Maryville College academic honor societies induct new members as 2025-26 academic year wraps up
May 7, 2026
Maryville College continues its longstanding tradition of academic excellence with the recognition of students inducted into the College’s honor societies for the 2025–26 academic year, celebrating a cohort whose achievements reflect both intellectual rigor and a deep commitment to scholarship across disciplines.
Representing some of the institution’s highest academic honors, these societies highlight not only individual accomplishment but also the strength of a learning community rooted in inquiry, discipline and purpose.
“Maryville College’s honor societies recognize many of our outstanding students for their academic achievement,” said Dr. Liz Perry-Sizemore, vice president and dean of the College. “These societies speak to the value we place on intellectual inquiry and to the ability of our students to meet high expectations. We are proud of these students and confident that their achievements provide a meaningful foundation for their future success.”
Among this year’s honorees are students inducted into Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology, which welcomed one of its largest classes in recent memory.
“Our division is proud of this year’s Psi Chi inductees and their strong commitment to academic excellence in psychology,” said Dr. Chad Schrock, professor of psychology and faculty leader of the chapter. “The chapter continues its 35-year tradition of exceptional student leadership under the guidance of Chapter President Annie Melhorn ’26 and the dedication of our other society officers, reflecting the strength of our students and the vitality of our program.
“Faculty and students also extend special thanks to our administrative assistant, Gayle Gould, who works each year with our faculty representative and student officers to coordinate the induction ceremony. We’re grateful to Gayle and couldn’t do it without her.”
Together, these recognitions underscore the breadth of academic excellence at Maryville College, where students are challenged to meet high expectations and, in doing so, lay the groundwork for lives of purpose and impact well beyond the classroom.
Organizations and new members include:
Alpha Gamma Sigma
New members of the honor society designed to “encourage thorough scholarship and to stimulate interest in cultural pursuits among students of the College” were sworn in on Thursday, May 7. Newly inducted AGS members include: Michelle Bobo ’26, a Criminal Justice major from Maryville; Avery Brown ’26, an Exercise Science major from Cookeville, Tennessee; Trey Clark ’26, a History major from Maryville; Jordan Crain ’26, a Biochemistry major from Louisville, Tennessee; Haley Daugherty ’26, a Psychology (Counseling) major from Knoxville; Laura Diamond ’26, an Elementary Education major from Maryville; Hannah Fritz ’26, a Marketing major from Maryville; Sasha Hoenie ’26, a Theatre Studies (Performance) major from Maryville; Rukhshona Isomova ’26, an International Studies and Finance/Accounting double major from Uzbekistan; Rebecca Johnson ’26, an American Sign Language-English Interpreting major from Maryville; Aryssa Kelsey ’26, a Psychology major from Townsend, Tennessee; Aili King ’26, a Health and Wellness Promotion major from St. Gabriel, Louisiana; Chance Loveday ’26, a Computer Science and Mathematics double major from Sevierville, Tennessee; Melhorn, a Psychology major from Ten Mile, Tennessee; Maryn Pope ’26, a Management major from Maryville; Kylind Reagan ’26, a Mathematics major from Sevierville; Ella Reyes ’26, a Developmental Psychology major from Knoxville; Hannah Smoot ’26, an Exercise Science major from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Samantha Swann ’26, an English major from Walland, Tennessee; and Dakota Vaiese ’26, a Finance/Accounting major from Kingsport, Tennessee.
Alpha Psi Omega
The national theater honor society, Alpha Psi Omega membership requires at least two semesters of participation in theater work, as well as involvement in stage productions mounted by the College’s Theatre Department. New members were inducted last fall and include Kathryn Bornhoeft ’28, a Theatre Studies (with licensure) major from Knoxville; John Lee ’28, a Theatre Studies major from Maryville; and Gianna Mantegna ’27, a Computational Environmental Science major from Lakeland, Forida.
