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University installs chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon

Front row: (left to right): Dr. Chris Jurgenson, Dr. Sharon K. Hamilton (faculty councilor), Zachary Kinler, Katie Penton, Emily Grossi (president), Ana Daisy Camarillo (treasurer), Amber Wilson, JC Blackmon (secretary), Jill Harper, Dr. Gene Grimley, Dr. Gene Grimley ( National PLU President). Back row (l to r): Dr. Joe Bentley (departmental chair), Will Weeks, Dalvin Williams, Kelby Flemons, Tyler Daniels (vice president), Taylor Worsham, Dr. Chuck Smithhart.

 

Delta State University recently installed a new chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon on campus, the Gamma Delta chapter.

The aims and purposes of Phi Lambda Upsilon are the promotion of high scholarship and original investigation in all branches of pure and applied chemistry. The organization was founded as an honorary chemical society in 1899.

The Gamma Delta chapter inducted 11 student charter members and five charter faculty members. A total of 10 undergraduate students were initiated during the ceremony on April 21.

The inductees include: JC Blackmon, of Byhalia; Daisy Camarillo, of Gilcrest, Colorado; Tyler Daniels, of Hattiesburg; Kelby Flemons, of Big Creek; Emily Grossi, of Marks; Zach Kinler, of Picayune; Will Weeks, of Boyle; Dalvin Williams, of Vaiden; Amber Wilson, of French Camp; and Taylor Worsham, of Grenada. Previously inducted to PLU as a member-at-large, Katie Penton, also became a charter member of the DSU Chapter of PLU.

Other charter members included chemistry faculty members Dr. Joe Bentley, Dr. Sharon K. Hamilton, Jill Harper, Dr. Chris Jurgenson, and Dr. Charles Smithhart.

“Establishing the Delta Gamma chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon is a hallmark in the history of the chemistry program at Delta State,” said Hamilton, faculty counselor for the group. “It recognizes the quality of our department and our students. I’m extremely proud of all the work that went in to establishing this chapter, and I am proud of our first group of initiates. Our chemistry students work very hard and I am pleased to have them associated with such a prestigious society that recognizes their achievements.”

Bentley, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Delta State, was also thrilled to institute PLU on campus.

“Establishing a chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon at Delta State is a terrific opportunity for both students and faculty alike,” he said. “As our students apply to professional schools and graduate schools, or for industrial or education jobs, they will be able to highlight their academic achievements in their major field by listing their membership in PLU on their resume. The Department of Chemistry and Physics is honored to have this chapter at Delta State.”

Phi Lambda Upsilon was the first honor society dedicated to a single scientific discipline. In the span 113 years, it has grown into an organization comprising 73 chapters and more than 60,000 members. Learn more at http://philambdaupsilon.org/.