BATON ROUGE, La. — The following local residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Mississippi State University — Mariam Khmaladze of Meridian, Charles Roebuck of Newton, Hailey Pope of Philadelphia and Taylor White of Quitman.

Mississippi University for Women — Kristin Kerley of Marion, Shanna Lowrey of Philadelphia and Bryden Reed of Decatur.

These residents are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

• HARRISONBURG, Va. — Silas Clymer of Collinsville, Miss., was among performers in the Eastern Mennonite University Jazz Ensemble’s fall concert.

The 16-member ensemble under the direction of Robert Curry played swing, up-tempo funk, two Benny Carter pieces and more at the concert. Of the ensemble’s members, four are music majors. The ensemble performed for multiple campus and Homecoming and Family Weekend events.

A leader among faith-based, liberal arts universities since 1917, Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) emphasizes peacebuilding, sustainability, service to others, and social justice to students of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. On the main campus in Harrisonburg, Va., at the Lancaster, Pa. campus and online, EMU educates undergraduate, graduate, professional and seminary students to serve and lead in a global context. The EMU experience challenges students to pursue their life calling through scholarly inquiry, artistic creation, guided practice, and life-changing cross-cultural encounter.

• HATTIESBURG — The following local residents participated in the recent fall commencement exercises at the University of Southern Mississippi. Southern Miss President Rodney D. Bennett conferred undergraduate, graduate and specialist’s degrees at each ceremony held at Reed Green Coliseum on campus.

Southern Miss graduates from the local area include:

Meridian — Anthony Dewayne Hull, bachelor of arts; Jacob Daniel Palmer, bachelor of arts; Robert Marshall Corey, bachelor of fine arts; Brittney Nicole Davis, bachelor of science; Aaliyah Daon Granger, bachelor of science; Ariel Alexis Horne, bachelor of science; LeDirrius A. Houston, bachelor of science; Stephanie Alexander Johnson, bachelor of science in business administration; Kennedy Alana McReynolds, bachelor of science in nursing; Brandi Scarbrough Carmichael, doctorate of nursing practice; Ashlee Milan Lewis, master of public health      

Bailey — Brooke Elise Davis, bachelor of science in business administration; Collinsville — Lauren K. Cantey, bachelor of science in nursing; Daniel B. Martin, doctorate of nursing practice; Decatur — Russell Carl Thompson, bachelor of science in business administration; Hickory — Ashley Walker Rigdon, doctorate of nursing practice

Toomsuba — Ronald Cohlby Wells, bachelor of science in nursing

• HARRISONBURG, Va. — Abigail Shelly of Collinsville, Miss., was honored at the Fall Student Recognition chapel at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) for Leadership achievement for service on the Student Government Association as a senator.

Students were nominated by faculty and staff for outstanding achievements in their respective areas.