More Than 40 Students Inducted into Social Science Honor Societies in 2024

More than 40 students were inducted into various international honor societies during Wayne State College’s 30th annual Social Sciences Day Wednesday, April 10. The event was sponsored by Pi Gamma Mu, the international honor society for the social sciences.

In addition to the induction of new members into honor societies, several students also received individual awards in their field of study.

Alpha Kappa Delta, the sociology honorary, acknowledges and promotes excellence and scholarship in the study of social problems, sociology, and intellectual activities that lead to the improvement of the human condition. Alpha Kappa Delta inducted four new members:

Columbus – Natalie M. Jarecke
Norfolk – Rylee Frohberg
Seward – David Clark
Wayne – Audrey Loggins

Alpha Phi Sigma, the criminal justice honorary, is dedicated to the encouragement of academic excellence in criminal justice, social service, student support of the Wayne State Criminal Justice Department, and the development of leadership skills among its members. Alpha Phi Sigma inducted 11 new members:

Greeley, Colo. – Abigail Arnold
Rock Rapids, Iowa – Josie Huisman
Highmore, S.D. – Wendy Sherwood
Tabor, S.D. – Kendra Spulak
Yankton, S.D. – Keyara Mason
Bennington – Makenzie Limbach
Clearwater – Faith King
Norfolk – Eryn Gustman, Daisy Valle
Omaha – Abby Scherbring
Phillips – Gregory Evans

Gamma Theta Upsilon is the international honor society in geography and is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the geography field. Gamma Theta Upsilon inducted nine new members:

Beatrice – Haley Price
Bennington – Blake Rutten
David City – Connor Semin
Lincoln – Abigail Mason
Nebraska City – Lindsay Green
Norfolk – John Vuchetich
Osceola – Ruby Johansen
Wahoo – Kaitlin Arney
West Point – Jayde Teutsch

Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary, recognizes outstanding achievement in history on the part of Wayne State students by membership and participation a national honorary organization. Phi Alpha Theta inducted two new members:

Hartington – Parker Albers
Omaha – J.J. Guenther

Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honorary, promotes and recognizes high academic achievement in the study of political science. Pi Sigma Alpha inducted one new member:

Wahoo – Griffin Ryan

Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, strives to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship and advance the sciences in psychology. Psi Chi inducted four new members:

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Catarina Siravo
Yankton, S.D. – Madeline Binder
Emerson – Alexa Sullivan
Norfolk – Rylee Frohberg

Pi Gamma Mu is the international social sciences honorary. The mission of Pi Gamma Mu is to encourage and promote excellence in the social sciences and to uphold and nurture scholarship, leadership, and service. Pi Gamma Mu serves the various social science disciplines, which seek to understand and explain human behavior and social relationships as well as their related problems and issues.

Pi Gamma Mu inducted 12 new members:

Devils Lake, N.D. – Rachel Dahlen
Yankton, S.D. – Keyara Mason
Columbus – Travis Schoch
Hartington – Parker Albers
Lincoln – Hailey Cary
Loup City – Delaine Heil
Norfolk – Daisy Valle
Omaha – Morgan Kruger
Osceola – Ruby Johansen
Wayne – Abigail Wieseler
York – Anna Liston, Elizabeth Liston

Several students also received individual awards. They were:

Axtell – Sara Lundeen, Outstanding Chapter Member of the Year (Nebraska Delta Chapter)
Hartington – Parker Albers, Outstanding Student Award in Social Sciences Education
Hoskins – Kylie Cautrell, Robert G. Foote Outstanding Student in Geography Award
Omaha – Benjamin Bartholow, Outstanding Student Award in Psychology; J.J. Guenther, Outstanding Student Award in History
Osceola – Ruby Johansen, Excellence in Geography Award
Pierce – Maiya Baumann, Outstanding Student Award in Sociology
Seward – David Clark, Outstanding Student Award in Sociology
Wahoo – Griffin Ryan, Outstanding Student Award in Political Science

For more information, contact Dr. Randy Bertolas, professor of geography at Wayne State and faculty advisor for the Nebraska Delta Chapter of Pi Gamma Mu, at [email protected].