Breanna Volp (Treasurer), John Clark (President), Kevin Witbrodt (Sergeant at Arms), Dr. Edie Banner (GSE Advisor), Dr. Judy Ratliff (Chemistry Chair), Dr. Carmen Gauthier (National GSE President) Dr. Neil Weber (Dean, CSET), Dr. Kevin Revell (Chemistry Faculty) and Holly Mowery (Recorder).
New Chemistry Honor Society Chapter Installed at Murray State University
The Zeta Epsilon chapter of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society was installed at Murray State University on April 24, 2007. At the installation, twenty-two charter members and three honorary members were inducted into the national society via an initiation ritual. Gamma Sigma Epsilon is a national chemistry honor society founded in 1919 at Davidson College to recognize outstanding academic achievement in chemistry and aims to promote professionalism and scholarship in chemistry. There are now 47 chapters in 19 states with over 11,000 members. The Zeta Epsilon chapter is the 5th chapter formed in the state of Kentucky.
Interested students, led by faculty advisor Dr. Edie Banner, met regularly during the spring semester to organize and define the goals of the chapter and gain the endorsement of the chair of the Chemistry department and the Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. The petition, application, and the constitution and by-laws for the formation of the Murray State University chapter were prepared and submitted to the Executive Council of Gamma Sigma Epsilon for their approval.
Executive President of Gamma Sigma Epsilon, Dr. Carmen Gauthier, was in attendance at the installation to present the charter for the newly approved chapter,Zeta Epsilon. The installation ceremony included the induction of the chapter’s officers: John-Patrick Clark, Grand Alchemist; Broadus Fitzhugh, Alchemist Apprentice; Holly Mowery, Keeper of the Formulae; Breanna Volp, Keeper of the Solvents; Kevin Witbrodt, Sergeant at Arms and the induction of student members: Colin Corbett, Patrick Gilbert, Amanda Harris, Amanda Howard, Andrew Johnson, Oleg Kovtun, Jamie Locke, Lyndsey Lowry, Jessica Moore, Juliana Patterson, Daralyn Ramsey, Nathan Roberson, Evan Roberts, Brian Robertson, Cynthia Shaw, Leslie Smith, and Jesse Williams. Honorary members were also inducted: Dr. Edie Banner (faculty advisor), Dr. Judy Ratliff (Chemistry Department Chair), and Dr. Neil Weber (Dean, College of Science, Engineering and Technology).
Membership in Zeta Epsilon is open to chemistry majors and minors and other science majors that have fulfilled the scholastic requirements for membership as set forth in the Constitution and By-laws of Zeta Epsilon. To be elected to membership a student must have completed 18 hours of chemistry coursework whilst maintaining a 3.2 GPA in chemistry courses and a 3.0 GPA overall.
Students will engage in activities to promote the advancement of chemistry at Murray State University and the surrounding community through various activities that include tutoring fellow chemistry students and presentations at local schools. Members will also be active in community service as well as undertake fundraising to support the chapter and participate in social events.
