Feb 20, 2023 - Union’s Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta held its spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023, where it initiated several students into the society, elected its 2023-2024 officers, and solidified plans for the spring semester. There were 21 members at the meeting.
Delta-Psi Vice President Breanna Edmiston presided over the induction ceremony for the following new student members : Austin Alexander, Abigail Gilbert, Jacob Frederick, Nathan Hicks, William Houston, and Samantha Poore. Chapter President Tad Binkley gave them their certificates of membership, and Dr. Stephen Carls read a letter of congratulations to them from the society’s national office. The Phi Alpha Theta leadership team then presented the new members with Phi Alpha Theta T-shirts. New members Caelan Davidson, Nathan Hicks, and Emma Straley were unable to attend.
The election of chapter officers for 2023-2024 ensued. The students chosen, along with their office, were: Makayla Baker, president; Anna Yadkowski, vice president; Christian Young, secretary; and, Austin Alexander and Jacob Frederick, SGA senators.
Binkley then announced that it was Delta-Psi member Nicholas Palmer’s birthday. The chapter president led attendees in singing “Happy Birthday” while Carls presented Palmer with a sprinkles birthday cupcake.
Carls followed by recognizing new member Abigail Gilbert as the Delta-Psi chapter’s 500th inductee since its chartering in 1953. He presented her with a book titled Thomas Jefferson’s Education by Alan Taylor who will serve as the Carls-Schwerdfeger History Lecturer on October 16, 2023. The book contained a bookplate on the inside cover that read “Congratulations to Abigail Gilbert, 500th Inductee, Delta-Psi Chapter, Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, Union University, February 20, 2023.” Carls added that the Delta-Psi chapter has inducted 332 members into Phi Alpha Theta since he began his role as faculty advisor started in 1983. The chapter has now inducted 508 people into the society.
Carls’s presentation of forthcoming Phi Alpha Theta activities was next on the agenda. He stated that the chapter’s Phi Alpha Theta T-shirt Spirit Day will take place on March 20, with a brief photo session planned at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel foyer. On April 1, Delta-Psi members will go on a field trip to Discovery Park of America near Union City, Tennessee. Regarding the Kentucky Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference at Western Kentucky University on April 14-15, Carls passed out information about it and encouraged Delta-Psi students to present papers there. He also announced that the History Department Awards Banquet will take place on Thursday, April 27, at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapman Dining Room, and all Delta-Psi members are invited to attend. Carls noted as well that the last spring activity involving Phi Alpha Theta members will be Union’s graduation on May 6.
In addition, Carls highlighted the graduate school scholarships that the society’s national office offers each year and encouraged students to visit the Phi Alpha Theta website at phialphatheta.org.
The last agenda item was group photos which took place in the fountain area of the university.
History faculty member Dr. Terry Lindley generously offered free history books to Phi Alpha Theta members at the meeting, and several took some.
Refreshments consisted of homemade oatmeal cookies and bottled water.
Members of the Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta stand together near Union University's fountain during their spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023. They are (front row, left to right) Makayla Baker, Joy Brown, Samantha Poore, Breanna Edmiston, Lydia McGinnis, Abbie Hobson, Anna Yadkowski, Austin Alexander, and Nicholas Palmer; (back row, left to right) Abigail Gilbert, Dr. Keith Bates, Dr. Henry Allen, Robert Briley, Jack Jenkins, Christian Young, Tad Binkley, Jacob Frederick, John Garland, William Houston, and Dr. Stephen Carls.
Delta-Psi Chapter Vice President Breanna Edmiston conducts the induction ceremony for new Phi Alpha Theta members on February 20, 2023, while President Tad Binkley observes.
New members of Union's Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta take the membership oath at the chapter's spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023. They are (left to right) Austin Alexander, William Houston, Jacob Frederick, Abigail Gilbert, Joy Brown, and Samantha Poore.
New Phi Alpha Theta member Austin Alexander (right) stands with Delta-Psi President Tad Binkley after receiving his membership certificate at the chapter's spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023.
Joy Brown displays her Phi Alpha Theta membership certificate while standing with Delta-Psi President Tad Binkley at the chapter's spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023.
New Phi Alpha Theta member Jacob Frederick (right) stands with Delta-Psi President Tad Binkley after receiving his membership certificate at the chapter's spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023.
Abigail Gilbert stands with Delta-Psi President Tad Binkley after receiving her Phi Alpha Theta membership certificate at the chapter's spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023.
William Houston (right), standing with Delta-Psi President Tad Binkley, shows off his Phi Alpha Theta membership certificate during the chapter's induction ceremony on February 20, 2023.
Samantha Poore stands with Delta-Psi President Tad Binkley after receiving her Phi Alpha Theta membership certificate at the chapter's spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023.
The Delta-Psi chapter's new members show off the Phi Alpha Theta T-shirts they received as part of the induction ceremony at the chapter's spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023. They are (left to right) Austin Alexander, Abigail Gilbert, William Houston, Jacob Frederick, Samantha Poore, and Joy Brown.
Delta-Psi chapter member Nicholas Palmer (front right) expresses joy after receiving birthday greetings and a birthday cupcake from the chapter at the Phi Alpha Theta spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023. Behind him are Abigail Gilbert and Dr. Terry Lindley (back right).
Dr. Stephen Carls presents a history book to Abigail Gilbert at the Delta-Psi chapter's spring plenary meeting on February 20, 2023. Gilbert was honored at the meeting as the chapter's 500th inductee since the chapter received its Phi Alpha Theta charter in 1953. Dr. Alan Taylor, the book's prize-winning author, will serve as the Carls-Schwerdfeger History Lecturer on October 16, 2023.
Caelan Davidson receives his Phi Alpha Theta membership certificate from Dr. Stephen Carls in a special induction ceremony on February 24, 2023.
New Delta-Psi chapter member Nathan Hicks holds his Phi Alpha Theta membership certificate and wears his Phi Alpha Theta T-shirt on February 28, 2023.