New members of East Central Community College’s Theta Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, were recognized during the annual spring induction ceremony held Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010, on the Decatur campus.

Tapped for the prestigious organization were 113 students who met membership requirements, which include a 3.5 grade point average earned as a full-time student along with an overall 3.5 GPA.

Amy A. Walgamott, Phi Theta Kappa Coordinator for the Mississippi/Louisiana Region, provided opening remarks and congratulated inductees on their academic success.

Retired ECCC faculty member Ovid S. Vickers was guest speaker and spoke with pride of the many graduates of the institution who continue to have successful careers in their chosen fields.

“Can one attend East Central Community College and become a successful doctor, lawyer or whatever profession he or she chooses?” he asked the packed crowd in Huff Auditorium. “Yes you can,” Vickers replied, “and don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. You students who are Phi Theta Kappa members will no doubt be successful in whatever field you choose. Congratulations on your achievement.”

ECCC President Dr. Phil A. Sutphin and Dr. Lavinia Sparkman, vice president for instruction, also provided remarks and congratulated inductees.

Theta Xi officers Kurt Simoneau (president) of Louin, Kyle Ethridge (vice president of scholarship) of Decatur, Jordan Gunn (vice president of fellowship) of Forest, Brandon Hughes (vice president of leadership) of Decatur, Abby McMillan (vice president of public relations) of Newton and Paul Sewell (vice president of service) of Leesburg, Ala., conducted the induction ceremony with supervision from Theta Xi advisers Kate Keenan Covich (speech instructor) and Curt Skipper (biology instructor).

New members of Theta Xi and their respective hometowns include:

Richard Michael Adams, Morgan Dion Bailey, William Chandler Barfoot, John Travis Blount, Sarah Kathryn Breland, Laurel Alyssa Burnett, Jessie Lee Flake, Marilyn K. Howell, Abbie Christina Joiner, Joel Kirkland McKee, Meredith Brooke McKee, Jean Marie Pfeifer, Kristi Marie Prewitt, Charles Walton Stinson, Jonathan Matthew Tingle, Austin Clay Vaughn, Willie Kevin Vaughn and Sidney Jackson Williams, all of PHILADELPHIA; Jonathan Jacob Adkins, Christine Camille Camp, Matthew Rich Griffin, Erin Elizabeth Hall, Tiffany Lauren Hennington, Brandon Eric Kennedy, Jon Garrett Moore, Shelby Hannah Smith, Lindsey Joyce Stuart, Yancey Leigh Tillman, Zachary L. White and Stacy Elizabeth Willis, all of UNION;

Anna Melissa Alexander, Summer Leigh Alexander, Kasie LeAnn Buckley, Whitney Lynn Clearman, Jessica Lynne Harrison, Virginia Faye Holyfield, Brooke Jenson Roberson and Ashley Elise Walker, all of LITTLE ROCK; Ashley Lauren Amis, Celia Leigh Boggan, Kristina Nicole Holmes, Cory Lee Fitzgerald, Courtney Paige Lanier, Kylie Anne McDonald, Paula Joy Vaughn,Tiffany Mechelle Spence and Monica Janine Vincent, all of DECATUR; Latanya Ann Ball, MCCOOL; Lindsey Clair Bishop and Reaghan Nicole Mayes, both of CONEHATTA: David J. Bond, PERKINSTON: Ashley Brooke Boulton, Brandon Jaleel Boulton, Whitney Olivia Bowden, Erin Rebekah Harrison, Lisa Michelle Jay, Tina K. Mason, Sabrina Lynne Monk and Kayla Lynn Tasker, all of NEWTON;

Kelsie Sherlene Boykin, Jason Brian Copeland, Jennifer Megan Holdiness and Lauren Leigh Nicholas, all of PRESTON; Bobby Charles Branning and Brandy Necole Talbert, both of COLLINSVILLE; Bobby Ross Bryan, CROSETT, AR; Kiswana Dashaye Burnside, William Quinton Davis, Brittany LeeAnn Edwards and Karley Joanna Mitchell, all of LAKE; Kayla Catherine Cook, Ariel Jade Doggett, Alisha Denise Jones, Heather Courtney Kahn, Tyler Jordan Neal, Kelsey Elizabeth Sikes, Chance Edward Sistrunk, Danny Carl Smith and Whitney Blake Thompson, all of CARTHAGE;  

Michael Ann Durham, Miranda Gail Edwards, Andrew Michael Lee Gibbs, Marissa Janae Gordy, Laura Elizabeth Gunn, Donna Varche Harper, Cody Ross Harrell, Serna Jo Jackson, Shaqunita Shantell Ickom, Jennifer Elizabeth Moore and Jarod Westley Yarbrough, all of FOREST;  Chelsea Leigh Jones, ENTERPRISE: Megan Renea Edwards, Jessica Marie Hamilton, Meredith Dawn Jones and Katlin Alice Woodruff, all of LOUISVILLE; Samantha Lynee Elkins and Kimberly Marie Patterson, both of LENA; Natalee Michelle Ervin, VICKSBURG: Jennifer Marie Felton and Colby Eugene Harvey, both of LAWRENCE: