew Billeaud

Coushatta, La.

Keva Turner

Covington, La.

Madison Boudreaux, Samuel Crowton, Grantlin Gallaspy, Gregory Roy

Derrider, La.

Coleton Guidry, Ashton Wascom 

Denham Springs, La.

William Hardy, Courtlyn Hood

Destrahan, La.

Haley Caluda

Doyline, La.

Emily Addington 

Geismar, La.

Zachary Miller, Jesse Morrow

Gretna, La.

Jeannie Nguyen, Blaise Trusty, Summer Trusty

Hammond, La.

Alexis Theriot

Harahan, La.

Emily Mayer

Hammond, La.

Morgan Ducorbier

Harvey, La.

Sayde Murphy

Houma, La.

Allison Belle, Ethan Cazayoux, Jonathan Dufresne, Miguel Espiritu, Alyssa Kaigler, Peyton Liner, Mason Melancon

Kenner, La.

Brooke Egan, Alexis Fraino, Ariel Walker

Lafayette, La.

Elizabeth Bozner, Anna Gibbens

Lake Charles, La.

Matthew Lejeune

LaPlace, La.

Aliyah Pierre

Madisonville, La.

John Hajjar, Emily Ruli 

Mandeville, La.

Tyler Colegrove, Jennifer Fiorella, Matthew Gallagher, Savannah Heath, Kay Latino, Brandon Martinez, Jared Simoneuax

Mansfield, La.

Destiny Davis

Marrero, La.

Bailey Hepting

Merryville, La.

Cassidy Hopper

Metairie, La.

Meredyth Berard, Amanda Bowers, Jake Broggi, Kelly Cohen, Jane Gogreve, Edwin Laizer, Eva Mace, Amanda Ragland, Prianca Shrestha, Edward Welsch, Brianna Witchen, Katherine Wood

Monroe, La.

Kayley Mahmoodian, Lydia Weaver, Clayton Wood

New Iberia, La.

Quintrele' Jones

New Orleans, La.

Madeleine Bogart, William Brewster, Shannon Glennon, Madeleine Landry, Spencer Lemoine, Tynia Madison, Chloe Pelitere, Riley Reynolds

Pineville, La.

Tarus Tolbert 

Plaquemine, La.

Katlyn McGraw

Port Allen, La.

Elizabeth Marchand

Prairieville, La.

Kennedy Goins, Madelyn Hall

Pride, La.

Larissa Powers

Rayne, La.

Morgan Oliver

River Ridge, La.

Sydney Gautreau

Ruston, La.

Elizabeth Guinn

Slidell, La.

Joseph Barthelemy, William Beaucoudray, Allie Blestel, Chloe Bryars, Kacie Livingston, Whitney Mckinzie, Leah Paternostro, Felix Rodrigue 

Shreveport, La.

Thomas Baynham, Irene Elendu, Madison McInnis, Morgan McInnis, Margaret Molloy, Madelyn Regenold, Chelsea Romph, Mariana Russo, Michael Schmidt, Zoey Storey, Caretia Washington, Bailey Williams 

St. Amant, La.

Donna Peterson

Sterlington, La.

Mackenzie Booth

St. Martinville, La.

Brayden Blanchard, Lani Landry

St. Rose, La.

Benjamin Buller

Thibodaux, La.

Mimi Guidry, Andrew Soignet

Walker, La.

Gabrielle Stuart

Westwego, La.

Kayla Chacon

Woodworth, La.

Isabella Allen

Youngsville, La.

Kyle Domingue, Taylor Luke, Thomas Luke

Zachary, La.

Claytin Goss

Out of State:

Alabama:
Mobile, Ala.

Caitlin Huettemann

Selma, Ala.

Natalie Henry

Arkansas:
Lewisville, Ark.

Alexander Herndon

Little Rock, Ark.

Rachel Green

Florida:
Merritt Island, Fla.

Peyton Turner

Pensacola, Fla.

Hayden Broussard

Georgia:
Alpharetta, Ga.

Lauren Cantu

Juliet, Ga.

William Adams

Rosewell, Ga.

Kevin Quinn

Idaho:
Coeur d’Alena, Idaho

Nicole Rozier

Illinois:
O’Fallon, Ill.

Kortney Blansit

Mississippi:
Ocean Springs, Miss.

Estelle Seghers

Nebraska:
Omaha, Neb.

Victoria Liakos

New Jersey:
West Long Branch, N.J.

Helen Grossman

West Orange, N.J.

Andrea Galea

Ohio:
Cincinnati, Ohio

Grayson Lambert

Daytona, Ohio

Evan Sinnathamby

Pennsylvania:
Fleetwood, Pa.

Katherine Stevenson

Tennessee:
Knoxville, Tenn.

Russell Wilder

Texas:
Cypress, Texas

Erin Herbert

Dallas, Texas

Zoe Martin

Grapevine, Texas

Paul Kekich

Houston, Texas

Geraghty Alch, Morgan Harris, John Robinson

Humble, Texas

Bailey Breuhl

Manvel, Texas

Asia Harris

Spring, Texas

Rachel Piper

Wichita Falls, Texas

Austin Josephson

Since 1933, LSU University College has served as the portal of entry for students enrolled at LSU.  Academic and personal success is the hallmark of a well-rounded student, and University College provides a foundation of support services for students beginning their academic careers at LSU. University College has two enrollment divisions: The Center for Freshman Year and The Center for Advising and Counseling. Additionally, University College offers retention-specific programs: Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair Research Scholars and Summer Scholars, and hosts Phi Eta Sigma, a national honor society rewarding first-collegiate-year scholarship.  These academic support programs focus on particular student populations and are a significant part of the role and mission of University College.

For more information on LSU University College, visit www.uc.lsu.edu or follow the conversation at www.facebook.com/LSU.UniversityCollege.

 

 

 

Contact Jacquelyn Craddock
LSU University College 
225-578-6822
jcraddock@lsu.edu 

or

Ernie Ballard
LSU Media Relations
225-578-5685
eballa1@lsu.edu