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Marshall names National Society of ACTA Scholars

Marshall University’s John Deaver Drinko Academy for American Political Institutions and Civic Culture has announced its August 2023, December 2023 and Spring 2024 classes of National Society of ACTA Scholars.

The Marshall University Chapter of the National Society of ACTA Scholars saw a total of 56 students graduate in the 2023-2024 academic year. These students come from 23 different counties in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

The following Marshall graduates are students from Putnam and Cabell counties, West Virginia who have been recognized as ACTA Scholars:

  • Tayma Al-Astal of Barboursville: BA, Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Arianna Baggett of Huntington: BA, History, Summa Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Thessa Bennet of Winfield: BA, Literary Studies, Summa Cum Laude, Dec. 2023
  • Kaitlyn Blankenship of Huntington: BA, History and Political Science, April 2024
  • McKenzie Bowman of Liberty: BBA, International Business and BA, Japanese, Magna Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Benjamin Buchanan of Barboursville: BA, Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies, Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Chloe Davis of Barboursville: BA, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Thomas Donovan of Hurricane: BA, English and Philosophy, Cum Laude, Aug. 2023
  • Landon Edwards of Huntington: BA, Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Communication, April 2024
  • James Eggleston of Milton: BA, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, Dec. 2023
  • Jaden Ellison of Huntington: BA, Creative Writing, Magna Cum Laude, Dec. 2023
  • Dustin Ferrell of Eleanor: BA, English, Summa Cum Laude, Dec. 2023
  • Sierra Fisher of Hurricane: BA, Psychology, Cum Laude, Dec. 2023
  • Lindsay Garrison of Culloden: BA, Anthropology and Japanese, Magna Cum Laude, April2024
  • Abby Grim of Huntington: BA, Creative Writing, Cum Laude, Dec. 2023
  • Jordan Hedge of Huntington: BA, French and Psychology, April 2024
  • Amy Lawson of Huntington: BA, English, Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Telisha Lockwood of Huntington: BA, Psychology, Dec. 2023
  • Sid McCoy of Huntington: BA, English, Magna Cum Laude, Aug. 2023
  • Elizabeth McGuffey of Huntington: BS, Health Sciences and BA, Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Olivia Moncada of Scott Depot: BA, Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Christian Morrow of Huntington: BA, Political Science and English, Magna Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Ayanda Nnachi of Hurricane: BA, English and Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Erin Roberts of Hurricane: BBA, International Business, Summa Cum Laude, April 2024
  • Justin Tackett of Huntington: BA, Communication Studies and Psychology, April 2024
  • Zac Thabet of Huntington: BA, Creative Writing and Literary Studies, Dec. 2023
  • Erika Turner of Huntington: BA, Psychology, Aug. 2023

 

“ACTA Scholars complete a set of course requirements providing advanced preparation for the responsibilities of informed and engaged citizenship, for effective communication and competition within the global marketplace, and for skilled and creative problem solving to address our present and future challenges,” said Drinko Academy Executive Director Dr. Montserrat Miller. “Three of the seven courses needed for National Society of ACTA Scholars eligibility are already built into Marshall’s core curriculum, and two more are included in College of Liberal Arts requirements.  But only a few majors require students to study U.S. government, U.S. history or economics.  The National Society of ACTA Scholars chapter at Marshall encourages more students to take such courses, along with literature and foreign language classes.”

The National Society of ACTA Scholars was founded in 2020 by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a Washington, D.C. based nonprofit that promotes rigorous studies in the arts and sciences, and advocates for the study of civics at the college level.  Marshall University was one of the first institutions of higher education in the country to establish a chapter of this new academic honorary society.

Students qualifying as 2023/2024 Marshall University ACTA Scholars completed their degrees with majors and minors in the College of Education and Professional Development, the College of Health Professions, the Lewis College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Science.

The National Society of ACTA Scholars is supported by ACTA’s Fund for Academic Renewal and by supporters of Marshall’s John Deaver Drinko Academy.