The Alpha Eta Society
National Scholastic Honor Society for Allied Health Professions—Gamma Psi Upsilon Chapter
The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) at Governors State University (GSU) was granted permission to establish a local chapter of the Alpha Eta Society, the National Scholastic Honor Society for allied health students in 2009.
The departments of Physical Therapy, Communication Disorders, Addiction Studies, and Health Administration hosted the inaugural induction ceremony for the Gamma Psi Upsilon chapter on November 13, 2009.
A total of 25 students, alumni, and faculty were inducted into the new chapter (see below).
2nd Annual Alpha Eta Induction Ceremony
The Departments of Physical Therapy, Communication Disorders, Addiction Studies, and Health Administration in GSU's College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) recently hosted their second annual induction ceremony for the local Gamma Psi Upsilon chapter of the Alpha Eta Society, the National Scholastic Honor Society for allied health students, at GSU. A total of 71 alumni, graduate, and undergraduate students were inducted:
Undergraduate Inductees
- Jessica Calderon of Chicago (Communication Disorders)
- Melissa Daniels of Bradley (Communication Disorders)
- Charina Francisco of New Lenox (Health Administration)
- Joseph D. Graham of Peotone (Health Administration)
- Christina M. Grover of Joliet (Health Administration)
- Funke T. Ilori of Hazel Crest (Health Administration)
- Karen M. McGreal of Tinley Park (Health Administration)
- Stephanie A. Misner of Midlothian (Health Administration)
- Sheila Muhammad of Lynwood (Health Administration)
- Richard Aaron Ogunniyi of Hazel Crest (Health Administration)
- Jennifer C. Potempa of Tinley Park (Health Administration)
- Autumn C. Sako of Chicago Heights (Health Administration)
- Jennifer Shellhorn of Shorewood (Communication Disorders)
- Eileen Sheridan of Oak Lawn (Communication Disorders)
- Katarzyna M. Szarek of Chicago Ridge (Health Administration)
- Melissa Kathleen Talbot of Midlothian (Health Administration)
- Babette Thornton of University Park (Health Administration)
- Magdalena Zalewski of Palos Hills (Health Administration)
- Daniel Zelehovitis of Joliet (Health Administration)
Graduate Inductees
- Agnieszka Adamczyk of Elk Grove Village (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Amy Bender of Lansing (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Todd Boyer of Chicago Heights (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Bernt Carlson of Steger (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Lauren Ditteon of Lansing (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Stefanie Dominguez of LaGrange Park (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Kelly Ghiotto of Manteno (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Sara Hennessy of Midlothian (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Matthew Kelling of Bourbonnais (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Linda Lai of Chicago (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Beth Landers of Shorewood (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Taryn Lewis of South Holland (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Jennifer Nevers of Hinsdale (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Barbara Papciak of Orland Park (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Halidu Shokunbi of Matteson (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Christina Werner of Algonguin (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Angela Baker of Maywood (Health Administration)
- Amy Bartelment of Midlothian (Communication Disorders)
- Patricia Beck of Manteno (Addictions Studies)
- Kristen Bilas of Evergreen Park (Communication Disorders
- Michelle Bridges of Richton Park (Health Administration)
- Jacob Brunner of Flossmoor (Health Administration)
- Michael Carter of Park Forest (Addictions Studies)
- Gina Curtin of Worth (Addictions Studies)
- Angela Davis of University Park (Health Administration)
- Cheryl Davis of Lockport (Addictions Studies)
- Tom Donaldson of Chicago (Addictions Studies)
- Adyemi Fatoki of Park Forest (Addictions Studies)
- Rebecca Goddard of Chicago (Communication Disorders)
- Gowri S. Gunaganti of Park Forest (Health Administration)
- Alena Katsnelson of Chicago (Health Administration)
- Melissa Klosowiak of Roselle (Communication Disorders)
- David Lester of Round Lake Beach (Health Administration)
- Ewelina A. Marszalek of Justice (Health Administration)
- Connie L. McMiller of Glenwood (Health Administration)
- Sunday Mueller of Deerfield (Communication Disorders)
- Ramya Myneni of Crestwood (Health Administration)
- Laura Natalino of Arlington Heights (Communication Disorders)
- Florence O. Osineye of Dolton (Health Administration)
- Lisa Panzarella of Addison (Communication Disorders)
- Jeanette Perkins of Markham(Addictions Studies)
- Theresa Quinn of Orland Park (Health Administration)
- Virginia Richardson of Riverdale (Health Administration)
- Cozette Roper of Chicago (Addictions Studies)
- Michael Sedlacek of Oak Lawn (Health Administration)
- Navrose Singh of Michigan City, IN (Health Administration)
- Cheryl Stewart of Bolingbrook (Addictions Studies)
- Kathirgamaeswary Subramaniyam of Crystal Lake (Health Administration)
- Valerie Tometich of Homer Glen (Communication Disorders)
- Jerlene Ward of Chicago (Addictions Studies)
- Donna Cheri Wolf of Park Forest (Health Administration)
Alumni Inductee
- Cynthia Schroeder of Frankfort (Addictions Studies)
Faculty Inductees
- Catherine Balthazar, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Communication Disorders
- Jessica Bonner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Disorders
- Rupert M. Evans, Sr., DHA, MPA, FACHE, Interim Chair, Department of Health Administration
- Raven James, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Addictions Studies
- Cheryl Mejta, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Addictions Studies
- Rebecca K. Wojcik, PT, Ed.D., GCS, Chair, Department of Physical Therapy
Photos from November 12, 2010, Induction Ceremony
Alpha Eta Society inductee Gowri Shankar Gunaganti (left),
a graduate student in Health Administration, shares
a proud smile with Rupert M. Evans, Sr., DHA, MPA, FACHE,
Interim Chair of the Department of Health Administration
in the College of Health and Human Services at GSU.
