The Eta Delta chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha, Presbyterian College’s honor society for first-generation college students, inducted 34 new members on April 7 in Edmunds Hall.
The chapter’s spring 2024 induction ceremony honored 24 students, including students from all three of the college’s graduate programs. Student inductees include:
- Payton Alexander, a second-year pharmacy student from Fountain Inn
- Olivia Adams, a second-year occupational therapy doctoral student from Land O’ Lakes, Fla.
- Ja’Nya Austin, a sophomore from Tampa, Fla.
- Lydia Awadalla, a sophomore from Greenville
- Kiana Broughton, a second-year occupational therapy doctoral student from Ruffin
- Autumn Channer, a junior from Piedmont
- Makenzie Chapman, a second-year pharmacy student from Greenville
- Jordan Cook, a second-year pharmacy student from Laurens
- Sheyla Cortes-Leyva, a first-year occupational therapy doctoral student from Greenville
- Sloan Cromwell, a third-year occupational therapy doctoral student from Lexington, Ky.
- Jessica Davis, a second-year physician assistant student from Amory, Miss.
- Lyndsey Fields, a second-year physician assistant student from Greer
- Jennifer Godinez Perez, a sophomore from Greenville
- Cristina Gonzalez, a first-year occupational therapy doctoral student from Fort Mill
- Andrew Kyzer, a second-year physician assistant student from Gilbert
- Anna Lawton, a first-year occupational therapy doctoral student from Honea Path
- Xiomora Lindsay, a senior from Greenwood
- Corey Reynolds, a sophomore from Orangeburg
- Morvens Saint Jean, a sophomore from Fort Myers, Fla.
- Aurelia Santoyo, a junior from Savannah, Ga.
- Nubia Vazquez Arana, a second-year occupational therapy doctoral student from Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Campbell Vickery, a second-year pharmacy student from Greenwood
- Olivia Waller, a senior from Wytheville, Va.
- Emily Whitaker, a senior from Boonville, N.C.
The chapter also inducted eight PC faculty and staff members, including:
- Susan Gentry, Director of Counseling Services
- The Rev. L. British Hyrams, Jack and Jane Presseau Associate Chaplain
- Moni Keen, Director of Occupational Therapy Doctorial Program
- Kim Lane, Associate Dean and Director of Career and Professional Development
- Kerry Pannell, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Sylvia Sievers, Director of Institutional Research and Assessment
- Brooke Spatta, Professor of Psychology
- Jaclyn Sumner, Associate Professor of History
Two PC alumni who were first-generation students, attorney Joe Wideman ’13 and occupational therapist Dr. Azah Merrill ’23, were also inducted this spring.
Wideman, who works at the Atkins Law Firm in Columbia, also served as the keynote speaker for this spring’s ceremony. In his address, Wideman shared his own experience as a first-year student – defining it as a blend of excitement, challenge, and pursuit of a dream.
Not everyone’s idea of success is the same, he noted. For example, people may post pictures of themselves online on the beach or driving a nice car, but they are not happy.
“They’re not really successful,” Wideman said, “because success is discovering what makes you happy. Growing up, my mom and dad always pushed me to be better. So, I knew at the end of the day, I just wanted to be something that could make them happy. I wanted to do something that my parents would have made me proud.
“But I’m here to tell you that in order for you to feel success, in order for you to find success, at the end of the day, the person that needs to be happy is yourself.”
Wideman shared his wife’s suggestion that people should map out their success and set down individual short-term and long-term goals.
“Your short-term goals are the path of how you get there,” he said. “They’re usually ways in which you can measure your progress along the way. Your long-term goals are your vision – what you trying to accomplish when it’s all said and done.”
Wideman said the biggest hurdle for all first-generation college students is imposter syndrome – the nagging feeling that they do not belong. He said there are five types of so-called “imposters” – people who feel they must be perfect, people who believe they must be experts, those who are afraid when things do not come easily, those who fear asking for help, and those who believe they have to superhuman.
Wideman said it is okay to identify as one of those “imposters” as long as you learn eventually to define success on your own terms.
“That’s going to take some self-exploration,” he said. “You’re going to have to get to know yourself. I know a lot of times we say, hey, I know who I am because I am who I am, but sometimes you really don’t. Know what makes you tick. Figure it out, and then map out a path. Create it, do your vision boards, do your short-term goals, do your long-term goals, and then achieve.”
“The fact that y’all are here today is an achievement,” Wideman said. “It’s impressive. Hold on to that, and use that to get you to the next step.”
The Eta Delta Chapter of Tri-Alpha also recognized its executive board for 2023-24:
- Bri Santiago-Swindell, President
- Gabby Brinez-Pardo, Vice President
- Jacob Clerc, Secretary
- Mattison Scott, Treasurer
- Caitlyn Tompkins, Historian
