Sigma Xi Cast of national honor society for theatre inducts four
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma recently recognized four students’ artistic and academic excellence with induction into Alpha Psi Omega, the national honor society for theatre. The inductees were joined by current members of the Sigma Xi Cast, USAO’s chapter of the society, for an initiation ceremony.
The students named to the honor society included Kamron Allen, a senior theatre arts major from Blanchard; Abigail Dansereau, a junior with a double major in art and theatre from Oklahoma City; Tylan Hamilton, a junior with a double major in theatre and psychology from Oklahoma City; and Abbee (Mann) Holden, a junior theatre arts major from Camargo.
“It’s wonderful to be able to honor these hardworking students. Alpha Psi Omega uniquely requires a demonstration of engagement beyond the classroom,” said Katie Davis, professor of theatre and APO sponsor. “Some of these students have been involved in every production on our campus, both onstage and behind the scenes. They serve the university as honors crew on the Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series and collaborate on outreach projects in the community. They are a testament to the motto of APO which is ‘Seek a Life Useful’.”
Faculty at Fairmont State College in West Virginia founded Alpha Psi Omega in 1925 as the first national honorary organization in theatre for university students. Criteria for selection includes meeting the national standard for GPA and earning points for work in a variety of production and leadership roles. Unique for an honor society, the initiation requires that pledges perform memorized monologues from Shakespeare for an audience of current members, who attend the induction.
Those inducted into Alpha Psi Omega become lifetime members who benefit from scholarships, mentorship and the connected community of more than 600 casts (chapters) across the nation.
More information about Alpha Psi Omega, including the national roster of chapters, is available at www.alphapsiomega.org. For more information about the service activities of our local cast contact Davis at (405) 574-1310 or kdavis@usao.edu.
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.