Alpha Eta Society inductee Angela Davis (second from left),
a GSU graduate student in Health Administration, shares her
proud moment with family members (left to right) daughter Nala,
husband Jerell, and son Jay.
2009 Inductees
Faculty
- Gregory Blevins, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Addictions Studies and Interim Assistant Dean, College of Health and Human Services
- Nancy Burley, B.S., M.A., Coordinator, Dean's Office
- Russell Carter, P.T., Ed.D., Chair, Department of Physical Therapy
- Kyusuk Chung, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Health Administration
- Linda F. Samson, Ph.D., Dean, College of Health and Human Services and Interim Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies
- William S. Yacullo, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Communication Disorders
Alumni
- Juliette Gainer, CDIS
- Carrie Goodnight, CDIS
- Timaka Wallace, ADDS
Graduate Students
- Manuel Beltran, HLAD
- Neeketta Dotson, HLAD
- Jacqueline Evans, HLAD
- Edward Fitzgerald, ADDS
- Emily Harn, PT
- James Jung, HLAD
- Cheryl Luif, PT
- Megan Schneider, PT
- Robert Siminski, HLAD
- Teniece Thurston, CDIS
- Colleen Wray, ADDS
Undergraduate Students
- Andrea Myles, HLAD
- Kristina Paltanavicius, HLAD
- Vickie Pennington, HLAD
- Edward Strugalla, CDIS
- Gail Szewczyk, HLAD
History
The Alpha Eta Society was created to promote and recognize significant scholarship and leadership contributions to the Allied Health Professions. Students and alumni who meet the high academic standards required by the Alpha Eta Society were invited to participate in the organization. The purpose of the honor society was to recognize scholarship in allied health students using the model of the University of Florida's local honor society, Eta Rho Phi.
Dr. Howard Suzuki, of the University of Florida, made inquiries to allied health administrators concerning the feasibility of developing such an honor society on a national scale.
The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) was approached for their input and an ad hoc committee was appointed to determine the feasibility and interest of developing such a society. A meeting was held on August 31, 1973, in Atlanta, at Emory University.
A draft of the bylaws, modeled after the University of Florida’s bylaws, was approved at that meeting. The society was named for the Greek letters equivalent to the first letters of Allied Health, which were Alpha Eta.
Photos from November 13, 2009, Induction Ceremony
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Timaka Wallace of Chicago (left) proudly displays the certificate signifying her induction into GSU's Gamma Psi Upsilon chapter of the Alpha Eta National Scholastic Honor Society. Wallace, pictured here with her daughter, holds a Master of Health Science (MHS) degree in Addictions Studies from GSU's College of Health and Human Services.
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Andrea Myles of Homewood proudly displays her certificate of induction into GSU's Gamma Psi Upsilon chapter of the Alpha Eta National Scholastic Honor Society. Myles received her Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) degree in Health Administration from the College of Health and Human Services at GSU in August.
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GSU Health Administration undergraduate student Vickie Pennington of Calumet City (second from right) is pictured with her family following her induction into the Gamma Psi Upsilon chapter of Alpha Eta, the National Scholastic Honor Society for students in the Allied Health professions. Pennington will graduate in December from GSU.
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William Yacullo (far left), chair of the Department of Communication Disorders in the College of Health and Human Services at GSU, is pictured with Geneva residents Ed Strugalla and his wife, Barbara, at the recent Alpha Eta National Scholastic Honor Society induction ceremony. Strugalla recently completed his coursework for a Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) degree in Communications Disorders, and is now working on his Master of Health Science (MHS) degree in Communication Disorders.
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Manuel Beltran (second from left) of Elgin shares his happiness at being inducted into the Gamma Psi Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Eta National Scholastic Honor Society with members of his family last Friday night. Beltran is working on his Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree in the College of Health and Human Services at GSU.
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Neeketta Dotson of Park Forest was pleased to be inducted into the Gamma Psi Upsilon Chapter of the Alpha Eta National Scholastic Honor Society at GSU Friday night. Dotson is working on her Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree in the College of Health and Human Services at GSU.
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Kyusuk Chung, Ph.D. (right), chair of the Department of Health Administration at Governors State University, poses with his “favorite student,” James Jung of Mount Prospect. Jung is all smiles following his induction into the Gamma Psi Upsilon chapter of the Alpha Eta National Scholastic Honor Society. Jung is working on his master’s degree in Health Administration (MHA) at GSU.
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Alpha Eta Motto
Together We Serve
More Information
Alpha Eta Society
Department of Physical Therapy
College of Health Professions
Armstrong Atlantic State University
11935 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31419
