Phi Kappa Phi chapter welcomes 29 new members in Spring 2023

MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State University’s chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will welcome 29 new members officially during a brief induction ceremony on Tuesday, April 11 at 5 p.m. in the Freed Curd Auditorium on the main campus.

Phi Kappa Phi is the highest academic honor society at Murray State. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and 10 percent of seniors and graduate students. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. 

The new student members include:

• Abdullah Alsharhan (Saudi Arabia)

• Christopher Coffman (Hopkinsville, Kentucky)

• Hillary Copeland (Gilbertsville, Kentucky)

• Algie Dobbins (Paducah, Kentucky)

• Audrey Henry (Nicholasville, Kentucky)

• Anne Hess (Virginia Beach, Virginia)

• Christa-Lauran Hopper (Mayfield, Kentucky)

• Mary Hovekamp (Benton, Kentucky)

• Virginia Klaus (Leesburg, Virginia)

• Brittnay LaVassaur (Benton, Kentucky)

• Jacob Lemon (Golconda, Illinois)

• Marjorie Lewis Grapevine, Texas)

• Marinda Liming (Falls City, Nebraska)

• Amber Mabus (Gore Springs, Mississippi)

• Aaron Melcher (Metropolis, Illinois)

• Carolyn Mollette (Murray, Kentucky)

• Emily Oliver (Allensville, Kentucky)

• Charity Shelton (Clinton, Kentucky)

• Kelly Smith (Madison, Georgia)

• Patrick Stewart (Princeton, Kentucky)

• Tasha Stewart (Princeton, Kentucky)

• Summer Stogsdill (Lebanon, Indiana)

• Martin Strones (Clinton, Tennessee)

• Alyssa Todino (West Paducah, Kentucky)

• Brenda Tolian (Alamosa, Colorado)

Additionally, four faculty members will be inducted; Dr. Tana Field, professor of music, Dr. Katy Hancock, chair and associate professor of criminal justice, Dr. Jessica Naber, associate professor of nursing, and Dr. Dana Todd, professor of nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing program director.

Officers for the 2022 – 2023 academic year are Dr. Melony Shemberger, president, assistant provost Ashley Ireland, vice-president/president-elect, and associate provost Dr. Renee Fister, treasurer. 

Chapter 302 was chartered on Nov. 28, 2007, and has inducted several hundred outstanding Murray State students into membership since then. The chapter seeks to recognize and encourage excellence in all academic disciplines and promote discussion of important issues across disciplinary lines. 

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. 

Since its founding, more than 1.25 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization’s more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $14 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. 

The Society’s motto is “Let the love of learning rule humanity.”

For information on Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 302 at Murray State University please contact chapter president, Dr. Melony Shemberger, mshemberger@murraystate.edu.