ACTA is an academic honorary society that 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 National Society of ACTA Scholars Chapter.
“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 Dr. Montserrat Miller, Drinko Academy executive director. “Three of the seven courses needed for National Society of ACTA Scholars eligibility are already built into Marshall’s core curriculum. 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.”
Thirty-five Marshall University students qualified to graduate as ACTA Scholars in the first half of the 2025-2026 academic year. Graduating Marshall ACTA Scholars are from 12 different counties in West Virginia, from Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and California. These students completed degrees with majors and minors in the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Education and Professional Development, the College of Health Professions, the Lewis College of Business and the College of Science. They are:
Tatyana Adkins of Hurricane, W.Va.: B.A. in History with minors in U.S. and European History, Dec. 2025
Sandra Adkins-Woody of Chapmanville, W.Va.: B.A.in History with minors in German, U.S. History, and European History, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Mckenzie Ashworth of Scott Depot, W.Va.: B.A. in Psychology, Dec. 2025
Grace Blatt of Huntington, W.Va.: B.A. in Creative Writing, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Ashton Brumfield of Louisa, Ky.: B.A. in Political Science, Dec. 2025
Elisabeth Byers of Catlettsburg, Ky.: B.A. in History with a minor in Japanese, Dec. 2025
Jasmine Carlos of Woodbridge, Va.: B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish, Dec. 2025
Brent Cavallaro of Annapolis, Md.: B.A. in History, Aug. 2025
Jack Clougherty of Pasadena, Calif.: B.A. in Communication Studies, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Kaylee Criner of Flatwoods, W.Va.: B.A. in Secondary Education with a Social Studies concentration and a minor in Geography, magna cum laude, Dec. 2025
Bryce Daves of Charleston, W.Va.: B.A. degrees in History and Humanities with a Philosophy concentration, summa cum laude, Dec. 2025
Jaalah Dech of Mount Hope, W.Va.: B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, Aug. 2025
Brent Doty of Accoville, W.Va.: B.A. in Psychology, magna cum laude, Dec. 2025
Jayce Edwards of Ironton, Oh.: B.S. in Psychology, magna cum laude, Dec. 2025
Kaytlin Elswick of Columbus, Oh.: B.A. in Psychology, cum laude, Aug. 2025
Kain Fleshman of Rainelle, W.Va.: B.A. in Creative Writing, Dec. 2025
Orion Floyd of Barboursville, W.Va.: B.A. in Latin & B.S. in Communication Disorders with a minor in Psychology, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Brent (Eric) Hamilton of Summersville, W.Va.: B.A. in Anthropology with an emphasis in Archaeological Anthropology, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Ethan Hatfield of Elkview, W.Va.: B.A. degrees in Political Science & Humanities with a minor in Latin, summa cum laude, Dec. 2025
Savannah Hickman of Iaeger, W.Va.: B.A. in Psychology with a minor in English, magna cum laude, Dec. 2025
Makinsey Hinkle of Craigsville, W.Va.: B.A. in Psychology, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Peyton Holley of Huntington, W.Va.: B.A. degrees in Political Science and History, summa cum laude, Dec. 2025
Makayla Kelley of Ona, W.Va.: B.A. in Psychology and BS in Communication Disorders, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Jared Kushner of East Lynn, W.Va.: B.A. in History with minors in U.S., European, and World History, Dec. 2025
Kathryne Lynn of Louisville, Ky.: B.S. in Geography with a minor in Meteorology, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Trenton Marcum of Kermit, W.Va.: B.A. in Secondary Education with a Social Studies concentration and minors in Geography and History, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Madison McNeal of Huntington, W.Va.: B.A. in Psychology & BS in Communication Disorders, magna cum laude, Dec. 2025
Gentry Porter of Lesage, W.Va.: B.A. in Humanities with a Philosophy concentration, summa cum laude, Dec. 2025
Anna Spagna of Huntington, W.Va.: B.A. degrees in Psychology & the Humanities and Latin with a minor in Greek, Aug. 2025
Bayleigh Stevens of Franklin Furnace, Oh.: B.A. in Political Science with a minor in History, Dec. 2025
Taylor Thomas of Greensboro, N.C.: B.A. in English with a minor in Creative Writing, summa cum laude, Dec. 2025
Brea Wallace of Huntington, W.Va.: B.A. in Secondary Education with a Social Studies concentration and a minor in Geography, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Kimberly Warnick of Gerrardstown, W.Va.: B.A. in English, cum laude, Dec. 2025
Carson White of Jane Lew, W.Va.: B.A. in Creative Writing with a minor in Film Studies, Dec. 2025
Adam Whitehair of Clendenin, W.Va.: B.A. in History with a minor in Political Science, magna cum laude, Dec. 2025