Kappa Delta Pi
The induction ceremony for the education honor society for aspiring teachers, which requires completion of at least six hours of education courses and a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0, took place at 6 p.m. April 17 at the Chilhowee Club in Maryville. In addition to an initiation of two new members — Isaiah Everett ’29, a Physical Education/Health (with licensure) major from Maryville, and Raven Schultz ’27, an ASL-English Interpreting (with licensure) major from Chattanooga, Tennessee — the organization recognized and celebrated the contributions of outgoing seniors Emma Blakenship ’26, an Elementary Education major from Maryville; Steph Holt ’26, an English (with licensure) major from Lenoir City, Tennessee; and Diamond, previously inducted as a new member of Alpha Gamma Sigma.
Phi Alpha Theta
The Maryville College Alpha-Mu-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society in history, welcomed four new members on April 30: Dante Roddy ’26, a History major from Maryville; Cypress Eisenmann ’28, a History major from Lenoir City; Savannah Latham ’28, a History major from Maryville; and Kayana Donegan ’27, a History major from Knoxville.
Psi Chi
In order to qualify for membership in the international honor society of psychology, inductees are required to maintain a cumulative GPA that ranks them in the top 35% of their class. Those who met those requirements for 2026 included Mya Alvarado ’27, a Developmental Psychology major from Daphne, Alabama; Breanna Ballenger ’27, a Criminal Justice major from Brookwood, Alabama; Zoe Benedict ’26, a Psychology (Counseling) major from Knoxville; Bobo, who was previously inducted into Alpha Gamma Sigma; Elizabeth Bright ’27, a Psychology (Counseling) major from Philadelphia, Tennessee; Olivia Bumbalough ’28, a Developmental Psychology (Child Trauma and Resilience track) major from Huntsville, Alabama; Yanaira Camacho ’27, an Exercise Science major from Puerto Rico; McKenna Cawley ’27, a Neuroscience major from Oceanside, New York; Holly Davis ’28, a Psychology (Counseling) major from Dayton, Tennessee; Azera De Santa ’28, a Neuroscience major from Ooltewah, Tennessee; Kaylee Galyon ’26, a Criminal Justice major from Knoxville; Alice Gawne ’27, a Neuroscience major from Knoxville; Alyssa Hummel ’27, a Computer Science major from Maryville; Eleni Johnson ’27, a Sociology major from Knoxville; Maci King ’26, a Psychology (Counseling) major from Oneida, Tennessee; David Langley ’26, a Psychology major from Gallatin, Tennessee; Catie Leckenby ’27, a Psychology major from Chattanooga; Jonathan Martin ’27, an English major from Chattanooga; Chase Morgan ’26, a Criminal Justice major from Blaine, Tennessee; Emma Mulligan ’27, a Sociology major from Dandridge, Tennessee; Miranda Parkhill ’27, a Theatre Studies (with licensure) major from Knoxville; Sadie Phelan ’27, a Neuroscience major from Mt. Juliet; Taylor Robinson ’27, a Psychology (Counseling) major from Columbia, Tennessee; Leeann Robles ’28, a Psychology (Counseling) major from Green Coral Springs, Florida; Roddy, previously initiated into Phi Alpha Theta; Isabella Sawabini ’27, a Psychology major from Knoxville; Ellie Schuld ’27, a Neuroscience major from Anchorage, Alaska; Grace Seal ’28, a Neuroscience major from Knoxville; Clayton Tuggle ’26, a Neuroscience major from Knoxville; Kaliyah Washington ’26, an ASL and Deaf Studies major from Alcoa, Tennessee; and Kalli Wilson ’27, a Psychology (Counseling) major from Maryville.
Sigma Tau Delta
Maryville College’s Alpha Rho Kappa chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, gained six new members during a spring induction ceremony: Marlee Giles ’26, a Management and Writing Communication double major from Knoxville; Eva Blankenship ’27, an English (with licensure) major from Louisville; Jack Martin ’27, an English major from Chattanooga; Kayla Jetter ’29, an English major from Sparta, Tennessee; Cielle Severinchek ’27, an English (with licensure) major from Maryville; and Jaedyn Sudderth ’27, an Engish (with licensure) major from Louisville.
