On April 15, 2024, the Alpha Zeta Nu Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, held an induction ceremony at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Five new members, Elenora Franco, Haleigh Lewellyan, Jessica DeFreese, Mallory LaBoeuf, and Melanna Morris, were inducted during the event. The keynote address was given by David Orr, the City Manager of the City of Texarkana, Tex., who was accompanied by Chiquita Burks, the current City Management Fellow.
Pi Sigma Alpha is a national political science honor society that was founded in 1919 at the University of Texas. Its mission is to stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science. The society has over 700 chapters worldwide and inducts 800 new members annually. To be eligible for membership in Pi Sigma Alpha, students must meet specific academic criteria. These include an overall GPA within the top one-third of the graduating class, a GPA of 3.5 or better in Political Science courses, and the completion of more than twelve hours of political science courses.
Selection into Pi Sigma Alpha is based on academic excellence rather than political affiliation or bias. This ensures that members are well-rounded individuals with a deep understanding of political issues and a commitment to advancing political science as a field of study. Pi Sigma Alpha is not just for political science majors; it welcomes students from any major who share its passion for government and politics.
The Alpha Zeta Nu Chapter at ULM is just one example of how Pi Sigma Alpha fosters reforms in governmental machinery and educates the electorate on government issues. It provides students with opportunities to engage with like-minded peers and faculty members and to apply their knowledge to real-world problems. Through its events and activities, Pi Sigma Alpha helps shape future leaders who will continue to push for progress in politics and government.