• Kenya Gatlin-Gray with Child Protective Services was recently named Field Instructor of the Year at MSU-Meridian’s Social Work Awards program.

The Field Instructor of the Year challenges students to be their best every day and provide honest, constructive and positive feedback to students, and a healthy working environment to foster positive relationships. The recipient also embraces and demonstrates the social work values and adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics.

• Harmonee Nester of Decatur was recently recognized as the 2019 Field Student of the Year at MSU-Meridian’s Social Work Awards program.

This award is given to a student that has worked above and beyond the requirements within the agency and has gained a healthy understanding of the challenges and rewards within the profession and rose to the challenges without hesitation. The recipient also adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics and maintains professionalism while in the agency setting and has also been given an opportunity to be employed by their respective agency (Care Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter).

• Yolanda Porter of Meridian was recently recognized as the 2019 NASW Student of the Year Award at MSU-Meridian’s Social Work Award program.

The National Association of Social Workers selects a Student of the Year from each university in the state of Mississippi. Students are chosen based on their academic achievement, service to the programs and the communities as well as their adherence and understanding of the NASW Code of Ethics.

• TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Christopher Hicks of Meridian, Mississippi, and Sarah Abston of Gilbertown were among nearly 500 students at The University of Alabama highlighted their research and creative projects during the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference on .

Hicks’ presentation was “Investigating genetic regulators of the conserved signaling molecule wingless in Drosophila melanogaster” in the Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Water category.

Abston’s presentation was “Taste is the most powerful determinant for predicting consumers’ intention to consume antioxidant-infused chewing gum” in the Health Sciences category.

The 12th annual conference is hosted by UA’s Office for Undergraduate Research and the Office for Research and Economic Development.

Poster presentations are grouped by research areas — instead of by academic colleges or departments — to align with national trends of using interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.

The conference spurs interest in research among undergraduate students and helps students polish their communication skills, said Dr. Kim Bissell, director of the Office for Undergraduate Research.

• BATON ROUGE, La. — Several local residents were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.

Jackson Kercheval of Meridian, Jacob Brand of Bailey and Jamie Chaney of Collinsville were all initiated at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Casey Tillery of Bailey and Madison Henslee of Cuba were initiated at the University of Alabama. Jacob Fanning and Mary Willis, both of Philadelphia, were initiated at the University of Mississippi. Daniel Thomas of Philadelphia was initiated at Arkansas State University. Apryl Leggett of Meridian was initiated at University of West Alabama.

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.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”

• TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Caroline Wigley of Gilbertown recently was selected for the Capstone Men and Women group at the University of Alabama.

Capstone Men and Women serve as official ambassadors of UA. They assist the University president’s office, admissions and alumni during functions held on campus and in other locations, as well as host daily tours of the campus for prospective students and other visitors.

• TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Avery Watson of Meridian, Mississippi, was inducted into the University of Alabama’s Anderson Society during a recent Tapping on the Mound ceremony.

The Anderson Society is a leadership honorary that recognizes students who have made significant contributions to The University of Alabama. Twenty-four students are accepted each year, and seven honorary memberships are awarded to faculty and graduating seniors.

While these contributions often take many forms, there are certain qualities of members of the Anderson Society that are prominently and ubiquitously found — an immersion into some sort of community service, passion for improving the university community through both explicit and implicit means, and persistent effort to attain excellence in some sphere of university life.

Once an Anderson initiate, members are expected to continue to devote themselves to service, some directly under the auspices of the Anderson Society, but much more individually.

• TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Avery Watson of Meridian, Mississippi, was inducted into the University of Alabama’s Blue Key Honor Society during a recent Tapping on the Mound ceremony during Honors Week. Blue Key Honor Society is a premier honor society that recognizes college students for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.

• TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Avery Watson of Meridian, Mississippi, and Caroline Wigley of Gilbertown were recently inducted into Mortar Board at the University of Alabama.

Moral Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for superior achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. The University of Alabama’s Hypatia Chapter is one of the oldest chapters in the nation.

Only a select few students on each campus are invited to join this esteemed society. Mortar Board members are presented with the opportunity to join a diverse group of students from different disciplines and interests.

• TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Mississippi residents Christopher Hicks and Avery Watson, both of Meridian, and Caroline Wigley of Gilbertown were recently inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa Society. ODK is the national leadership honor society for college students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni that recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership, and exemplary character. Membership in ODK is a mark of the highest distinction and honor.

Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes and encourages achievement in scholarship; athletics; campus or community service; social and religious activities; campus government; journalism, speech and the mass media; and creative and performing arts.

• TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tatum Dye of Meridian, Mississippi, has been inducted into the University of Alabama’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

Founded on Dec. 5, 1776, Phi Beta Kappa Society is the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society. It has chapters at 286 colleges and universities in the United States, 50 alumni associations, and more than half a million members worldwide. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. presidents, 39 justices of the Supreme Court of the United States and more than 130 Nobel laureates.

The mission of The Phi Beta Kappa Society is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence. UA’s chapter was founded in 1851.

Students are elected to membership on the basis of outstanding academic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences.

• SENATOBIA — Anterrious Gray of Macon was among several Northwest Mississippi Community College students inducted into the Theta Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) in a ceremony held on the Senatobia campus.

PTK is an international scholastic and leadership honor society for two-year colleges. Students who are working toward an associate degree are eligible for membership. Northwest requires a 3.5-grade point average for initiation and membership in PTK. Members are eligible for scholarships at universities throughout the nation.