Tri-Alpha honor society inducts 51 individuals

The Tri-Alpha honor society spring induction ceremony highlighted the achievements of 42 students, seven faculty and staff, and one alumnus. The event was held on April 25 on the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Gainesville Campus.

To qualify for induction into the national honor society for first-generation college students, students must earn at least 30 credit hours towards an associate degree or bachelor's degree and achieve an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2. In addition, neither of the student's parents, nor step-parents, nor legal guardians, can have completed a bachelor's degree.

“For our first generation college students, one of the challenges is that while their families may be supportive, they don’t understand what it takes to be successful in college or may not recognize the significance of a particular achievement,” Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Chaudron Gille said. “As an honor society specifically for first generation students, Tri-Alpha recognizes that achievement and honors the work they have put in and their success. It is also a significant recognition from their new community and peers at the university.”

As an honor society specifically for first generation students, Tri-Alpha recognizes that achievement and honors the work they have put in and their success.

Chaudron Gille

UNG provost and senior vice president for academic affairs

Jasmin Ruiz-Benitez, Susana Sandoval, Shiannah Scott, Mary Sharp, Misela Smajilovic, Veronica Stanley, Hannah Stowe Potts, Anh Tran, Kaleigh Trejo-Turner, Niki Walk, Quatation Waller, Madison Wheatley, Savannah Whitman, Vanessa Williams, Joni Wood and Sara Wyatt Young.

"Nothing is impossible," Rodriguez-Ross, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, who will earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in May, said. "The word itself says I'm possible." 

Faculty and staff may also be inducted. To qualify, they must have met the definition of a first-generation student listed above at the time they completed their bachelor's degree and must be willing to serve as mentors for first-generation students. Those inductees included Dr. Erin Bush, Betsy Chaput, Dr. Ken Crowe, Linda Rowland, Sheila Schulte, Steve Shepherd, and Heath Williams.

"I'm proud to have been the first person in my family to complete a college degree," Williams said. "My parents were both high school graduates, but they married and had my brother and me at a young age. I appreciated the opportunity to attend college and serve in the Corps of Cadets at UNG. Serving in the Army also provided me the opportunity to complete a master's degree while working full time."

Alumnus Eric Salgado, also an inductee, was a first-generation student when he completed his bachelor's degree in human services delivery and administration. He is a Georgia Department of Community Supervision officer and is working on his Master of Business Administration at UNG.

"Measure yourself not by where you are, but rather what path you're willing to take to get to where you want to be," Salgado said.

Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System was named an honorary inductee.

This was the third induction ceremony at UNG for Tri-Alpha.