Franklinton Native Anna C. Sightler Receives National Honor and Scholarship from Phi Eta Sigma

05/26/2017
BATON ROUGE – Phi Eta Sigma, a national honor society rewarding first-collegiate-year scholarship, announced its Founders Fund Scholarship recipients, granting $295,000 in endowed scholarships or awards to outstanding members of Phi Eta Sigma for undergraduate or graduate study.

LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma’s president (2015-2017) Anna C. Sightler, a native of Franklinton, La., received the national honor as the 11th recipient of the Archie L. Lejeune Scholarship, providing $5,000 for undergraduate study for the 2017-2018 academic year.

“Anna is a remarkable young lady, with amazing graduate potential,” said Jacquelyn Schulz Craddock, assistant director of development and public relations of LSU University College and advisor of LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma.

“I came to know Anna, as we served together at the Historical Old Lutheran Cemetery. As we worked together on a team for hours, the initial get-to-know-you conversations soon became deeper. Anna asked to join me for lunch, sitting on a tomb. It was over this 35-minute break that she shared her history of being homeschooled, her fear and enthusiasm of attending a 35,000 plus university, and her desire to do great things – to ‘exceed expectations.’ Three years later, Anna is exceeding expectations, yet she wants everyone to have that little extra for themselves, to exceed whatever the expectations are, the ones we set for ourselves, the ones set for us, and the ones we don’t know are there that surprise us,” added Craddock.

The Archie L. Lejeune Scholarship is given in honor of Lejeune’s service as chapter adviser at LSU for 36 years. Lejeune was a recipient of the Phi Eta Sigma Distinguished Service Award in 1984, and served as host for the 1970 national convention.

“I am thrilled and beyond thankful to have been a part of Phi Eta Sigma, an organization, that has given me the opportunity to receive the Archie L. Lejeune Scholarship and become a leader in my community,” said Sightler. “Receiving this scholarship will greatly benefit me in achieving my academic endeavors, and support my long-term goals.”

Sightler, a senior majoring in accounting in the E. J. Ourso College of Business, has received numerous awards and honors for her LSU academic achievements, including multiple President’s Honors (4.0 GPA or higher) and Dean’s List (3.5 GPA or higher) honors. She was inducted in Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society for her achievement in the top 7.5% of LSU upperclassmen, and into the National Residence Hall Honorary for achievement in the top 1% of student leaders who reside on-campus.

This award is bestowed upon Sightler for her academic merit, promise of excellence at LSU, and leadership in the community. Recently, Sightler was awarded the Alpha Lambda Delta Sophomore Scholarship, and nominated for the Joanne J. Trow Scholarship, for her academic success and leadership. Her pursuit of academic excellence is demonstrated in her cumulative 3.915 GPA.

Sightler’s strong leadership skills are demonstrated in her service as a Supplemental Instruction Leader for the LSU Center for Academic Success. Her responsibilities require her to attend lectures, reserve office hours for instruction, and maintain the educational schedule necessary by faculty. Her academic prowess in accounting equates to tutoring 750 plus students each semester. She reinforces the Phi Eta Sigma motto “Knowledge is Power” by offering her mastery of accounting to other students in business majors, as the courses she instructs and advises on are introductory and required courses for all business majors on-campus.

In addition to her academic and instructional pursuits, Sightler serves in various volunteer capacities, such as a referee with the Louisiana Special Olympics basketball games, Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Bazaars, assisting new LSU freshman students and their families during LSU’s Move-In Days, and participating in random days/hours of service to gut and to rebuild homes in our Greater Baton Rouge community.

Craddock said, for Southeast Louisiana and LSU, the fall 2016 came with vast devastation. It was, and continues to be a traumatic process for many in the LSU family – faculty, staff, students and families. The vast flooding devastation was a reminder to the previous 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastation that affected the Greater New Orleans areas. This is noted, because the sense of community that Sightler built after the mass flood, destroyed entire neighborhoods and blocks, is beyond love. She organized, called on friends to gather and assisted in removing people’s former lives for a process of helping them start anew.

In addition to these volunteer efforts noted previously, her leadership and service in LSU’s Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma is seen in the organized participation in Historical Cemetery Restoration Project, LSU Spring Greening Day, and GEAUX BIG Baton Rouge.

In 2016, through Sightler’s servant-leadership, LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma members demonstrated leadership in service, strength and community outreach as they created a Geaux BIG Baton Rouge team. The Phi Eta Sigma team served in rehabilitating the Family and Youth Service Center in East Baton Rouge, an organization that works with the community to provide health, education and human services supporting children and families in their progress toward success in school. Phi Eta Sigma members completely restructured the facility grounds by extensively painting interior and exterior buildings, removing old plant growth, reconfiguring and replanting new gardens throughout the campus, and building various playground and activity structures.

In 2017, through Sightler’s servant-leadership, LSU Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma members constructed another Geaux BIG Baton Rouge team. The Phi Eta Sigma team served in rehabilitating Walter and Edrina Howard’s home in North Baton Rouge.

“This is the second year I have had the privilege of leading Phi Eta Sigma’s team for Geaux Big Baton Rouge. Being a team leader not only has allowed me to give back to my community, but has also allowed me to grow closer to my fellow Phi Eta Sigma members,” said Sightler.

Sightler’s future goals include attending graduate school in accounting and completing the Certified Public Accountant exam.

ABOUT LSU UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
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.

ABOUT LSU CHAPTER OF PHI ETA SIGMA
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, freshman 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.

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

 

 

 

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

or

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