Kiarra Ervin, a Chattanooga native was among the 12 Tusculum College students inducted into the Alpha Chi National Honor Society during a ceremony before family and friends Wednesday in the Chalmers Conference Center on campus.

Alpha Chi members are juniors and seniors who rank in the top 10 percent of their classes academically. Members are admitted to the honor society from all academic disciplines. The invitation to join the honor society, extended by the college’s faculty, recognizes previous accomplishments and provides opportunity for continued growth and service.

Among those inducted was Ms. Ervin, a junior from Chattanooga majoring in business administration with a concentration in management accounting.

Tusculum College President Dr. Nancy B. Moody congratulated the new Alpha Chi inductees on their achievement. “The Alpha Chi honor society shares many of the core values that we here at Tusculum value and display, such as personal integrity, civic responsibility and commitment to continual improvement as a life-long enterprise. It is the highest academic honor that Tusculum College offers its students. … Your successes are many and tonight Tusculum College is proud to recognize your hard work, efforts and commitment to excellence.”

Troy Goodale, faculty sponsor for Tusculum’s Alpha Chi chapter, said he was pleased to have the opportunity to be involved with the chapter. Mr. Goodale, who is an assistant professor of political science at the college, described how Alpha Chi’s focus and student activities reflect Tusculum’s mission and emphasis on community service.

Zack Smith, president of Tusculum’s Alpha Chi chapter, shared history and information about the honor society. Alpha Chi has been a respected college honor society since its beginning in 1922 and is an active member of the Association of College Honor Societies. The society’s purpose is to promote academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students and to honor those who achieve such distinction. Its name is derived from the first letter of the Greek words meaning truth and character, and its motto is “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” taken from John 8:32 in the Bible.

Tusculum’s chapter was the first one established in the state.

Participating in the induction ceremony were Glenn Vicary, vice president of the Tusculum chapter; Estefania Chavez, the chapter’s secretary/treasurer, and Dr. Melinda Dukes, associate vice president for academic affairs.